Osprey Point, Kiawah Island

Osprey Point is one of the smartest plays on Kiawah Island. Designed by Tom Fazio and renovated in 2014, it gives you everything golfers love about Kiawah, marsh carries, lake-lined holes, immaculate conditioning and proper Lowcountry scenery, but in a layout that is more playable than the Ocean Course.

Originally created as a private club, Osprey Point now welcomes resort guests and has become a favourite for visiting golfers who want championship-quality golf without feeling overmatched. The fairways are generous by Kiawah standards, but there is still enough water, bunkering and wind exposure to keep you thinking all the way round.

The setting does plenty of the heavy lifting. Four lakes, stretches of salt marsh and dense maritime forest give the course real variety, while the wildlife and coastal backdrop make it feel unmistakably Kiawah. Spanish moss hangs from the oaks, alligators patrol the lagoon edges and the Lowcountry light in the late afternoon turns the whole place a shade of gold that no photograph quite captures.

Whether you are building a full island itinerary or looking for a memorable second round alongside the Ocean Course, Osprey Point fits the brief well. If you want a resort course with strong strategy, excellent presentation and a more forgiving feel than Kiawah's sternest test, this is an easy one to recommend.

Who is this for?
Golfers visiting Kiawah Island who want a championship-quality round in a genuinely spectacular natural setting, without the exposure and severity of the Ocean Course.

Who is it best for?
Mid-to-low handicappers who appreciate strategic, well-conditioned resort golf with strong architectural detail. Higher handicappers will also find Osprey Point more forgiving than its island neighbours, thanks to Fazio's characteristically generous fairways and multiple tee options. It also works well for mixed-ability groups and couples where one player wants a proper test without the round becoming a slog.