Spring Break on Kiawah Island: Golf, Family & Southern Charm

If Pebble Beach is the crown jewel of the Pacific, then Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina is its Atlantic Coast counterpart.

With world-class golf, luxurious and varied accommodations, family-friendly amenities and Lowcountry charm in spades, Kiawah is a dream destination that blends relaxation with recreation, all wrapped in five-star service and subtropical serenity.

After five visits since 2017, my family and I continue to find new reasons to fall in love with Kiawah. This year’s Spring Break was no different – six incredible nights at Kiawah Island Golf Resort followed by a night in nearby Charleston gave us the perfect mix of beachside bliss, championsip golf, great food and southern hospitality.

The Kiawah Spring Break Experience

We’ve stayed in a number of different places over the years during our visits to Kiawah Island, including a 1-bedroom condo during Kelly’s and my honeymoon, several 4- and 5-plus bedroom, multi-million dollar mansions (while vacationing with other families) and the 2-bedroom villa we stayed in this time at 2176 Surfwatch.

Just steps from the beach, the Cougar Point clubhouse and biking/walking paths, we found this latest option to work beautifully for our family of four.

The weather was nice for Midwesterners escaping March: mid-60s to low-70s with sunshine and plenty of breeze (a little too much at times, especially on the Ocean Course!). The Atlantic’s waves in its shallow depths were calm, the sand was soft and our kids loved running in and out of the water before our daily trips to the pool at Night Heron Park.

From long walks through Kiawah’s maritime forest bike paths to great meals, outstanding golf and unforgettable family time, this was one of our best vacations yet.

Getting to Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Kiawah Island is located about 45 minutes from Charleston International Airport (CHS).

Nonstop flights to CHS are plentiful from several Midwest cities including Chicago, but unfortunately not from Milwaukee at this time (fingers crossed that will change in the near future).

We tried something new this time, getting a Friday evening start to our vacation by driving to Chicago the night before an early-morning flight from Midway. While it allowed us to get to Charleston early on Saturday morning (and back home to Milwaukee early the following Saturday morning), I’m not sure I’d do it again. I think I would prefer to just deal with the inevitable layover and keep the driving closer to home/avoid a stressful hotel night in Chicago prior to vacationing.

While driving is not 100% necesssary once you get to Kiawah Island – they have a complimentary, convenient shuttle service that will ferry resort guests all around the island – it is nice to have if you want to get to and from area attractions like Freshfields Village (a 5-minute drive from the resort check-in), Angel Oak or dining there or on nearby Seabrook Island.

Things to Do at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Whether you’re into golf, nature, food or family fun, there’s something for everyone at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, like:

• Beaches: Ten miles of soft, sandy beaches with shallow water perfect for kids. Wind can be a factor during the spring, but it’s still great for beachcombing, playing catch and just relaxing.
• Pools: Night Heron Park’s pools are a highlight for families. We especially loved the heated family pool, and the kids had a blast on the big slides in the kids area. There are other pools at the resort, but not open until closer to the summer season.
• Dining: On-property, we have enjoyed Cherrywood BBQ, The Atlantic Room (very fancy / probably not for kids), Tomasso’s and The Player’s Pub. Off-site favorites have included La Tela Pizzeria at nearby Freshfields Village and The Salty Dog on Seabrook Island (gator bites, anyone? These quickly became Charlie’s favorite new food). For ice cream and other frozen treats, Beaches & Cream at The Sanctuary and Ben & Jerry’s at Freshfields are always welcomed visits, as well.
• Biking and Nature: With 30 miles of paved bike paths and abundant wildlife, there’s no better way to explore Kiawah Island. Birdwatching with Charlie’s new “Birds of South Carolina” guidebook became a highlight, as well, as we spotted great blue herons, eastern bluebirds (Quinn swears she was a bluebird in a former life – a story for another day), cormorants, huge white egrets, ospreys and even a bald eagle.
• Kids Activities: Camp Kiawah and other kids programs offer fun for children 3-15 years old, and the nature center at Night Heron Park is a welcomed respite especially if the weather’s not cooperating. The nature center, which also has a nice playground for kids, has live baby gators, snakes, possums and other wildlife native to the area.
• Shopping: Freshfields Village has everything from groceries to boutique stores, sporting goods and books, plus great spots like the FortyEight Wine Bar.

Coming soon: The Night Heron Park Activities Center is currently under construction with a 2025 scheduled debut and will feature a restaurant, arcade, golf simulators, bowling and much more – this will be a huge win for families.

Golf at Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island is home to five public-access championship golf courses, plus two private tracks that round out the island’s elite golf offerings:

The Ocean Course

Pete Dye’s masterpiece and host to the memorable 1991 Ryder Cup, 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, the Ocean Course is one of the most iconic tracks in all of North America and currently ranked the third best public course in the country.

Designed to be played walking with a caddie (be sure to check out local caddie, Hank McGannon’s, article on what to expect!) and routed with both the Atlantic Ocean and its ever-present winds in mind, it’s one of those courses where the difficulty, beauty and history all blend together in equal measure.

Leading up to our Spring Break trip, I’d told WGA Contributing Writer Brian Murphy at the Milwaukee Golf Show that I had a tee time at the Ocean Course on the 24th. “What time?” he asked. Turns out he had the tee time directly before ours’, visiting neighboring Seabrook Island to help celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

When his dad threw out his back earlier in the week, we ended up joining forces along with my good buddy and former North Hills compatriate Ross, who moved with his family to Charleston seven years ago.

We were met on the Ocean Course with sustained 21 mph winds and gusts in the upper 30s – when you think about it, that’s kind of what you want when playing a championship test like this known for that same inherent challenge (very similar to playing Dye’s other shoreline spectacle at Whistling Straits).

The first four holes of the Ocean Course offer a nice warm-up stretch with the wind at players’ backs, lulling them into a false sense of security. This changes quickly, though, as the fifth through 13th holes turn directly into the prevailing wind during an inward stretch that’s sure to inflate scorecards.

It’s an absolute grind, but beautiful. It’s the kind of experience you have to remind yourself to look up and enjoy – it’s easy to be peering toward the ground when your eyes are tearing up from such intense winds.

With our caddies Jon and Gary leading the way and helping us navigate the challenging conditions, we managed to keep it together pretty well, even hitting a number of high-quality, memorable shots during this stretch. Anything miss-hit, though, ballooned with the wind and was sure to become gator-bate amidst the marshes.

The stretch from the par three 14th through 18th along the beach is as dramatic and scenic as any finishing stretch in golf. The ocean breeze, sea oats dancing on the dunes and the feeling of battling the elements all add to the legend of the Ocean Course.

And then there’s the 17th – one of the most intimidating one-shotters in all of golf. Players need to take enough club on 17 to clear the water, but not so much that they’ll end up in a deep bunker with a nearly impossible recovery shot played back towards the pond.

I filmed my “featured hole” segment here during our round, and while I didn’t card a birdie, I’ll always remember the moment.

A word of advice: Don’t overestimate yourself when choosing tees. The 6,400-yard option plays significantly longer when factoring in the wind, for example, and elevated greens. Jon’s advice was that with winds like we had, it actually plays more like 6,850 or longer. It’s not just about yardage on the Ocean Course – it’s about surviving one of Pete Dye’s ultimate tests.

Whether it’s your first round or your tenth, the Ocean Course is absolutely unforgettable. It’s everything a bucketlist golf experience should be.

For more on the Ocean Course, check out these past WGA articles on Dye’s indelible championship design at Kiawah Island…

Osprey Point Golf Course

Tom Fazio’s Osprey Point is the perfect resort course for those looking for a more approachable, yet still stunning Kiawah golf experience.

The layout is player-friendly without being simple, with wide fairways, generous greens and minimal forced carries (although there are plenty of options for forced carries, if you’d prefer). It’s as ideal for seasoned players as it is for juniors and beginners.

On the last evening of our Spring Break trip, I teed it up there with Kelly and our kids, Charlie and Quinn, for a nine-hole twilight round.

Charlie’s seven and entering his fifth year of junior golf at North Hills Country Club – he’s really starting to “get it,” although he tends to have the temperament you’d expect from a seven-year-old. Our daughter, Quinn, is six and entering her second season. She is always thrilled to be out there on the course swinging, and I’d honestly say is way ahead of where we’d expect her to be with her developing golf game. Her attitude, especially, is perfect for golf – like me, she never gets down and always enjoys the experience.

Playing alongside my kids, especially in such a picturesque and laidback setting, was one of many highlights of the week and something I hope I’ll be able to do with them for many decades to come.

Osprey Point winds through forested land and around lagoons, with several holes providing a charming mix of challenge and playability.

There are no overwhelming carries, and the course features that distinct Tom Fazio polish to it – everything is thought through and impeccably maintained.

Twilight pricing is fair, especially for a resort of Kiawah’s stature. Adults can play nine holes for $122.50 and juniors for $61.25. For us, it was well worth the investment to create those family memories and watch the kids enjoy golf in such an incredible setting.

It’s also the kind of course where players of different skill levels can enjoy the game together. Seeing Quinn light up when she got a shot airborne, or Charlie’s excitement over his first par, made for one of the most fulfilling rounds I’ve played in a long time.

For more on Osprey Point Golf Course, check out my past/updated WGA course review, linked below (I updated the photos/video from this recent experience):

Cougar Point Golf Course

Gary Player’s Cougar Point is a wonderfully strategic and scenic layout that often flies under the radar due to its proximity to The Ocean Course’s fame. That said, this is one of Kiawah’s most enjoyable tracks, offering a satisfying blend of challenge and playability.

We’ve stayed near Cougar Point several times – including during this trip – and the convenience is fantastic.

Cougar Point has a beautiful, recently renovated clubhouse and Player’s Pub is a great spot to grab a bite (although one of KIGR’s more expensive options). The course winds through a beautiful section of the island. With holes that trace tidal marshes and meander through maritime forest, it provides a quintessential Lowcountry golf experience.

One of my favorite stretches on Cougar Point is holes four through six, which run north of Kiawah Island Parkway and offer expansive views of the marsh. These holes are memorable for their scenery as well as their design. The par three sixth, in particular, is one of my favorite golf holes on the island. Played over water to a green that feels perched above the wetlands, it’s as visually striking as it is demanding.

On one of our family hikes, we even stumbled across a lookout tower that offered a stunning overhead view of the sixth – it was a cool surprise that made the hole even more special to me.

Cougar Point is a great resort course. It’s fair and sporty/fun, rewards good shots and provides plenty of memorable views without overly penalizing misses.

Cougar Point is plenty challenging for seasoned golfers, but playable enough for mid- to high-handicappers to enjoy themselves.

The design gives players options off the tee and on approach shots, and there’s a wonderful rhythm to the round.

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The finishing hole at Cougar is also one of my favorites on the island. Outside of the iconic, tumultuous 18th on the Ocean Course, the 18th on Player’s course might be my pick for the best closer at Kiawah.

With a tee shot that demands focus and a greens complex framed by water and trees, it’s a gorgeous and strong finishing test. It’s also positioned in a great spot near the clubhouse, which makes for a perfect end to the round whether you’re heading into the Player’s Pub or shuttling back to your accommodations.

The conditions at Cougar, like at all courses at Kiawah Island, are absolutely superb. The resort’s turf teams do an exceptional job of keeping everything green and lush with greens that roll true and nothing out of place.

While Cougar Point may not have the major championship pedigree of The Ocean Course, it certainly holds its own in the Kiawah lineup.

For more on Cougar Point Golf Course, check out my past/updated WGA review, linked below:

Turtle Point Golf Course

Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1981, Turtle Point is known for its narrow fairways, small greens and three oceanfront holes that provide scenic drama.

While I have yet to play Turtle Point myself, I like what they say about it on Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s website:

“Turtle Point’s design emphasizes strategy and thinking through each shot. With a classic Nicklaus feel, it offers a unique challenge within Kiawah’s world-class lineup.” – KiawahResort.com

Oak Point Golf Course

Clyde Johnston’s Oak Point lies just off the island and was renovated in 2015. It’s a true Lowcountry experience with wide fairways, marshland vistas, and great conditions.

Again, I haven’t had a chance to play Oak Point yet so will point to what the resort has to say about it on their site:

“A Scottish-American design nestled against the Kiawah River, Oak Point delivers exceptional playability and scenery in a more traditional layout.” – KiawahResort.com

Private Club Options on Kiawah Island

Cassique (Tom Watson, 2000) and The River Course (Tom Fazio, 1995) are private club offerings for Kiawah Island Club members.

Cassique has a Scottish links-style design, while The River Course meanders along the Kiawah River with beautiful Lowcountry scenery.

I’m hoping to play both eventually, but they have had club tournaments the past two times we’ve visited (and I don’t want to play more than one round on my own during family trips, for obvious reasons).

Charleston, South Carolina: A Perfect Bookend

After six nights on Kiawah Island, we checked out of our villa and drove the short 45 minutes to Charleston. With charming streets, historic architecture and one of the best food scenes in the country, Charleston is a perfect complement to Kiawah.

During our visit we spent time at the Charleston City Market on Meeting Street, the famous Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park (both the first day we got to South Carolina and on the last one, per request by Quinn – she could not get enough of walking around in the fountain!), the South Carolina Aquarium and shopped on King Street (yes, even Sewing Down South from Southern Charm – I’m not ashamed to admit we’re both fans).

Our last night was spent with Ross, his wife Kari and their kids at Kingstide on Daniel Island – with great food, plenty of green space for the kids to play and a gorgeous waterfront setting it was the perfect way to end our 2025 Spring Break vacation.

If you can, book-end your Kiawah trip with a night or two in Charleston. Not only does it make travel more convenient, but it adds an entirely different, enriching dimension to the vacation.

Kiawah Island is Always Worth it

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is one of those rare destinations that truly has it all. Whether you’re a hardcore golfer, a family looking for sunshine and simplicity, or a couple in need of R&R, it delivers on every front.

For golfers, it’s a bucket list destination—with The Ocean Course alone making the trip worth it. For families, it’s a playground of natural beauty, creature comforts, and constant activities. For foodies and adventurers, it’s a gateway to one of the most culturally rich cities in the South.

Every time we visit, we leave with more great memories—and more reasons to return. From condo stays to beachside villas and luxury resorts, each trip is a little different, but always magical.

And while we were sad (as always) to see the Kiawah Island sign in our rear-view mirror, we know we’ll be back. Maybe next year. Maybe sooner.

Because places like this? They stay with you.

See you again soon, Kiawah.