Course Review - Cougar Point Golf Course (Kiawah Island)
12 Kiawah Beach Dr, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Holes: 18 - Par: 72 - Yardage: 6,814 - Rating/Slope: 72.7/134
Posted on October 29, 2020
Cougar Point makes a great case for the best non-Ocean Course track within the Kiawah Island Resort quintet. In perfect condition and with a variety of tame and feisty holes, Cougar Point is a fantastic course with high replay value.
Click here to view hole-by-hole photos from each hole at Cougar Point!
Hole 1 – Par 4 - 372/330/243 (Back/Middle/Front)
- Cougar Point starts with a purr. This short par 4 opener calls for a hybrid or fairway wood off the tee which leaves a wedge into a green sloped moderately from the back left. Danger arises if the golfer hits driver, as this brings into play a pond short right of the green.
Hole 2 – Par 3 – 171/146/100
- The scenery starts on the 2nd hole, a medium length par 3 over water. The hole’s difficulty depends almost completely on pin placement; back left takes the water out of play while front or back right requires a daring shot to avoid a likely 3-putt. This theme repeats itself on two other par 3s later in the round.
Hole 3 – Par 5 – 535/494/413
- This is a really cool par 5 that requires some thinking. The fairway turns 90 degrees to the left at about 280 yards from the back tees, forcing long hitters to use less than driver unless they want to try a big draw/fade around the corner.
- Once set up in the fairway, the golfer is presented with the option to go for the green in two by hitting a 230-250 yard carry over water. A generous layup area sits off to the right, but it’s well short of the green and so does not function as a bailout area for those going for the green in two.
- Gators are common in the pond guarding the green.
Hole 4 – Par 4 – 453/398/324
- The hardest hole on the course due to its length and well-guarded green, the 4th is where Cougar Point begins to show its teeth. A long drive is a must, followed by a precise approach. The marsh abuts the right and back of the green, swallowing balls that bounce just off.
Hole 5 – Par 4 – 410/369/305
- The first of two beautiful holes along the Kiawah River, driver is not required or recommended, as the fairway is pinched by the marsh at around 275 yards. An accurate fairway wood or hybrid leaves a short or mid-iron into a green that is surrounded on three sides by the marsh and slopes severely forward on the front half.
- With maybe the most satisfying approach shot on the course, the 4th is one of the best holes at Cougar Point.
Hole 6 – Par 3 – 180/163/98
- A great par 3 that balances difficulty with enjoyment of the views, this hole is the second of two straight holes along the river. No more than a mid-iron is needed, but a back left pin brings the marsh into play.
Hole 7 – Par 4 – 354/331/249
- Driver is out of the question here, as the fairway breaks 90 degrees to the right at about 250 yards (the opposite direction of the 3rd hole). A bunker guards the corner, and balls that find it are left with the most dreaded shot in golf: a 60 yard bunker shot.
- Balls that find the fairway are left with a wedge or short iron into a forgiving green. This hole presents the second-best birdie opportunity of the par 4s on the front 9.
Hole 8 – Par 4 – 361/334/218
- The 8th presents the best par 4 birdie opportunity on the front 9. Short, straight, and with a slightly bowl-shaped green, this hole is forgiving in every way and gives the golfer a breather before a touch stretch from 9 to 12.
Hole 9 – Par 5 – 574/517/410
- The 9th is a great risk/reward par 5, although the risk is really only off the tee. Long, with a slight double dogleg (right then left), a pond runs up the entire right-hand side of the fairway. Out of bounds along the entire left side means drives must be precise. If the golfer’s drive does find the fairway, she is left with either a fairway wood into a friendly green or a layup into a massive landing zone after the second dogleg.
- Together with the 3rd hole, the other par 5 on the front 9, the golfer experiences both a very risky drive and a very risky approach.
Hole 10 – Par 4 – 443/390/286
- Water lines the right side of this hole (the same water that borders the right side of the 9th hole), but is not really in play unless the golfer hits his worst drive of the day. Cutting the corner of this dogleg right does present an advanage, as it leaves the golfer with a short iron into the green instead of a mid iron. The green is raised and narrow. This is one of the tougher holes at Cougar Point.
Hole 11 – Par 5 – 496/475/378
- A very straight, short, and narrow par 5 (OB on both sides), this hole is reachable in two, but the OB likely scares many golfers into hitting hybrid or fairway wood off the tee. Once in the fairway, the hole is fairly easy. The green appears to be dangerously bunkered, but the entrance to the green is wide open front right.
Hole 12 – Par 3 – 223/183/126
- The most difficult par 3 at Cougar Point, the green is bordered by water on 2.5 sides. Add to that the fact that a long iron is required to reach it, and this hole can easily cause some big numbers.
Hole 13 – Par 4 – 408/354/281
- The 13th hole is a medium length par 4 that gently doglegs to the left. Two large bunkers guard both sides of the fairway at the dogleg. From the fairway, the golfer is left with a short iron to a friendly green.
Hole 14 – Par 3 – 174/154/123
- The easiest par 3 at Cougar Point, this hole’s defining feature is a long bunker along the left side that appears to guard the green but actually ends about 10 yards short of the putting surface.
- Aim for the pin and you should have a simple up and down if you miss.
Hole 15 – Par 5 – 542/503/411
- What a scenic hole this is – and a strategic one too. A pond emerges about 260 yards up on the right, requiring accuracy for anyone hitting driver. Those who choose to play this as a three-stroke hole can hit hybrid or fairway wood to a wide landing area and then layup left of the green to an equally wide are.
- Golfers going for the green in two must hit an accurate driver and then a gutsy long iron cutting the corner over the pond.
- The green is no slouch either, as it slopes severely from back to front.
Hole 16 – Par 4 – 401/370/286
- A medium length par 4, this hole provides a bit a respite after the tough 15th. The fairway is not super narrow and drives that try to cut the corner and fail will still have decent lies and probably a clear angle. A bunker guards the left side of the green but is not a factor unless the pin is placed very close to the left edge.
Hole 17 – Par 4 – 363/328/260
- Can you carry a ball 300 yards over water? Here’s your chance to prove it! The 17th at Cougar Point was designed to humiliate those with big egos.
- The smart play is to hit a hybrid into the generous fairway area, which leaves a wedge into an easy green. The more fun play is to hit driver over the pond that runs up the left side and guards the front of the green.
Hole 18 – Par 4 – 415/373/265
- A beautiful finishing hole, the 18th features a wide fairway but deep, narrow green with a huge swale in the middle. Approach shots that catch the wrong portion of the green will likely result in 3-putts. A pond borders the left edge of the green, and a bunker borders the right, making for a challenging final shot of the round.
