Golf Channel Am Tour - Kiawah Island

March 13-15:  GCAmTour Kiawah Championship at Ocean Course and Turtle Point
Turtle Point: Par 72 - 6,526 yards (Round 1)
Ocean Course: Par 72 - 6,566 yards (Round 2)

My scores: 84-82 (Overall T17 of 178; Championship Division 13 of 26)

Kiawah Ocean Course Starter

My friend Gavin and I flew into Charleston, SC thru DC on Thursday evening.  We arrived in Charleston after midnight and by chance had a Wendy's right next to our hotel.  The fast food chain never tasted so good (the rare times when bad food choice = great decision is fun).  On Friday morning, we made the one hour drive to the infamous Kiawah Island, stopping along the way at a gem breakfast place called Sunrise Bistro, which had amazing open faced omeletes.

This was my first trip to Kiawah, host of the 2012 PGA Championship and location of the currently ranked #3 course you can play in the U.S. (the Ocean Course).  Given my background in Massachusetts and golf travels, this place had a mix of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, combined with the extravagance of a Waldorf Astoria.  The Sanctuary Hotel was to be marveled at, with ridiculously expensive interiors (wish I stayed there) and a steakhouse we couldn't get in because we didn't have the formal attire and the homes along the island spoke Wall Street Wall Street Wall Street.

Kiawah Ocean Course Driving Range

Well, we were here for the golf.  And the golf was something special.  The Ocean Course's putting green and driving range flanked the ocean, literally with bags of sand standing nearby to prepare for a beach reclamation project.  The caddies wore white jump suits, the back nine was one of the prettiest nines of golf I've ever played (can't believe the shots the pros have to hit from back tees, especially the 240 yard+ par-3 17th over water, I mean all water), and the greens were firm, fast, and many turtle back with shaved grass all around.  Wide fairways, no out of bounds, tightly bound grass that looks withered from the ocean salt (aka not perfect green grass),

very tricky greens.  When the wind blows here, its a bear of a course.  We had strong winds in the practice rounds that changed club selection by 2 clubs easily and calm during the tournament.  My caddie Dean was exceptional, great guy that lives in Charleston area with his wife.  His nephew is a rock star.

The other course we played was Turtle Point, a Jack Nicklaus redesign.  This course is New England like with similar grass (less grain), tree lined holes, tight, and not overly long.  Accuracy prevails over distance on most holes.  I really enjoyed this course.  Greens were excellent.  I saw my first 10 foot long alligator here.

My game was rusty as expected and I putted poorly.  6 doubles, 35 putts, and 38 putts are bad numbers.  Hitting 12 greens at the Ocean Course was encouraging.  I'm excited to build on this experience coming home to Boston.

I could see myself coming back here next year and spending a day in Charleston.  Would love to bring more friends and family.  The Southern lifestyle is attractive!  We avoided expected rain all weekend and temperatures reached the 70s on Sunday, the other days were between 50-65.

Thanks Gavin putting together most of the bookings for this trip.

Back to New England snow (100 inches plus this winter!)
Kurt

p.s. snow delayed our flight home on Sunday night (March 15!); we arrived in Boston close to 1am and everyone else too, as the cab line was 45 minutes long!