Kiawah Island is a barrier island resort about 25 miles from Charleston, built almost entirely around golf and beach. It punches well above its size on name recognition, mostly thanks to one course, but there's enough variety on the island to fill a multi-day trip without playing the same layout twice.
Where to play
The Ocean Course is the reason most people book this trip — a Pete Dye design that's hosted a Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Championships, with holes running right along the Atlantic. It's a public resort course, but tee times go fast and aren't cheap, so book well ahead.
Osprey Point is a calmer, more forgiving resort course routed through marsh, lagoons, and live oaks — a good complement if you're spending a few days on the island and want more than one round.
The River Course and Cassique are both part of the private Kiawah Island Club side of the island — not something to plan a public trip around, but worth knowing if you've got a member connection.
Where to stay
The island itself has resort lodging built right into the golf, but it's not the only option — browse hotels near the Ocean Course for options closer to Charleston if you'd rather split your trip between golf and the city.
When to go
Spring and fall bring the most comfortable weather for a golf trip to Kiawah Island and the lightest wind off the Atlantic — summer on the Ocean Course can get genuinely brutal when the sea breeze picks up, which is part of what makes it a serious test.