Play Kiawah Island Online, Free
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is one of the most dramatic golf courses in the world — a Pete Dye masterpiece stretched along the South Carolina coast where every hole offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean. It hosted the unforgettable 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and has been a bucket-list destination for golfers ever since. Now you can play 7 holes from the Ocean Course free in your browser, no downloads and no sign-ups.
Click here to play Kiawah Island now
Background
The Ocean Course was designed by Pete Dye and his wife Alice, opening in 1991 just in time for the Ryder Cup. It was Alice Dye who made the pivotal suggestion to elevate the holes above the dunes so that every one of the 18 holes would have an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean. That design decision also exposed every hole to the relentless ocean winds, making the course one of the most challenging in professional golf. From the championship tees, the Ocean Course stretches over 7,800 yards with a slope rating of 155.
The course has hosted three major championships. The 1991 Ryder Cup, dubbed the "War on the Shore," was decided on the final putt of the final match when Germany's Bernhard Langer missed a six-foot par putt on the 18th green, handing the United States a narrow 14.5-13.5 victory. The 2012 PGA Championship was won by Rory McIlroy by a dominant eight strokes in brutal conditions. In 2021, Phil Mickelson became the oldest major champion in history at age 50, winning the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course and making headlines around the world.
Hole-by-Hole Measurements
Our Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) layout runs to 7 holes and a par of 28, with 24 separate bunkers mapped across it. Each row below is measured off the geometry the game loads rather than copied from a scorecard.
The direct distance column is tee-to-pin as the crow flies. Doglegged holes therefore read short against their published yardage, because nobody plays them in a straight line.
On 1 of these holes the source map data is too imprecise to give a distance we would defend, so those cells show a dash.
| Hole | Par | Direct distance | Bunkers | Water | Green |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 550 yd | 7 | 1 | 642 yd² |
| 3 | 3 | 170 yd | 1 | 0 | 822 yd² |
| 4 | 4 | 364 yd | 3 | 0 | 709 yd² |
| 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | 704 yd² |
| 6 | 3 | 131 yd | 2 | 1 | 595 yd² |
| 7 | 4 | 434 yd | 2 | 0 | — |
| 8 | 5 | 523 yd | 5 | 0 | 680 yd² |
| Total | 28 | 2172 yd | 24 | 3 | — |
The distance total covers only the 6 holes with reliable measurements; the par total covers all 7.
Plan View of Every Hole
Below is every one of the 7 holes, drawn straight from the course polygons — fairway in green, green in a paler shade, bunkers in sand, water in blue. All are rotated tee-at-bottom so you can compare shapes directly.
Water is in play on 3 of the 7 holes here.
Where This Layout Comes From
The shapes above come out of OpenStreetMap — mapped by volunteers on the ground and from imagery. Converted, Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) gives 7 holes holding 24 bunkers and 3 water hazards.
The bunker outlines are irregular because they are real mapped outlines, not generated circles. How we build courses walks through the conversion step by step.
Course data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
About These Measurements
What are the longest and shortest holes?
Hole 2 is the longest at 550 yards tee to pin (par 5), and hole 6 the shortest at 131 yards (par 3). That is a spread of 419 yards across the layout.
Where is the heaviest bunkering?
Hole 2, with 7 separate bunkers on it. The layout carries 24 in total across 7 holes, an average of 3.4 per hole, and each is drawn as its own traced outline rather than a generic circle.
How large is the average green here?
The average mapped putting surface measures roughly 692 square yards. The largest belongs to hole 3 at about 822 square yards.
Why 7 holes rather than 18?
Mapping coverage of Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) is uneven, so we include holes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 — those where a green and a tee could be paired reliably. The rest are omitted rather than filled in with invented geometry, so what you play corresponds to real mapped ground.
Why do these yardages differ from the official card?
They are not meant to. Ours measure the direct line from tee to pin; the Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) card measures the route a player is expected to take. The two agree on straight holes and diverge on bent ones.
Holes Worth Knowing
The Ocean Course is studded with memorable holes. The par-3 17th, known as one of the most photographed holes in American golf, plays directly toward the ocean over a vast waste bunker. The 2nd hole is a sweeping par 5 that runs along the coast, offering a risk-reward second shot over marshland. The par-4 13th features a blind tee shot over dunes and a demanding approach to a green guarded by deep bunkers. The 18th, where the 1991 Ryder Cup was decided, is a long par 4 with the Atlantic on the right and dunes on the left — a fitting finish to one of the world's great courses.
Course Challenge
- Ocean winds. The Atlantic wind is a constant factor on every hole. Crosswinds, headwinds, and quartering winds change the effective yardage of every shot by one to three clubs.
- Waste bunkers. Pete Dye's signature waste areas line nearly every fairway, punishing wayward drives and demanding precise placement off the tee.
- Elevated greens. Many greens are raised above the fairway, requiring extra carry and precise distance control, especially in the wind.
- Marsh carries. Several holes demand forced carries over tidal marshland, with no bail-out option for short hitters.
- Length. At over 7,800 yards from the tips, the Ocean Course is one of the longest courses in championship golf.
Controls
Drag backward from the ball in the direction opposite where you want to send it — like pulling back a slingshot. The farther you drag, the more power you apply. A trajectory arc previews your shot while you aim. Works on desktop (click and drag) and mobile (touch and drag).
Player Questions
Can I play Kiawah Island's Ocean Course online for free?
Yes. This page hosts a free, browser-based version of the Kiawah Island Ocean Course with 7 playable holes. There is no download, no sign-up, and no payment required. Click the Play button at the top of this page to start.
Is this the official Kiawah Island golf game?
No. Let's Golf Online is an independent fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the PGA of America, or any real-world golf organization. Real-world course references are used descriptively. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
What is the War on the Shore?
The War on the Shore is the nickname for the 1991 Ryder Cup held at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. It was one of the most dramatic and contentious Ryder Cups in history. The competition came down to the very last match on the very last hole, when Bernhard Langer missed a six-foot putt on the 18th green, giving the United States a 14.5-13.5 victory over Europe.
Who designed the Ocean Course?
The Ocean Course was designed by legendary golf course architect Pete Dye, with significant input from his wife Alice Dye. Alice famously suggested raising the elevation of the holes so that players could see the ocean from every hole on the course. Pete Dye is also known for designing TPC Sawgrass, Whistling Straits, and Harbour Town.
How hard is the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island?
The Ocean Course has a slope rating of 155 from the back tees, making it one of the most difficult courses in the country. The constant Atlantic winds can add two or three clubs to any shot. At the 2012 PGA Championship, the winning score was only 13-under, and at the 2021 PGA Championship, Phil Mickelson won at just 6-under par.