Review of Cougar Point on Kiawah Island

Last year I finally seized the opportunity to play Kiawah Island’s Cougar Point after several visits to the island in the past eleven years. The resort courses I had played up this point were Osprey Point, Turtle Point and Oak Point. One of these days I will bite the financial bullet and play the famous Pete Dye Ocean course.
This Gary Player designed course was initially known as Marsh Point built back in 1976 during an era of Kiawah’s golf course development infancy. Criticism and drawbacks led Player to comeback in 1996 to change the course by adding yardage to a total of 6,875 yards (distance from gold markers or back tees). This par 72 bermuda grass course has a slope rating of 134 and course rating of 73 (from the golds). Water plays in on every hole with the exception of #4,# 6,# 11 and #16. The crown jewel of playing Cougar are holes #4, #5, and #6 that run alongside the Kiawah River and tidal marshes. Regardless of skill level, it is hard not to enjoy the awesome scenery of the Kiawah wildlife just off the fairways and greens. The holes are as pretty if not prettier than the ocean view holes of #15, #16, and #17 at Turtle Point. The most entertaining hole at Cougar Point is number 17 that is a shorter par 4, but offers up a healthy dose of water along the right side (tee box to pin) along with fairway bunkers that can be avoided with a healthy straight drive off the box. I don’t really see any downside to this course other than the few holes that run along Kiawah Island Parkway. The accompanying road noise is easily forgotten once you get away from this hole. The clubhouse staff, ranger, and beverage cart service were all friendly and accommodating. The clubhouse seemed modest in comparison to Turtle Point, Osprey and the other resort courses.

Like all other resort courses on Kiawah, you will pay through the nose on greens fees, so consider purchasing the Charleston Golf directory book for a discount, or just bite the bullet and play this one just once. I played Cougar last spring and fell in love with this course ever since.

Easy Tips for Skimboarding on Sand

Skimboarding is a relatively new beach and surf craze that appears to be gathering steam with each passing summer. I have seen children and teens at the Kiawah beach try their luck with these boards. Skimboards are larger than bodyboards but smaller than the traditional surf board. The beauty of skimming sand and water is that there are numerous locations throughout the U.S. where you can find t low (almost flat) pitches of sand meeting water which is ideal for skimboarding. I have seen numerous beaches in Florida and the Carolinas (e.g. Kiawah Island) that are ideal places to try this sport. The equipment needed is the flat sand skimboard. Most of these boards are made of either wood or fiberglass. The wood options tend to be heavier but also go at a much more reasonable price. For sand skimming, choose a board that is relative small and flat. The longer curved boards are better served for skimboarding in deeper water and turning into a wave which requires more experience and master of the sand skimming. If you are interested in trying out this sport ask a fellow beachcomber if you can try his or her board for one turn before heading to the store. I would consider checking out used options at local surf or sporting goods shop. The first step to sand skimming is the board drop. As I mentioned before, the best beaches to skim are those which have relatively low pitch where the sand and waves meet. Find the area of sand that has a very low level of water on it and drop or slide the board out in front. Now, give yourself a running start and run on and with the board. Avoid a sudden jump on the board as you will wipeout. It is crucial to remember you are trying to skim the sand and water and try and propel the board forward instead of straight down. I have attached a video of a Kiawah beachcomber trying his luck out at skimboarding on sand. Give it some practice and you will be ready to start skimming the waves!

Where Does One Grocery Shop When Staying on Kiawah or Seabrook?

When staying on Kiawah or Seabrook for the week, one needs to consider stocking the fridge with the necessities. Yes there will be dining out options, but there are those days when eating a quick self prepared meal is the better option when coming back from the beach or golf course. When I am down here in the low country on vacation, I usually pick two spots to buy my weekly provisions. The first is Newton Farms. This market is located in the Freshfield’s Village between Kiawah and Seabrook. It is the largest retailer of the village so it is pretty easy to find. A visit to Newton Farms will take you to some really good quality produce, meats, and tasty bakery items. The large salad bar is the excellent way to go if you want to stop in for a healthy meal on the run; or even eat out on the Newton Farms patio. I love this store because it is a convenient five minute drive from our villa or about a fifteen minute bike ride along the Kiawah Parkway bike path. I would recommend against the bike ride to the store if you are staying on the island during the hot summer or plan on purchasing perishables or ice cream.

The other location I prefer to shop for food is Publix in the West Ashley. This Publix is a fairly new store (under five years old) that is about twenty minutes off the island. The store is located by taking Bohicket or (Main road) straight back towards Charleston. The store is located one block past the stop light of where Bohicket and Savannah Highway intersect and on the left side. The prices at Publix are significantly lower than Newton Farms which really justifies the extra time spent driving. The store is large and has a pretty friendly staff. The store even offers up its own Publix brand of items whether shopping for bread, cookies, cheese……whatever. The Publix brand cheesecake is to die for. I typically purchase the majority of my week long needed items at this store, and the remaining 10% from Newton Farms. When driving out to Publix during the summer, I would highly recommend bringing along a large cooler for the trunk to keep items cold for the trip back.

Dolphin Watching in Kiawah

One of the local wildlife treasures in the Charleston area are the dolphins that can be spotted swimming the Atlantic coastline. It is pretty common to view these amazing creatures up close whether sailing the Charleston harbor, taking a ferry to Fort Sumter, or even walking the beaches of Kiawah and Seabrook. One ideal location to try and spot dolphins is over in the Captain Sam’s Inlet area. This inlet is at the beginning of the island where the Kiawah River feeds into the Atlantic. One can get access to the inlet area at Beachwalker County Park which is just before the Kiawah security gate. It is this location that is teeming with abundance of fish, birds, and of course dolphins. For those that want to dedicate a few hours to really seek out dolphins, there are a few local guides that will take you on a dolphin watching cruise . These cruises are a great way to explore the salt water community and see numerous animals besides dolphins, and view some really pretty homes that are situated along this vibrant inter-coastal waterway.

Usually when you see one dolphin walking along the beach, you will surely see a few more. Dolphin pods are sometimes mistaken for sharks until you get a closer look at the fins. Here is a fun video of dolphins beaching or “stranding” themselves along the Kiawah River. Dolphin or whales stranding typically means the mammal has beached itself with intent to die due to disease or orientation complications with sonar. These critters seem to be just acting playful perhaps in pursuit of a mid day lunch of small fish swimming along the shoreline.

Review of Charleston International Airport

Getting in and out of the Charleston airport is a pretty darn quick process. That process holds true for public parking, check in, baggage claim, and car rental. I usually make my excursion to the low country via minivan (ala fifteen hour road trip), but there have been those times when a two hour flight from Chicago to Charleston is the ideal way to travel. While the selection of carriers flying to and from this smaller market destination can be limited, I find it encouraging that the popular discount carrier, Southwest airlines has added Charleston to their list of cities for travel. This no frills airline has stood behind their reputation of keeping rates competitive and not gouging the customer with baggage fees as all other carriers seem to be doing. Other airlines traveling into Charleston include US Airways, United, Continental, Delta, and American Airlines.
Coming into Charleston from a larger airport such as O’Hare, I am amused, if not intrigued by the small jet way stairs that greet the passenger as you depart the plane. The quick walk to the gate has you getting to baggage area for clubs and suitcase in only a minute or so. Then there is the matter of car rental if you do not have someone there to pick you up.
There are seven rental companies represented at the car rental counter located within the arrivals area of the terminal. I have rented cars from Enterprise and Avis and experienced good overall service. The car rental lot is located just outside the terminal baggage area. No need for a shuttle, train or long walk to get your rental car and get out; this fleet of cars are about a minute’s walk away. Leaving this airport, it is pretty easy to get your bearings when heading out on International Drive and into the Charleston area via interstate 26.
The public parking lot is also a breeze to find as it is located just across from the terminal. The parking deck allows pickups and overnights to park at $15 per day with a surface lot located behind it at $8 per day. Excess parking can be found on busy travel days as these overflow lots are located at the end of the circle (proceeding away from the terminal drop off area). Here is a web link and map of the airport.
If I did not have a large family, I would most likely opt to fly instead of drive to the lowcounrty for every annual visit.