Kiawah Island Golf Resort is located on a barrier island of coastal South Carolina only 21 miles from historic Charleston. Kiawah Island Golf Resort lies upon a ten-mile stretch of one of America’s Top beaches. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the 10,000-acre island is a haven for a large community of wildlife including egrets, loggerhead turtles and alligators. The Sanctuary is Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s hotel: a luxurious, ultra-modern oceanfront resort and spa that opened in August 2004.
Other amenities at Kiawah Island include retail shops, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, two indoor restaurants and bars, one outdoor restaurant and bar, two ballrooms, an executive boardroom suite, large and elegant guestrooms with spectacular ocean views, outdoor function gardens within yards of the Atlantic Ocean, and a private concierge level. Although Kiawah is designated as a golf resort, there’s no doubt that it makes an ideal choice for a family vacation, wedding, honeymoon or a weekend getaway.
Golf: Kiawah Island Golf Resort boasts five championship courses designed by some of the world’s leading golf course architects:
- The Ocean Course - Pete Dye
- Osprey Point - Tom Fazio
- Turtle Point - Jack Nicklaus
- Cougar Point - Gary Player
- Oak Point - Clyde Johnston.
More Charleston, SC, Golf Courses
Accommodations: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf has 255 guest rooms and suites (90% have ocean views). About half the rooms have King size beds, while the other half features Double and Queen size beds. The hotel has 11 executive suites (approx. 1,200 square feet), one governor’s suite (1,610 square feet) and one presidential suite (3,100 square feet). All guestrooms have Five-fixture bathrooms with large marble walk-in showers, dual vanities, private water closets and deep soaking tubs. Rooms also have shuttered bathroom windows and ocean view balconies. The furniture, including the bed, is custom made. Each room has DVD/CD players and complimentary high-speed Internet access. The standard King guest room is substantially larger than guestrooms in most other luxury hotels.
Tennis: Two world-class tennis clubs, which have hosted such prestigious events as the ’98 FED CUP and the ’90 US Men’s Clay Court Championship. Together, the facilities include 23 clay courts and five hard courts, and an innovative practice court with an automatic retrieval ball machine. The resort, rated #1 in the world by TennisResortsOnline.com, offers an array of clinics and camps.
Meetings & Conventions: Over 19,000 square feet of meeting and conference facilities, in addition to several unique outdoors function areas. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island adds another 18,000 square feet of the finest meeting space in the country: that, and the obvious attraction of its five championship golf courses, make the resort an obvious choice for for a corporate convention or getaway.
Restaurants: The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary is the resort’s signature and specialty restaurant pampering guests with Modern Interpretations of Classical Cuisine. The Bar at The Ocean Room is adjacent to The Ocean Room, providing a place to enjoy a scotch or martini. Jasmine Porch, also at The Sanctuary, has a stunning ocean view and offers casual and traditional Lowcountry favorites. Loggerhead Bar & Grill is located poolside at The Sanctuary and serves classic American fare and frozen drinks. Turtle Point Bar & Grill offers burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and wings and has outdoor dining near the 18th green. Located right on the ocean, The Atlantic Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking the resort’s famous Ocean Course. Shrimper’s, located in The Shops serves lunch and dinner, and caters to families with a simple menu and inexpensive prices. The Night Heron Poolside Grill & Bar features appetizers, salads, local seafood, sandwiches and burgers.
The Spa at The Sanctuary is a Mobil Five-Star, 12-room garden-themed spa facility featuring treatments based upon the ocean, forest and botanical gardens. There is also a sauna, steam room and whirlpool.
Nature Programs: A nature center with on-staff naturalists for viewing local snakes, lizards, turtles and a young alligator. There are also walking tours and workshops that teach about indigenous island wildlife in their natural habitats. For outdoor adventure the resort offers marsh creek canoeing, ocean kayaking, back-river excursions and biking.
Family Activities: Year-round activities include oyster roasts, ice cream socials, festivals, arts and crafts, productions and holiday events – such as Easter egg hunts, 4th of July fireworks and holiday tree lightings.
Rates: Villas (1-4 bedrooms): $112 to $782 per night; $585 to $4,300 weekly Luxury homes: $240 to $2,340 per night; $1,400 to $16,000 weekly The Sanctuary: $299 to $750 per night; $1,000-$4,500 for suites nightly.
- Compare Prices for Kiawah Island Golf Resort
The Verdict: Over the past decade, or so, I’ve visited some incredible luxury family and golf resorts. Very few rise to the standards of Kiawah Island. The golf is, of course, its most obvious attraction, and the five courses are almost beyond compare. Beyond the golf.
How to get There:
The closest regional airport is Charleston International Airport. The airport is served by Delta, Continental, US Air, United, Northwest, and several others.
Look for the best airline and car rental deals with these two aggregators, which provide travelers with an up-to-date search tool to compare prices on airfares and car rentals of all ratings:
- Compare Prices on Airfare to Myrtle Beach
- Compare Prices on Rental Cars
Contact:
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, One Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC, 29455; (843) 768-2121 or 800-654-2924; www.kiawahresort.com
More Myrtle Beach Hotels and Resorts
And don’t forget: there are many other opportunities for great golf all over the world. Favorite locations include Scotland, Florida, the American Southwest, Bermuda, the Bahamas and many more. For up-to-date golf travel news and information, be sure to Subscribe to my weekly Newsletter.
