Kiawah Island hole by hole

1st 369 yards, par 4A relatively gentle opener. The tee shot is to a narrow fairway, with more room for error down the right, where there are large waste areas, in contrast to the dune grass on the left. Players should have nothing more than a short iron into an undulating green.

2nd 557 yards, par 5

This dogleg left faces straight into the Atlantic off the tee, with the aggressive play over the salt marsh down the left. A good – if brave – drive will likely set the longer hitters up to reach the elevated green in two, although it’s very much a three-shot hole if the wind is blowing.

3rd 390 yards, par 4

From an island tee, players hit across a marsh to a left-swinging fairway. The ideal landing spot is down the left for an approach shot to a green guarded by an old oak tree. The saucer-shaped green slopes off on all sides with the marsh in play long and left.

4th 458 yards, par 4

One of the most difficult holes on the front nine: players will fire at a wide landing area – with marshland to the left – before an approach shot to the green that can range from a nine-iron up to a hybrid, depending on the strength of the wind.

5th 188 yards, par 3

The shortest of the course’s par 3s, this hole is played over an area of wasteland to a large hourglass-shaped green that runs away diagonally from the tee complex. There is a steep face to the front of the green and players must find the right portion of the green or else face a tough two-putt for par.

6th 480 yards, par 4

Three oak trees frame the right side of the fairway with the optimum tee shot using the middle tree to slightly draw the ball, avoiding the small pond down the left. The approach is to a narrow and deep green surrounded by a sandy area.

7th 579 yards, par 5

The wind will likely determine how to play this hole. An aggressive approach will see players attempt to carry a natural dune area that intrudes into the fairway from the right or play more conservatively to the left. The green is elevated and open to the front, tempting players to go for it in two.

8th 198 yards, par 3

Pin placement is critical here, with the hole more difficult the further the hole is cut into an elevated green framed by oak trees on the left. Any shot missing long or right will find the waste areas. Many players will likely play safe to the centre of the green.

9th 494 yards, par 4

A long, tough hole to finish the outward journey. The fairway slopes down from the right – making driving length more important than direction – and the approach shot is to a raised green that is very difficult to hold. Players will need to demonstrate a good short game on a lot of occasions to get up-and-down from an assortment of grassy swales and deep sand areas.

10th 447 yards, par 4

The preferred drive is down the left of a fairway that has trouble on both sides. The green is set down into the dunes and players will be faced with a large sand area to the left front of the putting surface and a deeper, steep-faced sand area to the back.