Cassique/kiawah island club

[David Cronheim]

Has anyone played cassique at kiawah island? My rental house at the outer banks washed out to sea so we relocated to kiawah. I've played all the courses at the resort before, but neither cassique nor the river course at the kiawah island club. Is it worth trying to arrange playing either?   Any other courses near to or on the way to the island worth playing?

Thanks!

[Sean Leary]

Both are worth playing, for sure. I have played the River course and liked it quite a bit and hear that Cassique is as good or better.

[Will Spivey]

Dave,

I hope you'll love Kiawah as much as I do.  We visit 2 or 3 times every year.  I have been fortunate to play both River and Cassique a few times.  Both are wonderful, first class private club experiences, with spectacular service, beautiful surroundings and immaculate conditions.  As for the golf, I prefer Cassique.  Technically, it's much less "natural" than River (I've read somewhere how much dirt was moved to build Cassique, it's mind boggling), but it feels natural - like a true links course.   I found it more a more interesting round.  Take a caddy (may be required) as walking the routing can be confusing for the first timer -- in a few locations several tees are in the same vicinity.  

River is a really nice course, and I love the short par 4 on the front (no. 4 or 5?).  It is a bit "typical Fazio," in that there's lots of eye candy, but I found it to be a strong course which presented appropriate options for both the low and high handicapper.  The River Course is more punishing if you're a bit wayward with the driver.  

If you have access, you really can't go wrong with either course.  I find them to be the second and third best courses on the island (after Ocean) by a long shot.

The clubhouse at Cassique is among the most beautiful I've ever seen.  The clubhouse at The River Course burned to the ground last year.  I just returned from the island, and while they've started reconstruction, they've a long way to go.

As for the public options, The Ocean Course is really a world class round of golf.  Be warned, it is very difficult, so pick the proper tees.  The tariff to play is quite high, north of $250 plus $60 tip for the caddy, but it is worth it.  Walking is required before noon (love that).  Do yourself a favor and have a late afternoon cocktail on the porch of the clubhouse. 

As for the remainder of the courses, I'm a bit of a contrarian on GCA in that I really dislike the Nicklaus course, Turtle Point.  I would rank the courses on the island as follows:  Ocean, Cassique, River, Osprey Point (Fazio), Cougar Point (Player), Turtle Point (Nicklaus) and Oak Point (not worth the 1 mile drive to get there -- really bad, even after the re-do). I have not played "off island," so I cannot comment on other options.  Obviously, Yeamans Hall is worthwhile, but I find the drive in to Charleston to be more than I care to undertake while on vacation -- realistically about 45 minutes from behind the gates of Kiawah.

Good luck and have fun.  Take or rent bikes -- it's a great way to see the island, and biking on the beach is great fun.

[Tommy Williamsen]

A bunch of earth was moved at both courses.  It just appears that more was moved at Cassique. Both are better than any of the resort courses, except The Ocean, at Kiawah.

[JNC Lyon]

David,

If you are going to arrange advance play someplace in the area, it should be at Yeamans Hall.  Yes, it is a hike from Kiawah, but it is not so far that you can do it easily in a day.  Yeamans is an absolute classic--Seth Raynor layout, recently restored by Renassaince, intimate, walkable layout over lightly rolling terrain, beautiful presentation, understated setting, pure old South.  But a warning: if you play Yeamans, and then you play one of the housing course layouts on Kiawah, the second round will feel like an insanely watered-down version of golf.  Yeamans Hall is the real deal.

[Brad Isaacs]

It seems that I add little to the already mentioned notes.  Cassique is very good and totally worth organizing a trip around.  It only gets better with the Ocean course so near by.
 I thinks Will's ranking above is exactly what I would say as well!

[Sean_A]

David

Let me know how you get on.  I wrote a letter to Kiawah Club and didn't receive a reply.  At least CC of Charleston offered a nice rejection letter - heavy sigh.  Instead I had to slum it at Yeamans and Bulls Bay.  Both are easily doable from Kiawah and well worth the effort.  While TOC is without doubt the best of the lot down there, I am not sure I would suggest somebody spend something like $375 of their hard earned dollars to play a game of golf.  Thinking on it, that is obscene.

Ciao

[Rob_Waldron]

During my last visit to Kiawah I played Turtle Point, Cassique, Ocean, River and Briars Creek (Private Rees Jones design on nearby St. Johns Island). My personal ranking of this outstanding trip was:

1. Briar's Creek
2. Cassique
3. River
4. Ocean
9. Turtle Point

The Ocean Course has become overpriced torture over the years. The two guys I played with have refused to ever go back preferring to spend their $250 at the bar. With the exception of #17 Briar's Creek is an outstanding design. The course fits nicely within the rolling terrain an appears to have been there forever. Turtle Point is a typical resort course providing an unmemorable experience. Cassique and River are fantastic. The first 10 holes of Cassique are completely contrived however what do you expect from a an old tomato field with about two feet of elevation? Watson & CO did a great job creating elevation and interesting holes from a virtual blank slate.

I highly recommend Yeaman's if accessible. I have not played Bull's Bay or CCC but they are both on my list along with the two courses at Daniel Island. 

[Matt MacIver]

I agree with most on here.  Thoughts in summary:

Cassique - well worth the effort to see and play, not many Tom Watson courses around and he built a links-style course.  I used my putter / rescue from off the green several times and the greens have lots of movement.  There are 20 holes there they play two different ones on alternate days (#s 4 and 5?) so don't be afraid to play twice.  Definitely man-made but that never really bothers me. 

River - I'm glad I played it but won't go back.  Better than any of the animal-named courses though.  Gators galore. 

Ocean - very worth the effort, if price is no object.  I think it's way too hard/punishing for someone of my ability but I'm glad I've played it a few times, esp. before next year's PGA Champ.  It was my first "true links" experience (yes I'm calling it such despite Peper's disagreement).  I'll play it again sometime...when someone else is paying. 

I've not played Bulls Bay, Yeaman's or CCoCharleston, and from my past experiences BB is enjoys granting access to those that enjoy good golf, gca and/or Strantz, while the other two have consistently shot me down with very little pleasantries -- as is their right. 

Good luck and enjoy, KI is a great place. 
 

[PCCraig]

David,

You'll really enjoy Cassique. Before I had first played it I wasn't expecting much as most of the pictures I had seen of the course featured what appeared to be huge ugly fake mounds. However once on the property I was shocked how much fun and strategic it was to play.

They did a neat job building interest into holes #4-6, when after the 3rd hole a sign directs you to either the left or right green, so the par-4 4th is either played to a low or elevated green. The next hole, a par-3, is played to the unused green. And the following hole, a par 5, uses either an elevated or low left tee giving different looks of the hole.

The course moves from the old tomato fields to a more wooded layout for about 3 holes before finishing with some really good and more typical "low country" golf holes. The clubhouse is awesome. I'm a big fan of having a Harp in the Men's Locker room after the round and sitting in some of the massive leather chairs after a hot day.

While I really like Yeamans Hall (and all things Seth Raynor), I don't think it's head and shoulders better than Cassique quite like JNC thinks. And considering the time of the year we're heading into it should be pretty tough to get on YH with the spring and fall being their peak member times.

Rob,

Glad you liked Briar's Creek. It's an awesome place to go play golf and it's amazing how little people talk about it considering how close it is to Kiawah. When on the island for a vacation, I probably play 50%-70% of my rounds down there and really like it. It helps that it's almost always empty and you can play 36 holes fast enough to be on the beach by noon.  

[David Cronheim]

Thank you to all for the recommendations! I had heard of Bull's Bay, Yeaman's Hall and Cassique, but never Briar's Creek. However, a little internet research has shown it to be quite a fantastic looking test. I'll make a few inquiries about playing them and hopefully something will work out.

I'm a huge Seth Raynor fan, so Yeaman's Hall is absolutely on my to-play list. Bull's Bay looks incredible (Mike Stranz courses are certainly different and fun - love Tobacco Road). And Cassique and Briar's Creek look first rate.

Does anyone have any idea what they're unescorted guest fees are? (feel free to PM me). I was just curious.

Thanks!

[Bruce Wellmon]

David,
        I was told Bulls Bay was converting their greens. This is second hand info I admit. They may be closed in fact.
I have yet to play the River Course or Cassique.
I very much enjoyed YH.
I very much enjoyed my round at Briar's Creek as well.

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

I've played both Cassique and The River Course a number of times.  I disagree with most here.  While I really enjoy playing Cassique, I like The River Course better.  It's clearly a Fazio course, but it's a Fazio course with teeth!  It's the second hardest course on Kiawah (after The Ocean Course), it's loaded with eye candy (typical Fazio), but it allows for both and air and ground game and it's just a blast to play.  Cassique is a chest-thumping course in that it looks a lot harder than it is.  You get done playing and you've generally posted a pretty good score (which, I guess, is why members prefer it).  It's also a bit schizophrenic.  Holes 1 - 10 has a definate links/Scottish feel.  Holes 11-18 are pure Carolina Lowcountry.  It's a lot of fun, but I prefer The River Course.

Yeamon's Hall is great.  Briar's Creek, not so much.  CC of Charleston is solid with a couple of quirky holes.  Haven't played Bull's Bay.

[Doug Wright]

Just went to Kiawah earlier this month for a week. I've played The Ocean Course before and although it's great I just can't summon the urge to play again for the $$$. Was supposed to play Cassique for the first time and was excited to do so (chose it over River, which I also haven't played, as Cassique/Watson looked more interesting than River/Fazio) but my member friend couldn't make it. I did play Cougar Point/Player for the second time and I must say I really like the course--surprising given my other experiences with Player courses that were massively disappointing. Although routed through the development like the other public courses except Ocean, Cougar Point has a good flow out to and along the marsh for a couple holes and has more interesting golf holes than the Nicklaus Turtle Point, which is eminently forgettable IMO.  The Cougar Point greens are a bit flat and tame (except for the wild 18th, which is so bizarre and different it's laughable), but I would call Cougar Point the "best of the rest" public courses there.

Would love to get to Yeamans some time but a day trip to Charleston isn't in the cards when on the island for a week.

[David Cronheim]

Thanks for the suggestions! I too enjoy Cougar Point. I remember having a similar reaction to you, Doug. It's a fun, sporty track with a few beautiful holes along the marsh that are classic Carolina low country golf. I remember not particularly liking Osprey Point. I didn't play Oak Point and was told I didn't miss much. Turtle Point is fun, if only because of the 3 holes that have views of the ocean. That said, I like the Links (ocean) Course at Wild Dunes a lot more fun my money.

I considered going to Wild Dunes, but their lodging options were a lot more limited. (I'm biased towards Wild Dunes since I had a hole in one there in April '10) However, I hadn't realized quite how pricey the greens fees at Kiawah had become in the years since I last visited. Wild Dunes only wanted $85 and $55 for their two courses whereas the "discounted" rate for Osprey, Cougar, Turtle is $180. It's definitely not a value, but it's a resort course, so you're stuck somewhat. Is there a course just off the island or on Seabrook Island that is more affordable for my friends who are not golf fanatics, but would like to play once or twice during the week and balk at $180 greens fees?

DBC

[Doug Wright]

David I think I paid $130 (with tax) for the after 2 pm rate @ Cougar Point. Still not cheap but paying for high season convenience I guess.

[David Cronheim]

David I think I paid $130 (with tax) for the after 2 pm rate @ Cougar Point. Still not cheap but paying for high season convenience I guess.

That's not too bad. I would consider $130 to be reasonable. $180 for cougar point is a bit much. As others have said, it seems like if you can bet on some of the other courses they might be worth a similar greens fee. Has anyone had any luck getting on yeaman's?

Anyone going to down in the charleston area sept 10-17 and care to meet up? I should have a car.

[Howard Riefs]

[
Anyone going to down in the charleston area sept 10-17 and care to meet up? I should have a car.

Unfortunately, I'll miss you by a few days. I'll be in the Kiawah/Charleston area from Sept. 21-26.

Similarly, I would also welcome the opportunity to meet up with anyone while I'm in town.

[Yancey_Beamer]

What ever you play add in Yeamans.Extremely beautiful with massive Live Oaks. Great course also.

[Matt MacIver]

Seabrook next door has two courses, I haven't played either and don't know about access.  Public Stono Ferry is nearby-ish and I thought it was decent on my only play.  Rivertowne and Dunes West are also good but probably a 45 min. drive. 

[Rob_Waldron]

Bruce

Bull's Bay opens there new greens today, Sept 1. Should be a little firm.......

[David Cronheim]

Bruce

Bull's Bay opens there new greens today, Sept 1. Should be a little firm.......

Nothing like watching a wedge bounce 30 ft into the air on a first bounce...I think I'll shoot to get onto Briar's Creek, Cassique and Yeamans if I can. We'll see how it works out.

[David Cronheim]

bump.

I'll reiterate my question - Anyone going to be down in the Charleston/Kiawah area next week care to meet up for game?

[PCCraig]

bump.

I'll reiterate my question - Anyone going to be down in the Charleston/Kiawah area next week care to meet up for game?

I won't be down there until November. Have a great time though and report back.

[David Cronheim]

bump.

I'll reiterate my question - Anyone going to be down in the Charleston/Kiawah area next week care to meet up for game?

I won't be down there until November. Have a great time though and report back.

Thank you.  Will do. As of now, I'm scheduled to play chechesee creek, yeamans hall, turtle point, cougar point and probably either cassique or briar's creek, but not both. Shaping up to be a pretty fun week.