GONE TO CAROLINA- THE OCEAN COURSE AT KIAWAH ISLAND
At Trial by Era, we love playing golf, and we love great golf courses even more. In our opinion, no course is better than the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. Herein begins my review of the celebrated Ocean Course. One round here is unforgettable; two rounds, like my brother and I had the pleasure of experiencing, is priceless.
Two Augusts ago, my twin brother Joe and I embarked on a 20-hour trek from our home in Brookfield, Connecticut, to Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Infected by pure excitement, we couldn't help but hum the melody to James Taylor's most famous song, Carolina in My Mind, as we traveled down interstate highways, through lush Virginia mountain passes, and along rows and rows of green, Carolina fields. Yes, we were gone to Carolina in every sense of the word.
Kiawah Island itself boasts five courses, four of which are, if not PGA Championship worthy, impressive tracks in their own right. However, we were here to play Kiawah's most celebrated—and challenging—course: the illustrious Ocean Course, host of the 2012 PGA Championship and the 1991 Ryder Cup, a tournament that was famously dubbed the "War on the Shore" because of the intensity of the competition and difficulty of the course.
Bordered by large, sandy dunes and the unfettered Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Course is completely exposed to the elements. Originally designed to be sheltered by the dunes, and therefore protected from the wind, during construction Pete Dye's wife, Alice, suggested that the fairways and greens be raised to offer golfers a better view of the blue-green sea. As a result, the Ocean Course possesses the greatest number of seaside holes on the East coast, as well as a layout that is greatly affected by the strong Atlantic wind. Combined with its sandy cart paths, swaying sea grass, and wild, rustling, Scottish fescue, the Ocean Course is a rugged challenge. And, the course also is home to many animals, including alligators, snakes, and the occasional heron.
Arriving early, we found that the course possessed a certain mystique, one that was bolstered by the natural beauty of Kiawah Island. Wisps of fog were illuminated by the slumbering South Carolina sun, which in turn casted golden-fringed shadows over the opening holes. The range was a golfer's Shangri-La; golf balls were stacked in triangular piles and placed neatly next to small plaques displaying golfers' starting times and last names. At the range, we were introduced to our caddies: Patrick and John. A few swings and puts and we were off, whisked away to the first hole by a chauffeur-driven golf cart. When we reached the tee box, the starter cracked a few jokes, handed us scorecards, asked if we had any questions, and then set us loose on the untamed and unparalleled Ocean Course.
My favorite holes were the par 4 third, the par 4 ninth, the par 3 fourteenth, the par 3 seventeenth, and the par 4 eighteenth. On the fourteenth and eighteenth holes especially, the views of the Atlantic Ocean are spectacular. And even though the seventeenth hole runs away from the ocean, the way in which it is tucked perfectly behind a small, fescue-bordered pond makes it perhaps the most picturesque hole on the course.
It's no wonder that the Ocean Course was chosen to host the 2012 PGA Championship; the course possesses the perfect blend of challenge and beauty. Each hole feels as if, long ago, an artist etched it into the landscape, knowing that coming generations of viewers would stand stricken at the tee, mesmerized by the swaying grasses, sand, sea and waves. Pete and Alice Dye are those artists. We are those viewers.
Matt's Ocean Course Survival Guide:
1. Bring a lot of bug spray. Especially on the front nine, the bugs can quickly turn what is a great experience into the worst round of your life.
2. In the summer, temperatures routinely reach ninety and even 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure to pack plenty of water and wear light, comfortable clothing. Also, before 12 pm, the Ocean Course is walking only.
3. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. With almost no shade from trees, the ocean course is not only exposed to the Atlantic wind, but also to the beating Carolina sun.
4. Remember that you probably won't set any course records. The Ocean course is consistently ranked as one of the most challenging public courses in the country so be prepared to play worse than usual.
5. Our caddies were funny, talkative, and extremely knowledgeable, so listening to your caddy will not only make your round more enjoyable, but it will also help you shoot a lower score.