Kiawah Island, SC--

After trying to locate some of the best golf destinations in South Carolina, we are pleased to announce that you need not look any farther than Kiawah Island, if your plans take you to the Low Country of South Carolina anytime soon.

Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course may be some of the best golfing found anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard. With its breath taking views, perfectly manicured greens and fairways, this course should be on everyone's destination list throughout the remainder of the Fall 2003 and into the Spring of 2004.

This spectacular course, designed by renowned architect Pete Dye has received world-wide attention and has hosted prestigious PGA events such as the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches and was named "America's Toughest Resort Course" by GOLF DIGEST. It also will play host later this month to another World and PGA event, the WGC World Cup, where both American and International professional golfers will take their skills to this challenging course.

The Ocean Course designed by Pete Dye was built in 1991, is now a staple at the resort. It is located at the eastern end of Kiawah Island and it meanders along 2 3/4 miles of pristine oceanfront property lined by some of the most gorgeous Ocean front homes. Pete Dye was quoted on this course by saying, "There's no other golf course in the Northern Hemisphere that has as many seaside holes." Believe our staff, when we tell you later in this review that this is a "must play," and to bring lots of balls along, we will also be telling you that this is an experience for any golfer visiting the Charleston area.

Another feature of the course because of its difficulty is some places, is their walking caddie program. Walking caddie fees are included in the green fees, so whether you walk or ride you are paying for someone who will help you enjoy this course. They will give you the local knowledge of the course and make it worth every penny including the gratuity($40 average)

Our staff's round began on the front nine of the Ocean course. Many thanks to the kind starter for helping us with the proper pin placements for the day and a little help on what we should expect from the 2nd and 3rd holes. What you will find in the first three holes is a lot of what is found all around the entire resort town of Kiawah, the natural setting of the low country with marshlands and oceanfront dunes.

While there are many hazards found along the way of the Ocean Course, many of them are spread throughout the back nine of the course. The first hole on the course will likely be the easiest hole and the most forgiving hole in the entire round. We found just as suggested the 3-wood was all we were going to need for this hole. Keep it straight though, or the waste bunker is sure to leave you in deep hole.

One of the most enticing parts about the course are the natural sand traps and that you will find throughout the entire course. Well you heard it right, most of this course was beach area at one time prior to 1991 and now all the golfers will have the chance to enjoy their game in the natural sense. As you progress through the front nine, get your game ready, because with the wind blowing in from the Ocean, bringing your A-Game is highly recommended for the back 9 holes.

One of the best bangs for their buck golfers will get from the back nine are the changes that Pete Dye made in 1997, when the course underwent $1.5 million in renovations, in which five acres of turf was added to the course to create new tees and to widen the fairways and approach shots. Then, just when golfers thought the course couldn't get any better, Dye returned in 2002 and 2003, to add more of his signature marks on the course. His improvements this time involved moving the 18th green out towards the Atlantic Ocean, which clearly made it one of golf's best finishing holes on the course. He also converted the green surfaces to a blend of salt-tolerant Paspalum grass, which is specifically designed for the harsh Ocean Course environment.

After taking a marginal score on the first four holes of the back nine, which included three par four holes and the challenging Par 5 on the 11th hole, our staff will have to confide with the locals, it is tough. To give you an idea on how challenging the 11th hole is, Annika Sorenstam lost the Shell Wonderful World of Golf on this hole back in 1998. We finished this hole two strokes over par. The hole does offer some recovery if you slice it, but it is the next three that weren't so forgiving.

s soon as we followed the roll of the tee shot of the 17th tee, we began to since why this course finishes so nicely and we also had the chance to see some of the perminate neighbors who live on the course right next to the pond on 17, the alligator. While they are not likely to bother you, the course highly recommends leaving your ball where it lands if a long reptile hazard sits in your way.

The pond on the other side of where you tee the ball from gives you a lot to be afraid of. In fact the folks at Kiawah have made it known that any dry shot on this hole is a good one. With the wind and the placement of the fairway, do not be surprised if the ball lands in the drink. Be careful of the sprinkler heads on the par-3's and especially on this one as they are not marked on the par-3 holes.

Finishing a round of golf with the 18th hole on the Ocean Course is probably the best finishing hole you will find anywhere in golf. When you tee off and the Ocean breeze is hitting you right in the face and the waves are crashing on the shore, it will clearly ease the inflation of your scorecard. It felt more like a visit to the a massage salon then a finishing round of golf the Ocean sounds were so soothing.

Whatever your score may be at the end of 18 holes, don't worry about it, because this will be one of the most delightful rounds of golf that anyone playing golf the State of South Carolina is going to have in a long time. The Ocean course is as difficult as any course around, but the people who rated the course played the black tees.. so take 7,900 yards and 155 slope and enjoy it, there may never be another gem like this one that is as golfer friendly and enjoyable as the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

For additional information on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island please visit www.kiawahresort.com or call (800)576-1570 to reserve a tee time.