A Day of Golf

By Patra Taylor

Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship in 2012.

When Kiawah Island Resort plays host to the world in August 2012, it will become just the fifth venue to stage a PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and PGA Professional National Championship (all contested on The Ocean Course). For what is forecast as the largest  sporting event to ever descend upon South Carolina, the par-72 layout will play to approximately 7,600 yards and feature a grand Southern mansion clubhouse to accentuate an oceanfront paradise that already ranks among the world’s top resorts.

Since its origin in 1916, the PGA Championship has become one of the game’s most anticipated events, and features the strongest competitors. Many of the greatest players from all generations of golf have graced the PGA roster — from Hagen, Sarazen, Snead, Nelson and Hogan to Nicklaus, Trevino, Woods and Singh.

Prior to hosting the 94th PGA Championship in 2012, the PGA named The Ocean Course as host site for the 2005 PGA Club Professional Championship in 2002, and awarded the resort the 2007 Senior PGA Championship in 2004. In September 1991, the PGA introduced the golf world to The Ocean Course’s links-style layout when America edged Europe in an unforgettable 29th Ryder Cup.

Designed from a ribbon of pristine sand dunes stretching nearly three miles along the Atlantic Ocean at the eastern end of Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course’s layout is reminiscent of the great seaside links of England and Scotland. In addition to the PGA’s events, the course has also hosted the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, and the 2001 UBS Warburg Cup. Kiawah Island Golf Resort features four other championship courses: Turtle Point by Jack Nicklaus, Osprey Point by Tom Fazio, Cougar Point by Gary Player, and Oak Point by Clyde Johnston. Located just south of Charleston, the resort also includes The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, a spectacular 255-room oceanfront hotel and spa, one of the country’s top-ranked  tennis programs, and a plethora of dining and  recreational opportunities.

To improve the viewing experience for spectators, the PGA is implementing innovations at Kiawah for the 2012 PGA Championship: limited-size galleries; grassed-in bunkers to prevent the ball from plugging into the sand; new spectator traffic and seating areas; and the use of wood chips in walking areas to help prevent slips and falls. After the chips are stomped upon by the crowd during the Championship, they will biodegrade back into sand, protecting the environment.

Find out where to play in our guide to golf courses in Charleston.

Daniel Island Within the city of Charleston, South Carolina, a very special island town has emerged. This is a place where traditional neighborhoods, nationally ranked golf, and a vibrant downtown enjoy a spectacular coastal setting, surrounded by rivers and creeks and beautiful marsh views. It is a place where people live and work and play and learn. A place with a unique mix of shops and businesses, schools and churches and a never-ending list of recreational options. Charleston's top choice for real estate. Ask about new incentives to build on Daniel Island introduced in 2010!

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The Wells Gallery "A room hung with pictures, is a room hung with thoughts." - Sir Joshua Reynolds. Collectors can shop with confidence here where integrity, expertise and value are paramount. Choose from fine works of art in bronze, hand-blown glass and paintings from nationally recognized and emerging artists. Shop downtown Charleston on Meeting Street, or visit the gallery at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - with special shows on the last Thursday of every month. Hours Monday-Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Find your favorite artist here, or discover a new one.