Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Kiawah Beach Drive,

Kiawah Island, South Carolina SC 29455

  • Office

    +1 (800) 654 2924
  • Pro shop

    +1 (843) 266 4020
  • Fax

    +1 (843) 768 2736
  • Golf pro

    Josh Wagaman (PGA, Head Professional); Brian Gerard (PGA, Director of Golf).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Woodland, residential and marshland.

  • Designer:

    In 1996 Gary Player took the former Marsh Point golf course and transformed it into today's Cougar Point.

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6875
6090
4776
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
74
69.8
67.6

At the same location:

Kiawah Island Resort is home to five 18-hole championship courses: The Ocean Course (par-72, 7356 yards from the back tees); Osprey Point (par-72, 6932 yards); Turtle Point (par-72, 7061 yards); Cougar Point (par-72, 6875 yards), and just before you get onto the Island, Oak Point (par-72, 6701 yards).

Location

Latitude:

32.591872

Longitude:

-80.124138

How to get there:

21 miles SW of Charleston

From the centre of Charleston, take Hwy 17 West. After crossing the Ashley River Bridge (with Holiday Inn rotunda on your left) turn left onto the 171 (Wesley Drive / Folly Bridge Blvd). After 1 mile turn right onto the 700 (Maybank Hwy). After approx 7 miles at crossroads, turn left onto Bohicket Road (Main Road*). After approx 10 miles turn left at roundabout, direction Kiawah Island (turn right for Seabrook Island). After 1 mile stop at gatehouse. 100 yards after gatehouse turn right direction West Beach Village, and follow road to Cougar Point clubhouse. (* Note : Main Road also connects directly to Hwy 17, ten miles west of Charleston).

Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.

Est. 1976

Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course): Originally known as Marsh Point, the course dates from 1976 and was the first to be built on Kiawah Island. Twenty years after opening, Gary Player redesigned the layout, creating a thoroughly enjoyable and testing golf course (now known as Cougar Point).

The scenic high point of the round comes early in proceedings. The gently dog-legging par-4 4th hole brings you directly alongside the vast marshlands that flank the Kiawah River. The green of the par-4 5th and par-3 6th both jut out into the marshland, creating two fabulous signature holes. The natural environment continues as you head back inland from the river at the par-4 7th, another hole where an accurate approach shot is required to hit a water-defended green.

Live oaks, palms and pines line many of the fairways, along with unobtrusive housing on some stretches. The combination of tightish tree-lined fairways on the shorter par-4s, substantive bunkering and water frequently in play creates a pleasantly testing back-nine, but not one that hits the scenic heights of the front-nine.

Although most of the course is essentially flat, the gently rolling fairways lead to greens characterised by plenty of subtle slopes and borrows, although nothing here is "wildly" undulating.

Residential properties and the occasional glimpse of the Kiawah Parkway do not detract from the essential naturalness of Cougar Point. A course that will test and probe, and one that can be enjoyed by players of all levels.

List of courses: Charleston / Kiawah
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)
  • Photo of Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point course)

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season: starts from $305 for non-resort guests.

Contact club/resort for full details, discounts, resort guest rates, etc. [Last updated: 2024].

Other information

Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

Cougar Point golf course was formerly known as Marsh Point, and was the first golf course to be built on Kiawah Island.

The Sanctuary Hotel provides luxury resort accommodation, and is the hub location of the Kiawah Island Resort. Previously this role was played by the Kiawah Resort Inn (now demolished), which was located in the West Beach area of the island, close to the Cougar Point clubhouse.

Where2Stay

  • The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf ResortAAA 5-diamonds

    One Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455

    +1 (843) 768 6000

    Visit website

    Located along the pristine shores of Kiawah Island, this luxurious oceanfront hotel, just thirty minutes from downtown Charleston, captures the spirit, history and charm of the beautiful south. It also provides the perfect base from which to discover Kiawah Island's five championship golf courses.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Kiawah Island's five championship courses are all within a short drive : Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point and Oak Point.

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      No

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Patriots Point; The Links at Stono Ferry; Shadowmoss Plantation.

  • Kiawah Island Villas

    Kiawah Island, SC 29455

    +1 (843) 768 6000

    Visit website

    Resort villas of different sizes and price options are available on a vacation rental basis, providing an ideal base from which to discover Kiawah Island and its fabulous array of championship golf courses.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Kiawah Island's five championship courses are all within a short drive : Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point and Oak Point.

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      No

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Patriots Point; The Links at Stono Ferry; Shadowmoss Plantation.

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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