Works Starts on New Clubhouse at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course

In mid-December, ground broke on a new clubhouse at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Turning over the first shovels of dirt during a ceremony at the South Carolina facility were Resort Chairman William H. Goodwin, Jr., Resort President Roger Warren and Kiawah Island Mayor Bill Wert.

The 24,000-square-foot clubhouse, which will cost in excess of $18 million, has an expected completion date of spring 2007. The Ocean Course will host the 2007 Senior PGA Championship in May of that year. The layout is also the venue for the 2012 PGA Championship, the first of golf’s four “majors” to be held in South Carolina.

The new clubhouse will be situated adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and 150 feet from the 18th green. New York City-based Robert A. M. Stern Architects has designed the structure. The firm is familiar with Kiawah Island, having designed the island’s private Beach Club, located near the Ocean Course’s 14th tee.

Using wood shingles and brick as the primary building materials, the clubhouse’s exterior will be augmented by wraparound porches. Prior to arriving at the clubhouse, guests will pass through a series of dunes. Only after entering the elevated clubhouse will the Atlantic Ocean be visible. The upper floor will contain a locker room for 164 players as well as hospitality areas. The main floor will include another 36 lockers, a 1,700-square-foot pro shop and an 80-seat American-style restaurant. The bar will provide views of the Atlantic Ocean, golfers on the course and sunsets. An outdoor terrace overlooking The Ocean Course’s final stretch of holes will be able to accommodate another 24 seated guests.

“Golf on The Ocean Course has always been a unique experience steeped in the grand traditions of the game,” said Warren. “As the only true links-style course in the U.S., this new clubhouse – with its rustic charm and outstanding views – will be the capstone to the experience our guests will enjoy.”

Located 35 minutes from Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort lies along 10 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach. Guests can choose from 600 private villas and luxury homes or the oceanfront 255-room hotel, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, which boasts a spa, fine dining and 18,000-square-feet of meeting space. The resort features two tennis complexes, a variety of restaurants and lounges, and five golf courses, including the Ocean Course.

For more information about Kiawah Island Golf Resort, call 800/654-2924 or visit online at www.kiawahgolf.com.