Family Golf, Alligators and More at Kiawah Island Resort

by Mitch Kaplan

"The first thing to keep in mind," the dad reminded his kids as they teed it up at South Carolina's Kiawah Island Golf Resort, "is that if you hit a ball into the deep grass or by the water—look out for alligators!"

Mom looked apprehensively in all directions. "Alligators?"

"Yep. They live here."

Alligators are found at many renowned southern golf resorts. But, kids? Not so much. When you think of championship courses like Kiawah, kids don’t always enter the equation.

After all, Kiawah’s Ocean Course has hosted the Senior PGA Championships, the Ryder Cup, and will host the 2012 PGA Championships. Yes, all five of the resort’s courses have been certified by Audubon International as cooperative sanctuaries. And, yes, all five courses receive stellar rankings from Golf Digest.

But, yes—kids are welcome on the courses.

And, what a welcoming atmosphere for kids. Aside from just running around on the beach and splashing in the ocean—pastimes that will always entertain kids for hours—the resort operates a series of organized activities that manage to entertain, exercise and educate simultaneously.

The golf courses are no exception.

Families Play Together On-Course

Start, for example, with the Family Tee Program in which families can tee it up together beginning in the late afternoon. Four of the courses (Osprey, Cougar, Turtle and Oak Point Golf Courses) are set up with family tees. What’s cool about this set-up is this: everyone plays from the family tees (so everyone plays together), and children under 17 play free with a paying adult.

Okay, sure dad, that tee shot may only be an eight iron for you, but it requires a driver for your eight year-old—and the two of you get to share a nuance of club selection and strategy from that family tee.

The Resort also participates in the PGA of America initiative "Play Golf America". It’s an hour-long program that introduces beginners to the game. It covers everything from how to make a tee time and course etiquette to course management and course maintenance. After this hour, novices don’t feel uncomfortably uninitiated.

Then there are the parent/child session. "These are particularly popular for father/son and mother/daughter combinations," instructor Abby Deman explains. "They’re also really good for younger kids who are hesitant about starting by themselves. And for moms. Women often like to start out with a child—when they both hit it badly, they get a good laugh."

Kids who can keep up the pace of play are also welcome on any of the resort’s courses. Play after noon, and those kids pay only half price.

When it comes to places for kids to learn the game, a major, five-star, destination resort like Kiawah isn’t what first comes to mind. At least not for me. But, Kiawah’s different. Deman says that she has "taught more beginner kids than anything. It’s amazing how many are getting into the game. And, why not? It’s the best time to learn."

Abby sees plenty of parents and grandparents coming here to learn and perfect their skills. Relevant to the latter, Kiawah offers a full slate of junior clinics and camps, ranging from single private lessons to week-long sessions for ages six to 17.

Families Play Together Off-Course

Of course, kids just wanna have fun, and most are want to play more than play golf.

More good news: all of Kiawah’s wide range of activities are offered with kids’ elements. Not the least of which is Kamp Kiawah, a kind of day camp for visitors. Set up for ages five to 11, Kamp operates in high season all day Monday-Friday and Saturday morning, and includes Kids Night Out programs so parents can get away for a quiet dinner alone.

Among the activities: beach treasure hunts and pirate games, swimming, sports, water rocket launches, relay races—and the list goes on.

Family activities pervade the schedule, as well, including pick-up soccer, volleyball and basketball, a variety of crafts-making sessions and a weekly barbecue.

And, let us not forget the ocean. The resort offers guided hiking, biking, boating, fishing and even van excursions. Or, how about ocean seining?

Ocean what?

Seining. It’s a kind of net fishing. You head out onto the beach with a pair of naturalists who instruct in this timeless art of net fishing. If you catch anything, it can be given a new home in the aquarium at the resort’s science center.

Speaking of which, the science center has some cool stuff that educates about the regional habitat.

In fact, when you come right down to it, whether you’re playing golf on the ocean’s edge and along pristine wetlands (watch out for alligators!), swimming in the ocean, cycling through the preserve, or doing anything else here, it’s Ma Nature who makes the day. "The natural beauty here is supreme," is how resort spokesperson Mat Owen puts it. "We have protected beach and salt water marsh that has left huge junks of land undisturbed. It’s an incredible natural environment for all activities."

MORE on… Kiawah Island Resort.

......Mitch Kaplan is the author of The Unofficial Guide to the Mid-Atlantic with Kids, The Cheapskate’s Guide to Myrtle Beach and The Golf Book of Lists. He is a contributor to The Unofficial Guide to New England & New York with Kids and to the annual guide Ski America & Canada.

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