ADVERTORIAL • December 2019
Charleston for golfers: Kiawah Island
Sweeping ocean views and oak trees festooned in feathery drapes of Spanish moss - Charleston's seaside golf courses showcase some of the most beautiful aspects of the South Carolina Lowcountry landscape. Writer and host of The Southern Fork podcast, Stephanie Burt, tells us why Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the most charming resort of them all
The courses
Home to the Ocean Course (one of the top 100 courses in the world by Golf) Kiawah Island Golf Resort is simply the place to play in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The Ocean Course has hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cup, the 2012 PGA Championship and is slated to host it yet again in May 2021. Then there are the other courses, from Osprey Point with its generous greens and fairways, and Turtle Point - revamped in 2016 by famous USA golfer, Jack Nicklaus - to Oak Point and Cougar Point with their stunning marsh views. Choose to play one or buy a value package to play each of them.
The stay
Even for people who live in Charleston, The Sanctuary truly is one. Whether you’re from out-of-town or local enjoying a sumptuous staycation, The Sanctuary is one of those high-service spots, where needs are accommodated before you realise you have one. The setting - which includes a winding staircase and a cute-as-a-button hotel bar - incites an air of southern royalty, while even the entry-level guestrooms boast deep bath tubs, Italian robes and balconies for sunset viewing. Or, if you’d rather take your holiday in private, look into their exceptional resort villas or cosy golf course cottages.
The spa
The Spa at The Sanctuary isn’t just a wave machine soundtrack and some salt lamps. No, this is executive-level spa-ing, in the grand tradition of European spas, albeit with a local coastal twist. There’s wainscoting in the treatment rooms, a vitality mineral whirlpool, and choices that range from the standard deep tissue massage to a Diamond Rose Body Ritual that involves diamond dust exfoliation and a lot of roses. The facial treatments use Natura Bisse (if you know, you know), and on the other end of the spectrum, you can book a brow tint if all that South Carolina sun has lightened yours.
The dining
One, there are so many choices, you don’t have to leave the resort if you’d rather not. Second, the focus is local, not only on ingredients, but staff as well. Enjoy Chef John Ondo’s famous papparadelle bolognese at The Atlantic Room, or, for an even more elegant evening, you might enjoy premiere local beef and the 1,000-strong wine list at The Ocean Room, with delectable oceanside views. And with Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s close proximity to Historic Charleston, the famed epicurean delights of The Holy City are within easy reach for a night out.
This article has been tagged Advertorial, Destination
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