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The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on the Rise In Latest Golf Magazine "Top 100 Courses in the U.S. & World" Ranking - Dye's Ocean Course Jumps 21 spots to No. 44 in U.S. Ranking and debuts at No. 79 in World Ranking Contact Michael Vegis KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (August 12, 2003) - The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, South Carolina, jumped 21 spots to No. 44 in Golf Magazine "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." Additionally, it debuted at No. 79 in the magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the World" rankings. The rankings came out in the magazine's September 2003 issue. A two-page photo spread of The Ocean Course was featured on pages listing the top U.S. courses. According to Roger Warren, Kiawah's director of golf and Vice President of the PGA of America, the jump in The Ocean Course's ranking is the result of recent renovations carried out by the course's designer, Pete Dye. "The changes made by Dye both improves The Ocean Course playability for the typical resort player while still maintaining its challenges to the better player. When The Ocean Course first opened, many thought it was unfairly difficult. Dye's renovations have made The Ocean Course a fairer test for players of all levels." The course reopens September 1, 2003 after 2PI months of conditioning including resurfacing the greens with a special strain of salt-tolerant turfgrass called OC03 Paspalum, specifically designed for use on The Ocean Course. Golf Magazine's panel of international course raters is made up of 86 highly regarded members of the golf industry ranging from golf course architects to prominent players, administrators and journalists. They are asked to appraise a list of over 545 courses based on a broad criteria ranging from a course's strategic elements, setting, shot values, agronomy, historical significance, routing and feature design. Built by Pete Dye to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, called "The War by the Shore," The Ocean Course has since held the 1997 World Cup of Golf, the inaugural 2001 UBS Warburg Cup and is scheduled to host the 2003 World Cup in November. With ten holes directly on the Atlantic Ocean and the other eight winding through the surrounding marshes and dunes, The Ocean Course offers a natural links-style environment reminiscent to the great courses of Scotland. In addition, Kiawah Island Golf Resort has four other resort courses designed by the masters of modern golf course architecture ^ Nicklaus, Fazio, Player and Johnston for a total of 90 golf holes. For tee times and golf packages call (888) 854-2924 or visit online at www.kiawahgolf.com. For more information about Kiawah Island Real Estate or the private Kiawah Island Club, please call (843) 768-3434 or visit www.kiawahisland.com. |