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Instead of Pebble Beach...golf Kiawah Island, S.C.
The experiencePebble Beach is fantastic. And at $450 per round of golf, it had better be. A half-hour from Charleston, S.C., Kiawah Island offers five championship courses and ranks among Golf Digest's 75 Best Golf Resorts, but its greens' fees are a fraction of what you'll find on the Monterey Peninsula. The most famous of the five courses is the Ocean Course, where all 18 holes have a view. The other courses meander around the Kiawah River and the island's marshes and lagoons, and with fees topping out at $200 in the winter (when daytime highs can reach 70 degrees), a few rounds won't break the bank. Book one of the 228 ocean-view rooms at the new Sanctuary hotel and watch the waves from your balcony or, in some rooms, from your bathtub. Dining options range from Kobe-style beef at the Ocean Room to local favorites such as shrimp and grits at the Jasmine Porch. Keep in mind Winter temperatures can vary by as much as 40 degrees from noon to midnight, so dress accordingly. And if you want more dining options than what's on the island, plan on a drive into Charleston (or pay for the resort's shuttle). Details To stay: Rooms at the Sanctuary start at $283 after Nov. 6 (877-683-1234; www.thesanctuary.com). Kiawah Island Resort golf rates range from $72 to $200 from December 2005 to February 2006 (800-576-1570; www.kiawahresort.com). To travel: The hotel's shuttle costs $35 to $120, depending on the number of people traveling. |