A Golf Experience with Tom Watson O CTO BER 27 – 2 9, 20 1 9
Welcome to Kiawah
Welcome to Kiawah
On Kiawah Day breaks across a magnificent 10-mile beach, expansive marsh savannahs, ribboning rivers, and some of the most impressive amenities available on the Eastern Seaboard. A 10,000-acre paradise only 21 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah’s shoreline invites you to kick off your shoes and stay a while. Our private island community in the temperate South Carolina Lowcountry allows you to golf, boat, swim, birdwatch, fish, dine, shop, socialize, or simply relax to your heart’s content. With luxury properties set among stunning vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, beach,
marshlands, maritime forest, river, and fairways, Kiawah Island is in a league of its own. More than a place to vacation, Kiawah offers a day-to-day lifestyle that is like no other. You’ll discover seven championship golf courses, an exclusive Kiawah Island Club that expands on the Island’s offerings, and a variety of privately-owned luxury home, cottage, and villa communities that have been designed with a keen respect for nature. We invite you to embrace and enjoy all that our Island offers. Kiawah Gets You.
Golf Experience Itinerary
Sunday, October 27
Monday, October 28
Tuesday, October 29
4:00p :: Check in to Cassique Golf Cottages
7:30a :: Golf Learning Center Experience hosted by PGA Tour Professional Wesley Bryan { located on the Cassique driving range }
7:00a :: Breakfast at Voysey’s at Cassique
10:30a :: Brunch at the River Course Clubhouse
following play :: Lunch at Cassique
12:00p :: Tee times begin at River Course
following lunch :: Island departure
6:30p :: Welcome reception and discussion with Tom Watson at Cassique Clubhouse 8:00p :: Dinner at Voysey’s at Cassique
following play :: Cocktails in the River Course Men’s Locker Room 7:00p :: Dinner in the River Course Men’s Locker Room
8:30a :: Tee times begin at Cassique
Cassique and River Course Overview
Cassique and River Course Overview
Cassique Hole 5
River Course Hole 3
Cassique
River Course
Named for the Kiawah Indian chiefs who once hunted the Lowcountry, Cassique’s 7,050-yard test ranges through maritime forests and along marshes where the Kiawah River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Since its opening in 2000, the Tom Watson-designed course has garnered numerous accolades and showcases the dramatic flare that has punctuated Watson’s playing career.
Designed by Tom Fazio, the River Course opened in 1995 as The Kiawah Island Club’s first golf course. For golfers, the River Course provides a challenging and aesthetically pleasing 7,019-yard test. It boasts six holes that play along the river’s edge, with the other fairways and greens playing along picturesque marsh savannas, ponds, and the Island’s incomparable maritime forests.
Watson’s first solo design in North America, Cassique benefits from lessons learned en route to five British Open Championships. With its walkable layout, the par-72 links-style course is reminiscent of tracts found in Scotland and Ireland. Like those classic seaside settings, Cassique offers little protection from ocean winds, so Watson fashioned holes that could be played in numerous ways depending upon the conditions and the creativity of the golfer.
See Cassique for yourself
See River Course for yourself
A Player’s Guide to Cassique
A PLAYER'S GUIDE TO CASSIQUE CO U RSE N OTES BY D YLAN THEW
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AND CHA RLIE A RRIN GTON PH OTO GRA PHY BY GATELY WILLIAMS
HOLE #1 A slight dog leg to the right. Very unique pot bunkering takes place just to the right of the centerline of the fairway. You can stay safe down the left side, or you can play very aggressive over the bunkers on the right-hand side where the fairway pencil-tips in a little bit. Totally Risk/reward. With a good drive you could be left with a short wedge. If you're playing safe, then you're probably going to be hitting a mid- to a long-iron. The green slopes back to front with a severe runoff in the center right portion. There's a false front, which might leave you chipping up the green if you're slightly under club. Long left is the no-go zone and will put you in a bunker with a difficult up and down. The best strategy is to play to the center of the green.
hole #2 Gettable par five but definitely some interesting strategy involved. You're almost always better off laying up as opposed to going for the green in two. If you actually stand on the left-hand side of the tee box, you can see the green at the end of the lake. If you want to take the green with your second shot, the best line to take off the tee is down the left side of the fairway- despite the big tree and the dunes covered in bakeri grasses! There's a lot of room to the right, but the further right you go, the longer your layup shot is going to be. There's a ravine with a six-foot-wide burn that runs in front of the green, which is protected by an enormous false front. Any ball that doesn't hit the top of the putting surface will actually roll back into the ravine. Anything short on this green will spin back, so the front pin is probably the most challenging! Back right pin has a backstop if you hit a little bit long. THE TTERNED AFTER PA S I N E RE G *THIS WHERE RRY IN SCOTLAND BE N UR T AT E OL 16TH H IN THE OPEN, "THE DUEL 77 19 E H T N WO N WATSO K NICKLAUS. SUN," AGAINST JAC
HOLE #3 Blind tee shot. The hole goes straight out and then veers to the right. A strategically placed bunker in the fairway leaves you with a blind shot if you're stuck behind it. Consider this before you hit the driver, as the bunker can also come into play off the tee! The aggressive play is down the left-hand side. That will give you a clear shot to the green. Any shot down the left will give you a clear look at the two-tiered green. The front pin is probably going to be the easiest to attack. There's a mound in the middle of the green that is quite challenging if you're playing to the back pin. There's a hidden bunker guarding the front right corner of the green, which you CANNOT see no matter where you are on the hole!
HoLe #4 [THERE ARE TWO ROUTINGS: NIP AND TUCK AND PULPIT.] Nip and Tuck | no. 4 Nip and Tuck plays the fairway down the left side. It's not really a driver hole unless it's into the wind. Most players are forced to hold back on this one. The fairway pinches in the closer you get to the green. The miss on the left side brings the hazard and severe mounding into play. A miss on the right side makes it impossible to get to the green. Ideally, carry over the right corner of the bunker on the left in order to leave yourself the best angle onto the green. DIG DEEP AND COMMIT TO THIS TEE SHOT. You can really only see the left half of the green in your approach. The back right is blocked by sand dunes, cordgrass, and bunkering. With a good tee shot down the left side, you'll at least be able to see the green. You have a bit of back stop if you hit it long. It's a good-sized green for a short hole. Not too penal. Lower tier on the left, higher tier on the right. **The mounds in front of this green were redesigned after a trip to Ireland. They are modeled after the 11th hole at Ballybunion.
(Par 3, 5th Nip and Tuck plays uphill to the #4 Pulpit green. If you're playing Pulpit, you play a downhill par 3 from Mount Watson. This hole is only used for the Pulpit routing.)
Pulpit | no. 4 This routing takes you up the right side. Pulpit can be played multiple ways. The fairway does pinch in, but it is possible to hit a driver over the fairway bunker, leaving a shot pitch into the green. Consider hitting short because if you go in that fairway bunker, you're probably not going to be able to reach the green. The aggressive play is down the left side. Huge defense slope on the front of the raised green. Any ball that's short will roll into a valley. Any ball that is left will also roll into a valley, both very difficult up-and-downs. It's a fairly tricky green. Difficult to read. Putts often appear to be downhill when they're uphill or appear to break left to right and end up going right to left.
HOle #5 Nip and Tuck | no. 5 Notice the huge undulation on the front of the green. It gives you a back stop. It plays five or six yards uphill. Typically downwind, so this is a good scoring hole if you hit a solid tee shot. Anything short leaves you in a severe valley, so picking the correct club is essential. Pulpit | no. 5 Teeing off from Mount Watson, you nearly have a 360-degree view. It's a short par 3 down the hill, only 135 yards. Normally it plays into the wind, so the tee shot can be difficult to gauge from this elevation. The left side of the green is guarded by a huge dune. There is a pot bunker long right-virtually impossible to get the ball up and down because the green slopes violently away from you.
*The inspiration for this green was the "Dell Hole" at Lahinch.
hOle #6 Another gettable par 5 with a good tee shot. If you are going for the green, you have to carry over the spectacle bunkers-visually intimidating from the fairway. It's a split fairway from the tee. Although there is room on the left side, it's not actually worthwhile to take an aggressive line because of all the pot bunkers that are in play. The best line off the tee box is slightly right of those bunkers. That'll give you a good angle for your second shot. If you can't carry those bunkers, then laying up is definitely the play as they will almost always lead to a bogey. Spectacle Bunkers: About 60 yards away from the green. It's an awkward bunker shot, awkward distance, and a lot of height is required to clear the big wall of the bunker. *These bunkers are patterned after the 14th hole at Carnoustie in Scotland where Watson won his first British Open. The green is guarded by a big bunker on the left and a small pot bunker on the right. Very interesting contouring here. The front of the green will let the ball run down to the center. The backstop makes this a fairly forgiving green for a long par 5. **This backstop was added after the original shaping and inspired by the 17th hole at Yeamans Hall.
HOLe #7
You tee off right in front of a pond and overlook an expanse of marshland. This is a two-tiered green-very small tier at the back of the green. Playing to the center of this green is generally always the play no matter where the flag is. There's no point in being too aggressive. Three is a good score on this hole. The green is surrounded by bunkers, two bunkers on the left side and one on the right. So don't bite off more than you can chew! Anything on the green will give you 40 feet, 50 feet max -a relatively small target for a long hole.
HOLE #8
Probably the hardest par 4 on the course. It's short at just a little over 300 yards. Definitely a risk-reward hole! A longer hitter could potentially go for the green, but if it's a miss, you're going to have an extremely difficult chip shot. Most people hit a long iron or a fairway wood to the center of the fairway. You have to hit over the marsh no matter what tee box you choose to play, so get yourself ready. The further left you go, the further you have to hit the ball and the tighter the fairway gets. Intimidating tee shot. You see a lot of bailouts to the right. The green is approximately 30 feet deep on the back right. So your distance control has to be incredibly accurate. A long shot in makes it virtually impossible to hold the ball on the smallest green on the course. If you walk away from this hole with par, you feel like you've made a birdie.
hole #9
A large oak tree blocks the right side of the fairway, so you feel like you're forced to hit down the left. But there's actually more room down the right than you think! Although the tee pushes you left, take an aggressive line and hit a fade back to right center of the fairway. The rolling fairway always makes for a challenging lie, so be prepared to adjust your setup. Not much room for error with the approach shot. Good pot bunkering surrounds a green with one of the largest false fronts in America. The way Tom Watson designed the hole was to actually hit a punch shot into the bank and have the bank take all the speed off and pop the ball onto the hill. You could try your best to fly the ball to the top. Any ball that's short of the slope or that has any spin will eventually end up down at the bottom of the hill. **This green was inspired by the 9th green at Ballybunion, although the false front is much more exaggerated here.
ned **Watson pattrerth this green afte bunioen 6th hole at Bally in Ireland.
HOLE #10 Intriguing par 4 -there's a lot more room than it looks like. It's a semi-blind tee shot where you can only see the right side of the fairway. But the play is actually down the left! That will give you a view of the green, whereas playing the right will not. It's daunting but there is a lot more room than it looks like from the tee box. Aim down the right side and hit a nice draw to the left side of the fairway. The fairway pinches in, so if it's downwind, it's not necessarily a driver hole. Watch out for the pot bunkering in the mounding on the right of the fairway. **The idea here was to deceive the golfer on the ideal tee shot direction- similar to the 11th hole at Oakland Hills in Detroit. The green is surrounded by three sod-stacked pot bunkers and one larger regular bunker on the right-hand side. Anything short is going to end up with a tricky shot. The smartest play, no matter where the flag is on this green, is to just play to the center because the green isn't very deep.
hOle #11
Pretty demanding tee shot. This is the longest hole on the golf course at close to 600 yards from the tips. It kinks a bit to the left and then curves back to the right. Trees guard the left side of the fairway, but that's where you need to hit. The further right you go, the longer the second shot. If you want to get to the green in two, you have to take an aggressive line down the left and carry the ball 290-300 yards over a bunker. If not, play safe down the center of the fairway. The layup shot is guarded by a bunker on the left side of the fairway, about 150 yards away from the green. Other than that it is fairly straightforward. This three-tiered green is one of the most challenging on the course. Watch the subtle false front on the right side and the bunker on the left. There's a redan in the middle of the green that often swallows balls and funnels them off the left-hand side. The back right tier is by far the smallest and most difficult to attack. Any shot slightly left could potentially end up in a hazard.
hoLe #12
Short par 4. You can be as aggressive as you want. The right side gives you the best look into the green. The more left you go, the more room there is, but hitting left brings trees into play with your approach shot. This is a strategy hole -it's more about positioning than hitting it as far as you can for a short club in. A bunker and trees guard the right side if you miss the fairway. The green is two-tiered. There is a slope that runs from front left to the back right, so it's kind of diagonally portioned. Back left is the most challenging because anything long left runs down into a small valley and some nasty rough. When the flag is on the left-hand side just play for the center of the green. The easiest pin is front right because you have a backstop to spin it in to.
HOLE #13
A phenomenal par 3! Marsh and water to the left and beyond the green. Three-tiered green: front, back left, and back right. There are three bunkers on the left-hand side and then a waste area long and left. A high spine divides all the quadrants up, so hitting it to the center of the green is not always your best option. The right side of the green funnels balls off the putting surface. You must try to attack the pin no matter where it is, because finding yourself on the incorrect tier will make for a very challenging two putt. **Missing this green in the short right hollow is a chipper's nightmare regardless of pin location!
hole #14 Relatively long par 4. The fairway is wide, about 220 off the tee box, and then it starts to get narrower the further you hit it. So again, risk/reward. You can't see the green from the tee, so use the pines in the background as your goalpost to hit through. There's mounding down the right side and a waste area to the left. This is the first time on the course where the tree line really pinches the visuals in, and you feel that you have to hit the ball very straight. The green is long and thin and separated by a spine in the middle. The back left is really tough because the green funnels away from you, so fire at it unless your distance control is really good. You can be the most aggressive when the pin is on the front because anything slightly long will spin off the slope down to the hole.
(This green surface is reminiscent of a potato chip, with a severe roll off on the back left.)
hOLe #15
hole #17
Par 5. Signature hole on the course! The fairway is split with bunkering, so you have to go left or right. If you're a long hitter, aim just right of the bunkers and hit it as hard as you can. This is a totally player-dependent hole. People who fade the ball usually play down the right, and people who draw the ball play down the left. Your second shot is guarded by the hell bunker, which sits about 50 yards short of the green. It is huge. The layup shot must ensure that you carry the small pot bunker, which is about 145 yards away from the green. The green is long and incredibly narrow. Two slopes separate three tiers: back, front, and middle right. The back right tier is like a tabletop -it's TINY. The length of the green runs slightly left to right, so you need to be coming in on the left in order to have a straight shot up the green. **This hole was inspired by the 14th at St. Andrews. The famous "hell bunker" in Scotland has a ten-foot face. The Cassique version is only about five-feet high, but it's a bit more in play.
HOLE #16 Time to knuckle down and dig deep as three challenging holes bring your round to a close. From this tee box you can actually see Mount Watson across the Kiawah River -it's so beautiful that it's distracting. There are waste areas up the right side of the hole. On the left side there are two big valleys and one small pot bunker. So it's a challenging tee shot, but the green surface is actually pretty big. The smart play on this hole is to hit to the center of the green, which will leave you a relatively straightforward two putt for your par.
This is a cape hole - the fairway curves severely to the right around the marsh. You have to play out to the left and then play your way around the marsh to the green. If you can hit 300 yards, then you have the option to take a direct route to the green. The risk/reward is there! But the obvious safe play is a fairway wood down the left side. The further you go left, the longer your approach shot is going to be. Be strategic with your tee shot because this will determine how close you can hit your second shot. This is a narrow green. There is a waste area down the righthand side and severe sloping on the left side.
hOLe #18 Demanding tee shot here. There are two tiers in the fairway...lower left side and upper right side. The smart play is a draw off the right side of the fairway. This will leave you the best line in. There is a large lake in front of, and to the left, of the green. The entire putting surface slopes towards the water. You have to be careful with the spin on the ball in your approach shot. You can use the contouring of the greens, but you run the risk of gathering too much speed and ending up in the hazard. The green has a small tier right of center, which makes for a pretty tricky pin on a shelf. The tournament pin is always back left, and everything funnels down towards the water, so the putting is challenging.
GOOD LUCK!!
A Player’s Guide to River Course
A PLAYER'S GUIDE TO THE RIVER COURSE CO U RSE N OTES BY D YLAN THEW AND CHA RLIE A RRIN GTON
HOLE #1 Right out of the gate, Tom Fazio makes you think with this short dogleg left. Longer hitters want to take an aggressive line down the left to leave a short wedge onto the green. Any shot that fades too far right could be blocked out by trees. However, overdraw too far left and you risk the lake and severe fairway bunkering. Hit a shot that curves gently to the left in order to situate yourself in the middle of the fairway with a good line to the green. The left side of the green is guarded by water and sand. The right side is guarded by a short, steep bunker, which is actually not a bad spot to miss. This is a two-tiered green. The safest bet is to play to the right center of the green. If the flag is on the front, utilize the slope to spin the ball back. Distance control is crucial when attacking the back flag, as anything long of the green will leave an incredibly challenging chip shot. but was **The River Course opened in 1995 again in 2015. substantially renovated in 2005 and
hole #2 Good scoring opportunity here! It's a reachable par 5 with a fairly demanding tee shot. A huge bunker guards the right side of the fairway, and the left is bordered by trees and a water hazard. The aggressive play is to hit driver. The fairway narrows in the landing zone, but hitting the downslope will get some extra yardage. The widest part of the fairway is the safest play. You will have a long second shot no matter what, but it's very gettable! The layup is protected by bunkers that jut into the fairway. If you can't carry the bunkers, stay focused. You're forced to lay up into a tight area, so choose your club wisely. This is a very wide but shallow green - typical of a Tom Fazio par 5. Because of the width, you can miss left or right. If you're coming in with a short approach shot, watch your distance control. The green slopes severely from the back to the front and is separated into three undulating tiers: a high tier on the left side, a slightly lower middle tier, and an even lower tier on the right. Landing in the correct quadrant will leave you a good chance at making the putt. There is a very high waste area on the left side of the green and a small pot bunker just short to force you to take more club. Remember, short is better than long. Don't be fooled. from when the Kuwaitis **The tunnel on this hole is left over y intended to design a owned Kiawah Island. They originall le Point Clubhouse. second course to play from the Turt
HOLE #3
**The USGA Mid-Amateur Championship was played on the River Course and Cassique in 2009!
The first of four beautiful par 3s. This hole often plays into the wind, so the length can be difficult. Tee the ball up on the right side of the tee box. There are some overhanging trees on the left-hand side that you must avoid, especially if you hit butter cuts. The size of the green surface area is quite forgiving.There are three prominent pin locations: front, middle, and back. There's a hollow in the center of the green that funnels balls off to the left. The front portion is raised, the middle portion is low, and the back portion is raised. If the flag is center left, this is definitely a pin to attack. When it's on the front, missing it short is okay. When the flag is at the back, play from the middle of the green. Missing left will pretty much always leave an uphill chip, so favor this side.
HoLe #4 The first of back-to-back par 4s. It's birdie time! Be strategic with your tee shot. You can drive it over the bunkers where the fairway is narrow, or you can lay up in between the bunkers where the fairway is the widest. The most ideal shot shape off this tee box is a draw, as the hole curves slightly left. A good drive will leave a short shot. Bunkers guard the left and right sides. The center of the green is a good play no matter what the pin location is. Avoid the front left, as the contours will catch the ball and pull it off the green. If you have a short iron in your hand, throw a dart. This is a good chance to get one back on the field.
HOLE #5 Drivable for long hitters! If you have the ability to carry the ball 280 yards, then have some fun and go for it. If you don't have the length, the safe play is a 220 shot up the left side of the fairway. The hole curves to the left around a water hazard and a waste bunker, so hit a draw to ensure a good line into the green. One of the most severe greens on the course. There is a very large slope in the middle. Do not be too aggressive if the flag is at the back because long is dead. When the pin is at the front of the green, you can utilize the slope in the middle, taking the false front out of play.
*This hole has undergone more renovations than any hole the course. Originally it featured two greens! In 200on 5 they were merged to become one large green.
HOle #6 It's difficult to gauge the wind here, so pay attention on the preceding holes. Anything short will end up in a bunker or in the water. Anything long will go into a waste area or a grassy bunker, leaving you an incredibly difficult chip. The entire green slopes toward the water, so if you are going to miss, err to the right. Spend some time reading this shallow green. Look from both sides and play for maximum break and minimum speed. This is no time to be aggressive, as there is no easy pin position. This is a demanding hole. Don't feel like you've lost a shot on the field if you make a bogey.
*Shortest hole on the course. Very difficult, especially in the winter!
hOle #7 One of the longest par 4s on the golf course. It actually has a wide fairway, which I think is fair considering the length. Definitely hit driver. I recommend you aim to the right corner of the left bunker and gently move the ball back to the middle of the fairway. This green is deep and narrow with a slope in the middle that funnels balls right. This is Fazio at his best! Work the ball from left to right with your approach, so if you miss, you are left with a relatively straightforward pitch back up the slope and a good chance to save par. This is usually the windiest stretch of the golf course, so plan accordingly. a par *This hole was originally routed to be ught 5, but the original plan would have broFazio down a stand of large oak trees. ! made this a par 4 to save the trees
HOLe #8
Again, the direction of the wind will determine the line you take. First, get an accurate yardage of carry distance from the tee box. The further right you go, the longer the carry over Bass Pond. Don't try to bite off more than you can chew. The miss is definitely left. My recommendation for shot shape is to actually curve the ball away from the water. Although the hole curves right, do not try to fade the ball off the tee box. If you fade the ball a bit too much, you will end up in the hazard. This second shot is one of the most difficult layups on the golf course, especially when it's breezy. Again, Fazio is making you think! The ideal position is to lay up to about 110 yards. This will give a straight shot onto the green. Very large putting surface. There are three tiers: front left, middle lower right, and a back tier. The center of the green is never a bad play. But don't be unnecessarily aggressive! This hole can be incredibly penal if you miss this green, so be patient.
HOLE #9 It's time to get focused. It's not a long hole and you will usually have a prevailing wind. There is a waste area with bakeri grass and trees on the left and marsh and the Kiawah River on the right. It does not matter if you hit a driver, a hybrid, or a fairway wood -the goal is to hit the center of the fairway. The green is impossible to hold if you're coming in from the rough. This green is severely contoured. The left quadrant is raised and surrounded by a half-moon lower tier. If the flag is in front right, take dead aim. Any other pin placement will benefit from a shot more towards the center of the green.
hole #10 One of the longest par 4s on the back nine. Hit the ball down the right side of the fairway with a tight draw and you'll be in the perfect position to attack the pin with your second shot. A fade here will bring the trees on the right into play. The entire green slopes left to right. It is fairly wide, not too challenging. I would favor the right side if you are going to miss, leaving yourself a relatively easy bunker shot uphill. A miss on the left side requires you to chip downhill from the rough, which is more difficult to control. Great way to start the back nine. Enjoy!
HOLE #11 This is a short par 4. Do not over club off this tee box. The fairway is too narrow, and the risk/reward is not worth it. Longer hitters must hit a fairwood, a hybrid, or an iron in order to hit the widest portion of the fairway. Now is not the time to attack. This green is wide and shallow. A small pot bunker guards the front middle. You have no choice but to play aggressively into these pins because of the slope in the middle of the green. You must be confident and approach the shot with an aggressive mindset in order to leave your ball on the correct tier to give yourself the best chance at a birdie. Pay attention to the wind and err on the short side. *Notice this hole is more low profile. It's called "the dry creek", its bunker modeled after an old, dried-up creek bed. **If you hit to the left side of the fairway, there is a concave hollow called the "catcher's mitt." This is the ideal landing area to get a clear shot onto the green.
hOle #12 Beautiful par 3. The further right you miss, the longer the shot needs to be to carry the water. If the flag is on the right side of the green, aim just left of it and use the slope. Don't be afraid to take a little extra club on and choke down. Two-tiered green here: small back tier and then a much larger front tier. Be aggressive if the flag is at the front. Err to the left side to avoid the water and the bunker at the front of the green. A miss short left is an impossible up and down. A short miss right is fine because you have a lengthy two-putt. And if your shot is long, behind the green is a fairly straightforward up and down. (Although, when standing on the tee box, you may think I'm crazy for saying so!)
hoLe #13
Signature hole on the course! This is your chance to play aggressively and possibly walk off with an eagle. Don't play it too safe! Off the tee box, aim at the bunker in the center of the fairway and hit a slight draw. Good players will be left with a long iron into the green. If you hit the ball more than 250 yards, the bunker on the left will not come into play. Shorter hitters have the option to lay up across the lake or just short of the lake. In this case, favor the right side of the fairway as opposed to the bunker and draw the ball. Play aggressively in your approach shot and draw the ball away from the hazard. If you miss the green, you're left with a either a bunker shot or a chip with plenty of green to work with. So you don't need to fear the third shot. If you are laying up, make sure it's at a comfortable distance. Do not try to get close to the green if you're not comfortable with three-quarter shots or shots that aren't full swings. Everything short on this green funnels to the water on the right side. If the pin is on the right side, play left of the flag and the ball will funnel down. If the flag is in the back of the green, watch your distance control. Attack the pin at the front of the green. h tee, stop t 14 e h t o t a get *Before you rt station for a snack and at the comfo od par 4s await you! drink. Two go
hole #14
*Fazio wanted to connect holes 14, 15, he would have more sand to work with. and 16 so here is all completely natural to the The sand island.
Blind tee shot here. It's a dogleg left, and the further you hit, the narrower the fairway gets. Consider the wind here and choose between a fairway wood or a hybrid. Draw the ball off the tee if you want to play aggressively. If you prefer to fade the ball, aim just right of the waste area on the left side and work the ball to the largest part of the fairway. This green has two tiers: upper left and lower right. Bunkers guard the front. If you're more comfortable in the bunkers, then the miss is short. If you're not comfortable in the bunkers, take an extra club and don't be afraid to chip back to the flag. If the flag is on the left, play aggressively to the left. Anything that hits in the center of the green will funnel to the right.
hOLe #15 You must hit the ball straight here. Waste bunkers guard both sides of the fairway. If you can carry the ball a decent distance, then a driver will hit the downslope and hopefully run a considerable distance. If you're not comfortable with a driver, then a fairway wood is fine. Just take the straightest club you have in the bag. The approach shot plays ever so slightly downhill, so make sure you deduct a few yards off the actual to get your number. This green is narrow and long. Do not miss the ball in the bunker to the left. It has an awkward shape and will pose a very difficult stance and lie. If the flag is in the center of the green, don't be afraid to take a little bit less or a little bit more club just to avoid that bunker. Relatively flat green, so no real challenges posed with the putter. ries of shallow *Historically there was a se d fresh water wells in this area that supplieguests of the to the early residents and old Kiawah Inn.
HOLE #16 This is your last good opportunity to make an easy birdie. It's a long par 5 but very gettable. If you're a longer hitter, shape it right to left off the tee box and favor the left side of the fairway. If you miss right here, you will not be able to hit the green in two. If everything goes well, keep your foot on the gas and fade your approach shot. Play aggressively on this green. Ideally you'll want to use the contours to work the ball close to the hole. The green slopes severely from left to right at the front with a relatively flat back tier. If the flag is on the front, play your approach shot just left of the pin. Utilize the slope to feed the ball to the hole. When the flag is at the back you have a little bit of room long left, so don't be afraid of a fraction too much club to ensure you carry the slope.
hole #17 Do not be distracted by the beautiful views! This hole requires some thought. It's one of the most exposed holes on the course, so the wind is going to affect your tee shot more than the previous three. The waste area left of the green is close to the penalty area, so miss right if you must. I like to start the ball in the right portion of the green and work it back towards the flag. But some players hit a fade and work the ball off the waste area because the error is to the right side. Stick to your game and play your natural shape. Relatively flat green. A small spine rolls through the middle. The front portion slopes right. Make sure you walk 360 degrees around your putt, because a putt from the front to the back will break multiple different ways. *You'll notice the back of the 15th tee here. This can also be played as the back tee for the 17th hole. And it's arguably a more direct shot!
hOLe #18 Home stretch! The average hitter should play a draw on this hole, starting the ball to the right center of the fairway and working it to the left. The longer hitters should favor a left to right - over the tree on the left side and work it to the right. Because the miss is definitely right. You don't want to hit driver on this hole and work it too hard to the left. This could potentially leave you in the waste area, or even the penalty area. Whatever you do, avoid the tree short left. Fazio challenges you right to the very last moment. This is an incredibly narrow green guarded by a large bunker on the right and a waste area on the left. The green is contoured like a potato chip, with various slopes and contours. If the flag is on the front and your approach is above the hole, be very careful of the speed coming down this hill. If the flag is at the back, do not go long. Play to the center of the green and putt straight up the slope. The miss is short right! een after the iconic gr s hi t ed el od m io *Faz ave with sides that nc co gn si de st ha Tilling t like a potato chip! lo a is e ap sh he T . up sweep
GOOD LUCK!!
Evolution of the Club
Evolution of the Club For over 25 years, the Kiawah Island Club has celebrated sportsmen, fostered friendships, and played backdrop to innumerable lifelong memories. Whether Members are interested in golfing, being pampered, enjoying award-winning cuisine, or experiencing adventurous or laidback outdoor pursuits, they are all welcome at the Kiawah Island Club. In order to understand where the Kiawah Island Club is headed, we must always be able to reflect on its storied past. Thanksgiving Day 1993: The Robert A.M. Stern-designed Beach Club, the first Kiawah Island Club amenity, opened its doors to the Club’s 400 charter Members. A Club is born. 1994: Although Kiawah Island was already home to four Resort-owned golf courses, no private golf courses existed for Club Members. In 1994, ground broke on River Course, the Island’s first private course. The course was designed by Tom Fazio and is considered, even today, to be one of his greatest designs. Fazio and the Kiawah Island Club team capitalized on a beautiful tract of land to create the course. the stunning views, lush natural edges, and world-class fairways introduced a new status to the Kiawah Island Club and ultimately led River Course to be proclaimed as one of America’s Best Modern Courses by GOLF Magazine. October 1995: Arnold Palmer, Frank Ford, John Rivers, and Buddy Darby, one of the original partners at Kiawah Partners, christen the River Course as the first foursome to play.
The Beach Club
November 1995: Play for Members officially opens on River Course. Construction on the River Course Clubhouse begins.
River Course Tournament Highlights: 1996 Society of Seniors 1998 Carolinas PGA Section Championship 2000 South Carolina Amateur (DJ Trahan took third in this tournament. He would later go on to take top honors on the PGA Tour twice. He currently serves as a PGA Ambassador for the Kiawah Island Club.) 2000 Delta MUSC Children’s Classic 2001 Kiawah Children’s Hospital Golf Classic 2005 Fazio Cup 2008 SCPGA Palmetto Cup Matches 2009 USGA U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
River Course
Evolution of the Club
June 1996: The Club ushers in the River Course Clubhouse grand opening with a 10-day celebration full of Member events. The Clubhouse, a masterful design by Shope Reno Wharton, was greatly revered and became a major influence on future architecture across the Island. September 1998: Realizing the need for another golf option for Members, the Kiawah Island Club began working with Tom Watson for the design of its second private golf course, Cassique. Cassique was built on land that had previously been an active tomato farm field, meaning the earth was flat and without any natural features. This presented an exciting challenge to the Kiawah Island Club team and Watson. The team used dirt to create an entirely new landscape, featuring large-scale dunes that run parallel to the ocean, just as they would if they were naturally formed. Watson built the golf course into this new landscape in a style reminiscent of the links-style courses in Scotland and Ireland. 1999: River Course is named a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by Audubon International. It is also receives its distinction from GOLF Magazine as one of America’s Best Modern Courses.
Cassique
April 2000: Member play opens on Tom Watson’s Cassique Course. Cassique has hosted some of golf’s greatest players in an impressive array of top-tier tournaments since its 2000 debut. Perhaps no Cassique event boasted the international appeal more so than the 2004 UBS Cup. Arnold Palmer, team captain in all four UBS Cup tournaments, brought the American team to a stunning 14 – 10 victory at Cassique in the last UBS Cup tournament played. November 2001: The Cassique Clubhouse hosts its grand opening. The Clubhouse is designed by Shope Reno Wharton to mimic the stately English manor style of classic European clubhouses, particularly those by celebrated architect Charles F. A. Voysey. In homage to the architect, Cassique’s stellar Voysey’s restaurant opens with a menu developed by Gramercy Park’s Tom Colicchio in what was perhaps the first ever collaboration between celebrity chef and private club.
Cassique Tournament Highlights:
2002 2003 2004 2004 2009 2013
Carolinas PGA Section Championship Kiawah Island Pro-Celebrity Challenge South Carolina Four-Ball Championship UBS Cup USGA U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Carolinas PGA Section Championship
Cassique Clubhouse
Evolution of the Club
2006: The 9,000-square-foot Sports Pavilion opens. This state-of-the-art facility revolutionizes fitness for Members, offering tennis courts, squash courts, fitness equipment, and daily fitness classes.
May 2016: The Marsh House opens in Ocean Park, providing residents with a retreat to enjoy food, drink, or a swim in its infinity pool while gazing out on some of the most stunning views on Kiawah Island.
2010: The River Course Clubhouse is lost to an electrical fire. The process to rebuild begins immediately.
November 2017: The Golf Learning Center opens in Cassique, boasting a fitness center, club repair room, and three spacious hitting bays that feature the best stateof-the-art technology in the world of golf today.
2011: A new community dock is built in Cassique, giving Club Members easy access to launch kayaks or paddleboards onto the winding Kiawah River. August 2012: With the PGA Championship being held at Kiawah’s Ocean Course, the Club hosted a week of grand affairs for its Members to celebrate, including daily events in a double decker tent overlooking the 14th hole of the Ocean Course. December 2012: The River Course Clubhouse reopens better than ever, with a particularly stunning Men’s Locker Room, crafted to make Members feel as though they are inside a whiskey barrel. In 2019, GOLF Magazine names the locker room one of the “Coolest Spots in Golf”.
April 2019: The Beach Club reopens with a new restaurant, B-Liner, anchoring the world-class amenity with James Beard award winner chef Mike Lata at the helm. Spring 2020: The Beach Club will undergo a multi-million dollar overhaul of the exterior pool and deck area. 2021: The Club is planning for a second Beach Club for the west end of the Island to include dining, pools, and cottage options.
June 2013: South Street Partners purchases Kiawah Partners development interests, including ownership of the Kiawah Island Club.
May 2021: The PGA Championship will once again be held at Kiawah’s Ocean Course. The Club will host programming from The Beach Club overlooking the Ocean Course’s 14th hole, as well as provide Members with exclusive access to the course through The Beach Club.
May 2015: The Kiawah Island Sporting Club opens, offering four styles of shooting— skeet, trap, Five Stand, and a 10-station clays course designed by NSCA Level III Instructor Marty Fischer.
May 2023: The Kiawah Island Club will be the host site for the 9th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with 128 two-person teams competing at both the River Course and Cassique courses.
May 2016: The Boat Club opens allowing Member to navigate the Island’s beauty by booking a cruise or fishing charter.
Sports Pavilion
2012 PGA Championship
River Course Men’s Locker Room
Accolades and Awards
Accolades and Awards
GOLF & TENNIS • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Top Golf Course in SC: The Ocean Course South Carolina Rating Panel 2018 Top 6 Golf Courses to Travel: The Ocean Course Forbes 2018 Top 50 SC Golf Courses: Cassique, River Course, Turtle Point South Carolina Course Rating Panel 2018 Number 1 Tennis Resort in the World | Tennis Resorts Online 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 Top Resort Communities | Barron’s PENTA 2016 Top 100 Residential Courses | GolfWeek 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Top 100 Modern Courses in America | GolfWeek 2015, 2009 Top 25 Golf Resorts in the World | Links magazine 2013 Best US Golf Resorts (#2) | Global Traveler magazine 2011 America’s Toughest Golf Course: The Ocean Course | Golf Digest 2011, 2007 Number 1 US Resort | Golf World 2010 America’s Best Private Courses | Golf Digest 2009 Top 5 Tennis Resorts in America | Tennis magazine 2008
FOR GUESTS • • • • • •
Best Beach Resorts in the World (#3) | Travel + Leisure 2015 10 Best Beaches for Family Reunions (#2) | TripAdvisor’s Family Vacation Critic 2015 Best American Beach Resorts (#2) | Condé Nast Traveler 2014 Top 10 Family Vacations | Travel + Leisure 2014 Top Family Hotels in the US (#3) | Travel + Leisure 2014 Top Beach Resorts in the World (#4) | Andrew Harper Readers’ Choice 2013
ISLAND LIVING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
No. 2 Island in the World | Condé Nast Traveler 2019 Top 10 Beaches | Dr. Beach 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 No. 3 Island in the U.S. | Condé Nast Traveler 2018 Top 17 Beach Vacations in US for Total Relaxation | Trip Advisor 2018 Top 9 Beaches in Charleston | Condé Nast 2018 Top 10 Best Little Beach Towns to Visit in Spring | Coastal Living 2018 Top 10 Places for Second Homes | Barron’s PENTA 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 Top 10 Islands in America | Travel + Leisure 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 The South’s Best Islands | Southern Living 2017 Top 10 Beaches in America | The Travel Channel 2017, 2016, 2015, 2008 Best of the Best in Planned Communities (best ocean views) | Ideal Living 2017 The Best 10 Islands in the US | Condé Nast Traveler 2016 Number 1 Island in America | Travel + Leisure 2014 Top Islands in North America | Condé Nast Traveler 2014, 2009 America’s Happiest Seaside Town | Coastal Living 2012
NATURE • • • • •
Certified Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary | Audubon International 2012, 1999 Green Award: World’s Most Environmentally Sensitive Golf Resorts | Golf Inc. magazine 2008 Land Conservationist of the Year | South Carolina Wildlife Foundation, 1994 National Merit Award for Ecological Planning | American Society of Landscape Architects Urban Land Institute (ULI) Award for Excellence 1996
Insider’s Guide to the Island
Insider’s Guide to the Island Downtown Charleston
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CASSIQUE
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KIAWAH RIVER
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Governor’s Drive
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Golf
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Cassique Course
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Consistently ranked on Golf Digest’s list of Top 100 Modern Courses, British Open champion Tom Watson designed the Cassique Course to be a classic links course, making it a unique location perfect for hosting the 2003 Palmer Cup, 2004 UBS Cup, and 2009 USGA Mid-Am. 2
Golf Learning Center
Improve your golf fitness, hone your putting techniques, and get assessed by professionals including Top 100 Instructor and Kiawah Island Club Director of Golf Instruction Carol Preisinger in three state-of-the-art bays. 3
River Course
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Designed by Tom Fazio to offer a challenging test along the Kiawah River, you’ll be able to spot stunning wildlife along the Audubon International-certified River Course. 4
Ocean Course
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Home to the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championship, the Pete and Alice Dye-designed Ocean Course along the Atlantic Ocean is as renowned for its beauty as it is its difficulty.
Men’s Locker Room at River Course
GOLF Magazine called it one of the “Coolest Spots in Golf” for a reason—the Men’s Locker Room at River Course has a show-stopping design featuring walls made of white oyster shells set under a vaulted ceiling that will make you feel like you’re inside a whisky barrel.
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The Beach Club
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Set on 10 miles of white-sand beach, The Beach Club is home to not only clear blue pools and great beachside service, but also B-Liner, the restaurant brainchild of James Beard award-winning chef Mike Lata, owner of Charleston’s FIG and The Ordinary.
Marsh House
You’ll feel like you’ve traveled to a different continent while you sip cocktails at the edge of the infinity pool at the Marsh House and gaze out over the expansive marsh. 8
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Sasanqua
Hit the links too hard? Golfers and non-golfers alike agree that the best way to ease achy muscles is with a custom massage at the Kiawah Island Club’s heavenly spa, Sasanqua.
Relaxation
Outdoors
Beach at the Ocean Course Clubhouse
The perfect spot to ride a bike along the beach and birdwatch—the birds of Kiawah nest here year-round.
Marsh Island Park Tower
Get a birds-eye view of the marsh and Kiawah River from 50 feet in the air at this permanent viewing tower.
Bridge to Little Eagle Island
Witness both sunrise and sunset views here surrounded by the glittering marsh. 12
Hiking Trails in the Preserve
Take a walk through this serene maritime forest, teeming with birds and Lowcountry flora and fauna. 13
Bridge over Kiawah River
It’s worth the early wake-up time to launch a kayak or paddleboard and take in sunrise views from the water.