12 Golf Course Destinations That Combine Sport and Scenery

7. Kiawah Island Ocean Course, South Carolina - Lowcountry Marshes and Atlantic Drama

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island represents Pete Dye's masterful interpretation of Scottish links golf adapted to the unique Lowcountry environment of South Carolina, where salt marshes, maritime forests, and Atlantic Ocean views create a distinctly American coastal golfing experience. The course gained international recognition as the venue for the 1991 Ryder Cup, dubbed the "War by the Shore," where the dramatic finishing holes along the Atlantic coastline provided a spectacular backdrop for one of golf's most intense competitions. Ten holes offer direct ocean views, while the remaining eight provide glimpses of the Atlantic through the course's carefully preserved maritime forest, creating a layout that maximizes the property's natural beauty while presenting formidable strategic challenges. The course's design incorporates the Lowcountry's unique ecosystem, with holes routed around pristine salt marshes that serve as both natural hazards and wildlife habitats, supporting populations of alligators, egrets, herons, and other native species that add an element of natural wonder to each round. The prevailing Atlantic winds create constantly changing playing conditions, while the course's generous width accommodates multiple strategic approaches to each hole, rewarding both power and precision depending on pin positions and wind direction. The facility's environmental stewardship program has earned recognition for its protection of sensitive coastal habitats, ensuring that the course serves as both a championship golf venue and a sanctuary for the diverse wildlife that calls the South Carolina coast home, making each round an opportunity to experience the natural beauty and ecological richness of one of America's most pristine coastal environments.