Kiawah Island Golf Resort earns high honors from Travel and Leisure Golf

In the September Issue of Travel and Leisure Golf, Kiawah Island Golf Resort was named the top U.S. Golf Resort, coming in ahead of Pebble Beach and Pinehurst.

Kiawah also dominated the Southeast rankings, claiming first place in each of the following categories: “Best Southeast resort"; “Best Resort for Families"; “Most Underrated Resort"; “Best Restaurants"; “Best Resort Course"(Ocean Course); and “Best for Buddy Trips". Furthermore, with what I believe to be the most impressive showing, Kiawah’s Turtle Point, Osprey Point, and Cougar Point ranked first, second, and third, respectively, in the “Most Underrated Course” category (though I would personally switch the places of Cougar Point and Turtle Point).

For the record, I am in no way reporting this as an objective observer, as I am an employee of Kiawah. I have personal experience with many of the Southeast resorts, including Pinehurst, Sea Island, Reynolds Plantation, Wild Dunes, and one of the major national resorts in Kohler;I certainly believe that every single award given by Travel and Leisure Golf is well-deserved, and I truly believe that I would feel that way even if I didn’t work for the resort.

And while I’m sure it appears that I’m shamelessly biased, I can objectively report the reaction of many of the resort’s guests. While working as a caddie at Ocean Course, I talked golf with dozens of people who have played all over the country. Ever single person (literally, no exaggeration) who had played at Whistling Straits believed the Ocean Course is a more fair and more enjoyable golf course. Ever single person (again, no exaggeration) who had played at Pinehurst 2 believed that the Ocean Course is more worthy of the cost, either as a result of the aesthetics, the layout, or both.

The overall reason that Kiawah dominated these awards is very simple: the resort continues to improve everything. The additions of world-class accommodations with The Sanctuary, fantastic dining with The Ocean Room, and constant improvements to the golf with the construction of the new Ocean Course clubhouse and the planned revamping of the already fantastic greens at Osprey Point have made the resort something that anyone who loves golf should experience. Every guest who has been vacationing at Kiawah for years is noticing the changes, and Travel and Leisure Golf apparently did as well.

Call me a “South Carolina” homer, call me biased, or tell me I’m wrong, but the fact is that if you haven’t played golf at Kiawah you are missing out.