South Carolina Golf Courses: Best Public Golf Courses 2016

2. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort, Kiawah Island, SC; 843-768-6000, kiawahresort.com This 10,000-acre coastal resort serves up ten miles of private beach, 30 miles of marsh-lined, forested paths and access to nearby Charleston, but unquestionably, golf is the top draw, notably the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course, which plays host to the PGA Championship this summer. It’s not quite the beast that terrorized “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup players in 1991, but it’s still a beautiful brute. Accommodations take several forms, but don’t miss the Sanctuary hotel. Its twin, curving staircases off the lobby ooze “Gone With the Wind” noblesse, but the marble flooring and huge picture windows that offer Atlantic vistas are pure modern beauties.