Hope you have fun. Surely you are playing the Ocean course. I'd like to hear your opinion of it and whichever of the others you are playing. We were down there a few years back and played all four of the "... Point" courses plus the Ocean course. We liked all but one, but I'll wait until you report back to let you know which one we didn't care for.
JJQ-
Happy to hear you enjoyed the courses @ Kiawah. I just returned home late last night. This is the 13th straight year we've gone and, despite the fact that I didn't play that well, I had a blast as I always do. But, I have to admit that 6 rounds in 4 days left me a bit tired (Can't be the late nights playing poker.
)
We always go somewhere btwn mid-April & mid-May, which is some of the best weather down there but, not yet high season prices. The weather this year was a little dicey & it's the first time we've ever been rained out of a round. It was also the most windy conditions I've played in @ Kiawah, and it's always somewhat windy there, especially @ the Ocean course. We had steady 20-30 mph winds & gusts to 40 mph on a couple days, including the day we played Ocean when it was also raining on & off.
Turtle Point is closed for renovation; they're planting salt water friendly grasses (like the Ocean course already has, and now Osprey Point as well as of 2 yrs ago). So, with the rain-out & renovation, we played only 3 of the 5 courses open to the public. But, I've played all 5 many times so, I'll answer your question based on my experience from past years.
Ocean: The signature course; beautiful links style @ one end of the island along the beach. It's hosted the Ryder Cup & multiple majors, and is in the condition you'd expect of such a course. It's very difficult, for me anyway, especially when it's windy. We
always play Ocean once each trip, and we walk with caddies, which I think is the best experience; a good caddy will shave 4 +/- strokes off your round by reading the subtle breaks on the greens. None of us scored well in that weather but, despite horizontal rain & 40 mph gusts on the inward 4 holes, I'm proud to say nobody in my 4-some rinsed a ball on 17.
Osprey: Classic low-country resort course with lots of water everywhere; absolutely stunning views all around the course; and, there really are Osprey @ the course, including the occupied nest behind #1 tee box, where you often get bird commentary on your tee shot. Osprey was redone 2 yrs ago and is in fantastic shape; top notch greens. It's actually my favorite course of the 5 I've played.
Turtle: Undergoing renovation with new grasses coming so, we didn't play this trip. It's a Nicklaus course & is a bit tight in places. Turtle has 3 beautiful ocean holes which are being modified during the renovation to improve the golfer's view of the beach. I like Turtle & we normally play it twice/trip. I expect it will be in fantastic shape like Ocean & Osprey after the reno.
Cougar: Also a classic low-country resort course; one of the older (maybe the oldest?) course on the island, and it's showing its age. It was in the worst shape I've seen during the past 13 yrs; they've lost several greens. I was told it's scheduled for renovation in 2017 or 2018; they can't do it soon enough. I've always liked Cougar; it's a little more sheltered (borders the marsh on the inland side of the island). It also does not return to the club house @ 9, which is fine with me.
Oak: Oak Point is actually across the marsh on John's Island but, is in the Kiawah Resort rotation. We did not play Oak this year (victim to our rain out) but, I was told it was redone like Osprey; new grasses & lots of bunker removal. That sounds promising because Oak is very tight with bunkers, turns & bits/pieces of water everywhere; the big hitters in our groups don't like it as they rarely use driver. Oak is definitely target golf.
So, having said all that, my personal ratings are below in order of preference.
1. Osprey
2. Ocean
3. Turtle (after reno)
4. Cougar (only after reno; would not play again until then)
5. Oak
The pic below is #1 tee box @ Osprey with the occupied Osprey nest in the top of the dead tree in back.
. When I use to play there, I always thought it was one of the best conditioned courses around. It is also very challenging. I like the layout, but wouldn't want to play it on a weekly basis. Still, a definite must play.
️, I can always hope to win @ the poker table. 
