Kiawah Ocean Course Tips (Caddie Recommendations)

Playing the Ocean Course on May 10th at 10am. Walking only and caddie is included in the price, just need to tip them based on if it's a forecaddie or a personal caddie. I have never played with either before but I'm thinking I will do a personal caddie for the whole experience. Does anyone have any recommendations on caddies they have had that they enjoyed? Why did you enjoy them? Any other tips for playing this course? TIA!!

I highly recommend an older gentleman named Scott (never got a last name). He's maybe in his mid-50s and is a little shorter than I am (I'm 6').

Played there in January with my brothers-in-law and my father-in-law and Scott was my caddy. He was terrific. Gave tremendous advice. Picked up how far I hit each club within a couple holes, so he was able to give really good advice on club selection. He was also a terrific green reader, though admittedly there isn't a ton of break in those greens. He even helped me make about a 70-footer for birdie on the 6th hole.

He also was a really nice guy. Had a ton of stories about the resort, the major tournaments it's held, and Tour players from those tournaments. Also, and here's the kicker, he's a Masters volunteer and had some amazing stories about The Masters and Augusta National in general, as he's played it about 30-40 times he said. Just a terrific guy and I know you won't be disappointed.

Next time I make the trip, I'll be requesting him again!

I was in the same boat as you, I went in Feburary and decided to get a personal caddie. I am very glad I did, it was great to hear some stories and the local knowledge is very valuable. The course is beautiful, bring your wind game and just have fun, and watch out for alligators.

I highly recommend an older gentleman named Scott (never got a last name). He's maybe in his mid-50s and is a little shorter than I am (I'm 6').

 

Played there in January with my brothers-in-law and my father-in-law and Scott was my caddy. He was terrific. Gave tremendous advice. Picked up how far I hit each club within a couple holes, so he was able to give really good advice on club selection. He was also a terrific green reader, though admittedly there isn't a ton of break in those greens. He even helped me make about a 70-footer for birdie on the 6th hole.

 

He also was a really nice guy. Had a ton of stories about the resort, the major tournaments it's held, and Tour players from those tournaments. Also, and here's the kicker, he's a Masters volunteer and had some amazing stories about The Masters and Augusta National in general, as he's played it about 30-40 times he said. Just a terrific guy and I know you won't be disappointed.

 

Next time I make the trip, I'll be requesting him again!

Awesome! Thanks for the advice!

I highly recommend an older gentleman named Scott (never got a last name). He's maybe in his mid-50s and is a little shorter than I am (I'm 6').

 

Played there in January with my brothers-in-law and my father-in-law and Scott was my caddy. He was terrific. Gave tremendous advice. Picked up how far I hit each club within a couple holes, so he was able to give really good advice on club selection. He was also a terrific green reader, though admittedly there isn't a ton of break in those greens. He even helped me make about a 70-footer for birdie on the 6th hole.

 

He also was a really nice guy. Had a ton of stories about the resort, the major tournaments it's held, and Tour players from those tournaments. Also, and here's the kicker, he's a Masters volunteer and had some amazing stories about The Masters and Augusta National in general, as he's played it about 30-40 times he said. Just a terrific guy and I know you won't be disappointed.

 

Next time I make the trip, I'll be requesting him again!

 

Awesome! Thanks for the advice!

No problem. My trip to Kiawah was hands down my best all-around golf experience. Enjoy! If they need any more info for the request, just PM me. Happy to help.

Probably Scott Hall, I've had him as a caddie twice and he was awesome both times. He caddied for me the weekend of my wedding too and had me cracked up the entire time. Absolutely fantastic caddie, definitely will request him next time we go back.

FWIW any time I've gotten a great caddie, anywhere really, I always ask for their card or email address. That way if I go back I always pre-set it up. Sometimes you can play a big game of telephone between reservations, pro shop, caddiemaster etc - so that way they can go make sure things are setup for you.

Probably Scott Hall, I've had him as a caddie twice and he was awesome both times. He caddied for me the weekend of my wedding too and had me cracked up the entire time. Absolutely fantastic caddie, definitely will request him next time we go back.

 

FWIW any time I've gotten a great caddie, anywhere really, I always ask for their card or email address. That way if I go back I always pre-set it up. Sometimes you can play a big game of telephone between reservations, pro shop, caddiemaster etc - so that way they can go make sure things are setup for you.

Good to know. Never really even thought of that, but that's a great idea!

not to derail but I have never played with a caddie before....when do you actually hand the money over to the dude? Like do you do it right there on the green or inside the shop?

help a regular bum out. I have no idea and nervous about it when I play the ocean course in a couple months. I don't want to look like a dumb redneck

not to derail but I have never played with a caddie before....when do you actually hand the money over to the dude? Like do you do it right there on the green or inside the shop?

 

help a regular bum out. I have no idea and nervous about it when I play the ocean course in a couple months. I don't want to look like a dumb redneck

Just tip him after the round when you get the chance. I typically do it when the caddies puts my bag out at the bag drop/ 19th hole.

not to derail but I have never played with a caddie before....when do you actually hand the money over to the dude? Like do you do it right there on the green or inside the shop?

 

help a regular bum out. I have no idea and nervous about it when I play the ocean course in a couple months. I don't want to look like a dumb redneck

We met our caddies out in front of the clubhouse at the bag drop. After we holed out on 18, we walked into the pro shop to grab some merch and they told us to meet them out front when we were finished. We went out front, settled up, loaded our sticks into the car and headed back to Charleston. Not awkward or uncomfortable at all. They were very nice and made us feel really at ease about the whole process.

I played with Nick Cason about two years ago and loved it. He's from Augusta and also caddies at Augusta National and was full of great stories. Young guy too. PM me if you want his email and cell phone number.

Younger guy by the name of Greg is a great caddy out there. But almost all of the caddies are very very knowledgeable and very very nice. Only had one interaction with A guy who was more than not pleasant. Cannot recall his name at the moment though

Mike D ("like from the Beastie Boys") is legit! I had him for all three of my rounds in November and he really did learn my game by the second round. Can't recommend him enough!

So I'm playing on Thursday, got setup with a recommended caddie. Just looking for opinions on what tees to play? A good drive for me is 275. Extra dry conditions maybe a little longer, wet conditions shorter. I typically play courses around 6700-6900 seems to be a pretty decent challenge for me overall. Part of me wants punished and to play the tips at the Ocean Course. The other half wants to enjoy it and play the two's or 3's. What have you done? Advice? Honestly it will probably depend on what the rest of my group does. If no one plays the tips I probably won't. But if everyone plays 6200 yard tees I'll probably step back a tee set or 2. Looks like the par 3's are 190-210 on the tips so I'm looking at 4 irons and hybrids for those, unless downwind. I really want the full tournament experience though....decisions, decisions.

So I'm playing on Thursday, got setup with a recommended caddie. Just looking for opinions on what tees to play? A good drive for me is 275. Extra dry conditions maybe a little longer, wet conditions shorter. I typically play courses around 6700-6900 seems to be a pretty decent challenge for me overall. Part of me wants punished and to play the tips at the Ocean Course. The other half wants to enjoy it and play the two's or 3's. What have you done? Advice? Honestly it will probably depend on what the rest of my group does. If no one plays the tips I probably won't. But if everyone plays 6200 yard tees I'll probably step back a tee set or 2. Looks like the par 3's are 190-210 on the tips so I'm looking at 4 irons and hybrids for those, unless downwind. I really want the full tournament experience though....decisions, decisions.

I won't tell you what tees to play, I'll just say this. I hit the ball about 280-300 off the tee and played the tips. The day I played it was set up at about 7400 yards. It was only blowing about 5-10 with maybe 15 mph gusts. I'm a +1 and I needed a 10 footer to drop on the last to break 80. The last 5-6 holes all played directly into the wind and 17 was playing 235, all carry over water.

If you want to enjoy yourself, play up. I'll also say that even though 3 of us were below a 3 handicap the starter still tried talking us out of playing the tips.

Haha no chance the wind won't be blowing at least a little. And like said above the last 4-5 holes usually plays into or sever crosswind. 17 is a hard hole to hit without wind, 14 (or the other par 3 on the back) is tough to keep it on the green due to shape. The par threes on the front aren't that bad.

Hole 10 is fun. Usually wind at your back and you can let it ride.

Ask for Hugh, he will take good care of you.

So I'm playing on Thursday, got setup with a recommended caddie. Just looking for opinions on what tees to play? A good drive for me is 275. Extra dry conditions maybe a little longer, wet conditions shorter. I typically play courses around 6700-6900 seems to be a pretty decent challenge for me overall. Part of me wants punished and to play the tips at the Ocean Course. The other half wants to enjoy it and play the two's or 3's. What have you done? Advice? Honestly it will probably depend on what the rest of my group does. If no one plays the tips I probably won't. But if everyone plays 6200 yard tees I'll probably step back a tee set or 2. Looks like the par 3's are 190-210 on the tips so I'm looking at 4 irons and hybrids for those, unless downwind. I really want the full tournament experience though....decisions, decisions.

We played the Monday of the Masters. The four of us are all good players, 1-3 handicap range for all of us. We had played 18 that morning and we wanted to have fun and drink some beers and enjoy ourselves, we ended up playing I believe two sets of tees up, maybe three. We talked about it and we wanted to enjoy ourselves and not feel punished all day long. Our caddies wanted to hug us. They both said they see WAY to many people want to come out and "get the full experience" which means when the day is over they shoot about 100 and its a long day for everyone. We just wanted to enjoy the walk and gamble, have some beers and not hate life. It was a great time. That said, to each his own with it, and the caddies said that too. You are paying the money to play you need to figure out what will have you leave and think back about how much you enjoyed it all. Thats the key.

I doubt there is a "bad" caddie in the bunch. They are all knowledgeable about the course and seemed like good guys. We stood around talking with them for about 45min before our round. Heck, we even bought our caddies beers all day for carrying the beer bag, I think they had as much fun as we did, which we wanted.

Just enjoy yourself, whether it be from the back tees or the up tees. Its your dollar and your day in a sense....

My tip...Pray like hell the wind isn't blowing.

Those last 4/5 holes coming back to the clubhouse are an absolute grind if the wind is blowing.

Fun course and awesome experience. Make sure to hang out afterward at the Ryder Cup Bar and get lunch out on the patio. Great spot to relax afterward and watch other golfers come in down 18.

I have been fortunate to play the Ocean Course a bunch of times. The Ocean tee at about 6800 yards is a lot of golf course, especially if you get any kind of breeze, which is basically every day. The cross winds on the last 5 holes could be brutal.

LIke a dummy trying to get the full experience a buddy and i played the PGA Championship tees in August of 2011. They set up the course as a test run and it played to 7610 yards on the card. The absolutely hardest test of golf I have had that day. Holes 6, 9, 13 and 18 each played 495 yards, just abosolutely beasts.

There is a tee box on 13 that goes so far back that we were 100 yards behind the other 2 golfers in the group.

Suggestion that the starter will probably give you is play one ahead of the tees that you think you should play.

Great course, great experience and defintely get a tour of the Ryder Cup room.

Any 2019 looper recs? Heading out there next week

Adam Rathe is great.

A buddy and I had Anthony last Feb for 2 rounds. Initially, my buddy was thinking we would just take a caddy for the first round and then we would walk without one the second. Had such a great experience, we used him for the second round and wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Ask for Swander he is top of the line

Any updates on this? I'm heading down in a little less than a month and just booked my round. Would love to request a WRX approved caddie. 

Thanks!

Dixie,

Ask for Puddles.  He is great.

3 hours ago, Chumpydude said:

Dixie,

 

Ask for Puddles.  He is great.

Just called and they put him down for me, thanks for the heads up!

19 hours ago, dixiethunder said:

Just called and they put him down for me, thanks for the heads up!

Great enjoy.  He has been there for many years and is a great walk and really knows the course.  Enjoy your round

Is the clubhouse still closed?  We went in June and got rained out on #6 and are going back in October.  We were hoping that by then the clubhouse would be opened.

On 9/13/2020 at 10:36 PM, dixiethunder said:

Any updates on this? I'm heading down in a little less than a month and just booked my round. Would love to request a WRX approved caddie. 

 

Thanks!

I've played Kiawah twice, and both times we got Willy as our caddie. Fun guy, tells a lot of jokes, and keeps the round loose and fun. 

I also gotta give him props for the course knowledge and club selection. The last time I played it, the winds were 35-40 mph all day. He was pretty spot-on with the wind-adjusted yardages I needed to hit.