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You don't have to love golf to enjoy the wide Atlantic beaches and low-key atmosphere of this barrier island retreat 20 miles outside of Charleston, but with five championship courses designed by five top architects, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a dream come true for the avid golfer. The range of activities and attractions on the island make it an especially good place for families and groups with some members who prefer not to spend their vacation knocking little balls into holes in the ground.

Most illustrious of the five courses is the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course, a stunning 7,296-yard, par 72 layout reminiscent of the great seaside links courses of Scotland. The course has hosted a number of major events, including a famously suspenseful showdown in the 1991 Ryder Cup when the United States narrowly edged past Europe in the last hole of the final match. Brace yourself for unpredictable winds as you play the Ocean Course, and bring a healthy sense of humor to get you through the inevitable frustrations you'll face along the way.

The other four architects who have left there mark on Kiawah Island are Jack Nicklaus, whose Turtle Point course features a low-profile design and three oceanfront holes tucked into the dunes; contemporary architect Tom Fazio, who incorporated natural lakes, fingers of saltwater marsh and majestic stands of old trees into his design for Osprey Point; Gary Player, designer of the Cougar Point Golf Course bordering a tidal marsh along the Kiawah River; and Clyde Johnston, whose Oak Point course borders creeks and marshes across the Kiawah River on the mainland.

Kiawah also offers extensive practice facilities and instructional programs for all levels. For more information, see www.kiawahresort.com.