There is good reason South Carolina license plates are emblazoned with the slogan, “First in Golf.” The first golf club, course and clubs imported into the United States all originated in Charleston, South Carolina.
The first ever-transatlantic shipment of golf clubs and balls arrived in Charleston from Leith, Scotland, the birthplace of golf. A copy of the original customs ledger verifies 432 balls and 96 clubs were shipped aboard the Magdale on May 12, 1743.
Today, the Charleston area boasts over 24 famed courses including those designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, and Jack Nicklaus, such as The Ocean Course. This wind-swept, Scottish-flavored masterpiece at the 5-star Kiawah Island Golf Resort is rated the No. 1 most difficult golf course in the country and became only the fifth course in the United States to stage all three of the major tournaments of the PGA of America, including the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship.
The crown jewel of the resort’s five golf courses, The Ocean Course is the polar opposite of a typical short-and-sweet resort layout. Hugging the churning Atlantic, it weaves through a vast, exposed terrain strewn with palmettos, sand dunes, sprays of sea oats and beach grass, sprawling marshes and immense thickets of wax myrtle that gobble up errant balls. Throw in some heather, gorse and a crew of caddies and you’d swear you were smack in the middle of a Scottish seaside links, going at it tooth and nail against the elements.
We’ve teamed up with The Ocean Course professionals to share their top tips to perfect your golf game. Scroll on to learn more!
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