Kiawah Island Golf, Tennis, & Other ActivitiesKiawah Island golf courses play host to some of the top tournaments in the country. With world-class golf and tennis, a pristine beach, and lush maritime forest - Kiawah offers an elegant and relaxing escape. Golf and tennis enthusiasts will be hard pressed to find a more idyllic place for play than on Kiawah Island! Kiawah Island golf courses and tennis facilities are among the best in the country. Beyond the links and clay, though, the island's greatest attraction is its natural beauty. Kiawah activities offer ways to enjoy and learn about the island's rich ecosystem. The pace is slower here than at some of the more commercially developed islands. In addition to golf and tennis, popular Kiawah activities include biking along the wide, flat beach, kayaking through the marshes, and cuising along the waterways to relax and explore the island's rich coastal habitat. Kiawah Golf 
Kiawah golf courses are consistently ranked among the best in the country. Kiawah Island's Ocean Course was the site of the 2007 Senior PGA, the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, the 2001 UBS Cup and 2005 PGA Professional National Championship. Kiawah will host the 94th PGA Championship in 2012, upon which the Kiawah Island Golf Resort will become only the fourth course to host each of the PGA of America’s major championships! Here's a quick description of Kiawah's 5 major golf courses:
Information courtesy of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Though owed by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, these courses are public. Green fees vary with the season, but tend to run fairly high for these exceptional links. Kiawah Island golf packages are available through the Resort for guests at either the Sanctuary or a Kiawah Island Golf Resort villa rental. Each golf package comes with a daily round of golf at any of the Resort's five courses, though an additional fee applies if you choose to play on the Ocean Course. Finally, for those who want to improve their game, golf instruction is available at the state-of-the-art Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center on Kiawah Island. The facility features indoor and outdoor private instructional areas, a state-of-the-art computerized video swing analysis system, practice bunker and greens. An indoor studio offers the V1 video teaching system and the new Explanar teaching system. Kiawah Island Tennis As thrilling as Kiawah is for golfers, it's no less of a haven for tennis enthusiasts. Ranked #1 tennis resort in the world by tennisresortsonline.com and the #2 tennis resort in the U.S. by Tennis Magazine, Kiawah Island is a spectacular place to play and learn the game.Kiawah's tennis program offers a range Kiawah has two tennis complexes:
The Resort can match you with a playing partner of similar skill if needed. Kiawah Island tennis packages are available through the Resort. These can include unlimited court time, multiple clinics or drill sessions, a half-hour ball machine, and more. Kiawah Biking Biking is one of the best ways to enjoy the island. Ride along the beach, past lagoons and alligators sunning on the banks, and through the lush maritime forest along 30 miles of paved trails. The Resort offers bicycle rentals as do several rental companies on or near Kiawah Island. Most companies provide free delivery and pick-up of bikes to and from your rental villa. If you're not renting bikes through the Resort, check out these other providers of rental bikes and beach equipment » IMPORTANT TIP: Keep the bike shop's number with you as you ride. If you get a flat or need a repair while you're out, most places will come to you to fix it or bring you back to the shop. Check with the shop you choose when you rent to make sure they provide this service. You may not need it, but if you do, it can save your whole day! » TIP: A moderate headwind on the beach can make your leisurely ride more of a workout than you'd planned. I recommend riding out to the beach at the start of your ride to see which way the wind is blowing. Then plan half your route inland and half on the beach, with the beach half planned so that you're setting out or returning with the wind. Kiawah Kayaking Kayaking is a great way to get up Tours are also offered by:
» IMPORTANT TIP: Kayaking is a fun, safe, and gentle way to explore the marshes, but DO NOT get out of your kayak to stand or swim in the marsh. The marsh floor, in many places, is lined with razor-sharp oyster shells which can hold natural, but deadly forms of bacteria if they get under your skin. Always stay in the kayak for a safe and fun tour! Save the swimming for the beach or pool! Kiawah Nature Tours Nature tours let you explore the island while learning about its rich, coastal habitat. Stroll along the beach while learning about the Loggerhead turtles that nest on Kiawah, cast a seine through the surf to discover what lives there, or take a "Gator Walk." The Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers a number of tours by foot and by bike. Also check out:
If you're looking for horseback riding, you won't find it on Kiawah - no horses are allowed on the Island (with the exception of Resort sponsored events, such as the September 2009 polo match on the beach!) Next door though, Seabrook Island offers trail rides out of the Seabrook Equestrian Center (Tel: 843-768-7541). To ride on the beach, you must be an "intermediate" rider, otherwise, your ride traverses the inland and marsh areas. I've taken the inland ride - while the marsh scenery was beautiful, our guide was a bit disappointing, declining to provide information on what we were seeing and declining to assist those with saddle difficulties. Overall, I'd recommend sticking to biking, boating and kayaking on Kiawah. Try horseback riding on Jekyll or Amelia Islands! Kiawah Boat Tours & Excursions Cruising on the waters around Kiawah is one of the most fun ways to see the sights! Here are a few different boat tours you can choose from:
Even more sailing tours and eco-tours depart from Charleston or nearby Mt. Pleasant. If you're planning to visit Charleston, or are willing to make the 45 minute drive to sail on a catamaran or tall-ship or explore more of the Lowcountry, check out our Charleston page for more information on these tours! Kiawah Island Charter Fishing The waters off Kiawah Island and Charleston, South Carolina teem with Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish, Wahoo, Dolphin fish, Tuna, Amberjack, King Mackerel and many more! The Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers fishing excursions, including coastal and reef fishing, and even shark fishing. Several other operators lead fishing trips out of nearby Charleston, South Carolina. Here are a couple to choose from:
Freshfields Village 
Freshfields Village offers not only restaurants, shops, and necessities, but also regular concerts on the green in the middle of town. From bluegrass to jazz and swing, this casual setting is a great place to bring the kids, get an ice cream, and sit on the grass or a bench nearby and enjoy the live music. Arts & Crafts fairs, classic boat shows, and more also take place here regularly, so keep an eye on the local events scheduled during your trip! Kids Activities Night Heron Park is where most kid-centric activities are found on Kiawah Island.
» TIP: If you're not staying on Kiawah through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, options for teens are somewhat limited. The island overall does not have the number of activities available for teens as some of the more commercial islands do. If your teen has energy to burn, you may want to consider Hilton Head Island. If you are staying at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, though, or are looking for quiet, family-time enjoying nature, then Kiawah Island is for you and your teens. Kiawah Island golf courses are among the best in the country, as are its world-class tennis facilities. From biking through the maritime forest to paddling through the marshes, immerse yourself in this lush and serene island retreat! Return to the Kiawah Island main page to discover where to stay and dine while you enjoy the island's activities.
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of instructional opportunities for every age and skill level. Guests of the Kiawah Island Resort are offered discounted rates.
close and personal with the marsh and its inhabitants! Slowly traversing the winding branches of the marsh, you'll get a water-level view of the wetland ecosystem and wildlife. 
is different so check the weekly schedule to choose which program to sign your little one up for.