Kiawah trip in March

[Kevlar10]

Planning a trip to Kiawah, first weekend in March.  Four days, 2 guys, maybe a 3rd.  We bought a villa last summer and this will be the inaugural guys trip. We have rounds booked at Edisto, Stono Ferry and finishing up with the Ocean Course as a finale.  I’d like to set up a warmup round for the first day.  I’ve played a lot of the area courses over the years but I want to play one that’s good but not too challenging.  I don’t think Shadowmoss is worth the drive, and the muni, even though it’s just been redone, may still be lacking for the price for non-residents.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[JRSc]

I just played the OC and the caddies love the Muni.. However, I have not looked at rates for non-residents.

[WarEagleGolf]

I found cougar point to be super forgiving but enjoyable. 

 

If you're staying on island, might as well.   Replay rates are solid if you can squeeze 36 in a day.  I did it in may, cougar/turtle.  Played crazy fast but was first time off @ cougar.  

 

Muni is a gem.   Haven't played in years, but excited to when I get back that way.   Edisto is quirky. Don't think they ever did get a range, did they?  

 

Stono is so great.   Hope it's still in the great shape I remember.  Horses, revolutionary war historical markers, stono river, and no see-ums....memories. 😁

 

OC is straight money.  And is worth the cost.  

[PeteNC]

Curious, if your villa is on Kiawah why wouldn't you play one of their courses and save the drive?  Aren't there reasonable rates for the other courses tied to being a property owner/paying some resort dues?

 

Off of Kiawah I've played Seabrook and thought it was enjoyable.  Nothing outstanding but solid.  

[WarEagleGolf]

Stono and Muni are nearby.  

 

Osprey and cougar worth it on island...rest I give a meh compared to Stono.  Muni, I haven't seen since the redo.  I mean this thing was $5 after 3pm for students....but got alot of press for the redo.  

 

People ACTUALLY talking about Muni is the fun part...never in my time there would I even consider it a "must play" for a traveler, but I'm hearing good thing.  For locals, it was something else...a historical landmark if you will.  

 

[hangontight]

The $60 out of town rate at the muni is still going to be about as good a rate as you would find anywhere anyway if you are looking for a value round.    Don't discount it because "muni".  Grow in should be better coming in nicely by March.   If you are at all interested in golf architecture, you really should think again.  The Raynor template greens are something else and the course is now challenging, especially since the greens are still hard....though they should soften by spring some.  The greens conditions are better than any other public option in Charleston right now, should be the same in the spring.   The fried egg video, link below gives some good visual on the greens.    

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKSkmwxBrWC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Edited February 11, 2021 by hangontight

[JRSc]

1 hour ago, hangontight said:

The $60 out of town rate at the muni is still going to be about as good a rate as you would find anywhere anyway if you are looking for a value round.    Don't discount it because "muni".  Grow in should be better coming in nicely by March.   If you are at all interested in golf architecture, you really should think again.  The Raynor template greens are something else and the course is now challenging, especially since the greens are still hard....though they should soften by spring some.  The greens conditions are better than any other public option in Charleston right now, should be the same in the spring.   The fried egg video, link below gives some good visual on the greens.    

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKSkmwxBrWC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Great video. I actually can’t wait to play it. But I am a fan of course architecture.  The reverse Redan hole by the road really caught my eye on my way south of Charleston.

 

[fox_todd]

I only got through 9 before rain pounded us, but had a blast on the Muni.  It is actually interesting now.  Cant wait to get to the back nine.  HOT is right on with the firm greens.  play accordingly, or you will be chipping back down hill. As for the KI courses on the first weekend of March you may still be in the "winter" rates.  They normally bump the rates up once time changes.  This is the best scenario, along with replay rates @ KI.  I just played Cougar Sat. and will regularly pay their rates for the conditions they provide.  "Value" is subjective.  

[putterboy75]

Agree with everything WarEagleGolf mentioned above - I came down to the Charleston area from the north thinking I'd spend a weekend, but it's ended up being a month now since the weather is so much warmer and golf happens in the south. This has allowed some exploring with area courses and also trying to figure out a way to get on some of the more private courses within 100 miles or so.

 

After the OC (agree, worth the cost, after all, it's not going to become less relevant or well known in the golf world after hosting more majors, and my guess is they're not going to be lowering the price anytime soon, so now's the time!) I played all of the Kiawah Courses (we rented a villa here, surprisingly affordable this time of year) and really liked Cougar which is currently in great shape and is very playable and challenging but you won't lose 1000 golf balls. It's also the most scenic and aesthetically pleasing in my opinion after OC.

 

Turtle reminded me of your typical resort course. Don't really remember any of the holes to be honest. Osprey IMO is even worse, despite being a "Fazio" course. First, the course conditions (especially the greens which were rolling an estimated 6 on the stimpmeter and were spotty brown and dark green / certainly more blemishes than the muni) were not worthy of a $75 course, much less the $175 they ask. I was actually pretty pissed after leaving Osprey and I felt like it was a waste of a round and $)

 

Stono, unlike those mentioned in the above paragraph, was the most friendly course I've been to in recent memory, course wasn't in pristine condition but the holes have good variety and are challenging with surprisingly hilly topography for a low country track. Can't remember what we paid but wasn't above $60. Only thing I wasn't so fond of was that no one else seemed to walk, it seemed even the more serious players were in carts. I wish more courses would charge less for walking instead of the same for walkers & riders.

 

Play the muni after 3pm, I think it's the same $15 for both residents & non-residents. It's hard but fun and one of the most unique rounds I've had in awhile.

[Kevlar10]

Thanks everyone.  I think we'll be playing Dunes.  A friend is meeting us there.  I haven't played there for years but it was a really good course at that time.