Kiawah Island Club River Course Golf

Tom Fazio believes “golf courses should reflect the natural beauty of their environments”. This philosophy is exemplified at Kiawah’s River Course. Make sure this tee shot finds the right side of the fairway to offer the best approach into this two-tiered green.

This Par 5 is gettable when playing downwind in the summer. Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee. Layups should stay short of the fairway bunker on the right. Missing this green long is not an option with fescue and bunkers protecting the backside of the hole.

This is the start of a three hole walk around a pond filled with local wildlife. The tee shot should be aimed at the middle of the green. If you need to bail out, left is better than right, with a green that is steeply sloped right to left.

You should have a short club in your hand after a drive that splits the fairway bunkers. Aim for the middle of the green and err on the longside with most of the trouble short and left.

This par 4 was originally designed with a lower and upper routing. The hole was modified in 2007 to consolidate the two greens into one. Drivable for the long hitters but protected by the course’s most undulated green. A long iron and a wedge is the more conservative play.

A short par 3 to a well-protected green. The wind will swirl, making club selection difficult. A general rule is that wind will be against you in the winter and with you in the summer. Take a peek at the flag on #2 for some extra help.

The start of your wrap around “Bass Pond.” Fazio had access to not only the Kiawah River, but also the entire border of this nature sanctuary. A long drive will be followed by a long approach. Lay up if you need to and keep this hole in front of you.

An iconic Par 5 with water all down the right. A tee shot should be shaped off of the lone oak tree. Pick a comfortable number to leave yourself on this layup. Your third shot in will require precision to this two-tiered green.

To your right is your first glance at the Kiawah River. Hit your tee shot left of the flags on the clubhouse. The biggest green on the course is not hard to find but the hole is. Your ball must rest on the proper quadrant to dodge a three putt.

Long par 4 to start the back nine. Keep your drive right of the fairway bunker for a long approach into this narrow green. Short right isn’t a bad miss to leave yourself with an easy up and down.

The widest part of the fairway is 150 yards out. Hit a club off the tee that leaves you this yardage into a shallow green. The hole sets up for a fade off of the tee.

This short par 3 is protected by a tricky green. Grab enough club to clear the water and pay attention to the wind. The miss is left for a front pin and long for the back right hole location.

This hole was a Par 4 for the 2009 USGA Mid Amateur. It plays as a Par 5 for the membership and is reachable with a good drive. If you can’t get home in 2, the lay up is short of the water at about 125 yards out.

After a quick stop at the comfort station, grab your driver and stay right off the tee. The second shot always plays a little shorter than the true yardage. Listen to your caddie and read the grain patterns on the green to make a putt.

This is one of the holes where Fazio and his team moved a lot of land to create the dune features. The left side of the fairway provides a speed slot to a downhill second. A good wedge offers a great birdie opportunity.

Favor the right side of the fairway. The second shot is important due to a magnificent live oak that sits 80 yards out. Make sure you are left of this feature to give yourself a shot into this undulated green.

The view of the Kiawah River is prominent when walking off of #16 green. Players are hidden from the wind on this tee, so pay attention to the flag to gain confidence. Enjoy the view and hit one close for a birdie on the home stretch.

Enjoy the view! The finishing hole tee shot must find the fairway. Favor the right side of the live oak for a good line at center. The miss on this green is short. An up and down from pin high left or right is extremely tough.