Day 2: Rodney Scott's BBQ

 After a beautiful day of beachfront golf at Turtle Point, Rodney Scott's BBQ offers great pit cooked meals  that will not disappoint. Being one of the most iconic barbecue chains in the southern United States, Rodney Scott has whole hog smoked barbecue food that will make you happy, no matter what you shot on the golf course. Between the bbq pork, pulled chicken, spare ribs, and the classic sides, Rodney Scott's has everything you would possibly dream of in a southern bbq dinner. You may be thinking that such incredible food comes at a little bit of a high price, at least for barbecue food, but no; the food at Rodney's Scott's will cost you no more than $15 for a sandwich and sides, and $20 for a plate, which is very inexpensive for this quality of food. If you are looking for something to do after dinner, I recommend visiting King Street and simply walking around and exploring downtown Charleston. Downtown Charleston is one of the most friendly and walkable areas in the United States, as there are tons of shops and beautiful buildings to look at: if you happen to visit on the second Sunday of the month, you will get to experience King Street with no cars and live music, which enhances the already great atmosphere of King Street. Both Rodney's Scott's BBQ and King Street are in downtown Charleston, which is roughly 35 minutes from the Andell Inn and 25 minutes from John's Island and Folly Beach. 

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Amazon Affiliate Links

Titleist golf balls

Rangefinder

Callaway golf balls

Cobra golf clubs

Golf hitting net

Footjoy men's golf shoes

Day 2: Turtle Point

You may feel that you have experienced the best of Kiawah golf through Cougar Point, but trust me, it gets better. Turtle Point golf course is a Jack Niklaus design that will test every skill you have, while making for an enjoyable and beautiful test of golf. This newly reestablished golf course always exceeds expectations, and is consistently in amazing shape no matter the time of year you play it. Turtle Point is another water lined golf course that forces you to be accurate off the tee, although there aren't many forced carries over water. The fairways at Turtle Point are exceptional, they are cut very tight and are some of the best Bermuda fairways I have personally ever played on. This course stretches out to roughly 6900 yards from the tips, with the longest holes being on the front nine; this doesn't mean the back is easier though, as it has 3 oceanfront holes that demand extreme precision, especially with the ocean breeze being a factor. These holes really define the course golf course and are great for pictures with the buddies, I am convinced there is no better feeling in golf than playing an oceanfront course with your friends. This golf course will not disappoint with its lush fairways and firm but manageable greens, and will give spectacular views of the ocean on the 14-16th holes. In terms of proximity to where you are lodging: Turtle Point is 11 minutes from the Andell Inn, 22 minutes from John's Island, and 44 minutes from the Beachside Boutique Inn. 

Turtle Point Golf Course

Amazon Affiliate Links

Titleist golf balls

Rangefinder

Callaway golf balls

Cobra golf clubs

Golf hitting net

Footjoy men's golf shoes

Day 1: Hannibal's Kitchen

 After a beautiful day of golf at Cougar Point, what's better than a trip into downtown Charleston for some sightseeing and soul food. Hannibal's kitchen is an amazing option for inexpensive yet mouthwatering food that give you comfort, hence the name comfort food. Hannibal's kitchen is what Charleston is about, people coming together and eating delicious seafood and bbq dishes, while eating outside and enjoying the beautiful South Carolina weather. I recommend their chicken meal and their crab with rice and shrimp, but anything on that menu is mouthwatering. The meal should also be extremely cheap, no more than $15 for an entree and a drink. If you are still looking for something else to do in the Charleston area after dinner, go to the Riverfront Park in North Charleston. It is a 15 minute drive from Hannibal's kitchen, and is truly a great place to see the sunset over the Cooper River. If you are there at the right time, you may be lucky enough to receive some live entertainment; which is always a great way to end your first day on vacation. As far as the drive to Charleston is concerned, it is roughly 35 minutes from the Andell Inn, 25 minutes from the center of John's Island, and 25 minutes from Folly Beach. 

Hannibal's Kitchen

Image from Afar Magazine: https://www.afar.com/places/hannibals-soul-kitchen

Afilliate links

Taylormade Golf Balls: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S3HD12/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=budgetgolfkia-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B078S3HD12&linkId=a4a54d63bd68e342355631c0c9101518

Callaway golf clubs: https://amzn.to/3lYBSPK

Day 1: Cougar Point

Whether you are playing Cougar Point the day of your arrival, or you have already spent the night, Cougar  Point Golf Course is a good way to get your Kiawah golf vacation started right. This course is always in immaculate shape no matter what time of year, and is a great course that sums up Kiawah golf at its finest. This Gary Player design stretches out to roughly 6800 yards, and can be a gentle handshake for some due to its short length and relatively easy greens, but may give the average golfer some trouble being that the fairways are tight and there is water on 16 holes. The course condition is excellent, which is what you would expect from Kiawah Island golf, the fairways are like carpet and the greens are pure but aren't too quick, which makes the course more playable for the average golfer. The fifth and sixth holes are two of the best golf holes on the island, as they have expansive views spanning across the Kiawah river. Cougar point is a fantastic first course to play, introducing all first timers to the incredible caliber of golf that Kiawah Island has to offer. This golf course is a quick 7 minute drive from the Charleston Andell Inn, roughly 18 minutes from the center of John's Island, and 40 minutes from the Beachside Boutique Inn. Rates range from $180-262 depending on the season, but this course is worth every penny.

Click here to book a tee time: Cougar Point Golf Course

Image from Golf.com https://golf.com/travel/kiawah-island-golf-resort-other-4-courses/

Afilliate links

Taylormade Golf Balls: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S3HD12/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=budgetgolfkia-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B078S3HD12&linkId=a4a54d63bd68e342355631c0c9101518

Callaway golf clubs: https://amzn.to/3lYBSPK

Where to Stay

 On a $1500 all inclusive per person budget, there are not many lodging options in the Kiawah area. The most luxurious lodging option on this budget is staying at the Residence Inn Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn. Their rooms range from $200-300 a night which may sound expensive, but when splitting it with three other guys, $50-75 a night doesn't sound so bad. These accommodations are luxurious, modern, and extremely convenient to Kiawah Island's world class golf courses. Another great lodging option is the Beachside Boutique Inn, located in the heart of Folly Beach, SC. These accommodations are more spacious and more budget friendly. The Beachside Boutique Inn is walking distance to all the wonderful restaurants in Folly Beach, as well as the beautiful white sand beaches this island has to offer. Rooms here are much less modern than the Residence Inn Andell, but range from $130 to $170 a night depending on the season, which is extremely budget friendly for its location and spaciousness. While this option is much farther away from Kiawah Island and all it has to offer, it is more convenient to Charleston which has a multitude of world class restaurants and attractions. Lastly, there are many budget friendly VRBO and Airbnb options in John's Island SC, which can range from $80-400 dollars for 1-3 bedroom apartments and homes. These options are the most spacious and are relatively convenient to Kiawah Island, although they are not as close to restaurants and beaches as the other options are. This is a good option if you want more space, and don't mind driving to dinner every night. The links for these lodging options are listed down below. 

Lodging options: https://beachsideboutiqueinn.com

https://www.airbnb.com/johns-island-sc/stays

https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/south-carolina/johns-island

(Andell Inn linked below)

Image by Andell Inn: https://andellinn.com

Why Kiawah Island?

 When looking for an inexpensive golf trip with a couple of buddies, Kiawah Island definitely doesn’t pop up in most young golfers. Why? Because it is has amazing weather and is home to some of the best public golf in the entire world, which also means some of the most expensive golf in the entire world. Although this is the case, a Kiawah Island golf trip can be done on a reasonable budget, as long as the hotel and food and travel expenses are monitored carefully. Thankfully, the Charleston and Kiawah area is home to some exceptional, inexpensive food and world class forts that can be accessed for free. Inexpensive lodging is also within relatively close proximity to the Kiawah Island golf courses, although it doesn’t provide the convenience of being right on the Island like the 5 star Sanctuary Resort does. Throughout my itinerary, I will stick to a strict $1500 per person budget and provide helpful insight on both dining, lodging, and golf recommendations in the Kiawah Island area. Be aware, this is not an itinerary I would recommend to a group of established businessmen looking for a Kiawah golf trip; it is intended for young men in their mid to late twenties looking for a world class golf trip on a strict budget. With that being said, the lodging options with prices are on the next page. 

Link to find the best lodging options: https://budgetgolfkiawah.blogspot.com/2021/10/where-to-stay.html