Plumber in Kiawah Island, SC

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is among the most famous golf courses in America and golfers fork over an arm and a leg to play it with tee times going for $600 per golfer. With that, golfers get the chance to play the same course which has hosted PGA Championships won by Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, and it will host again in 2031, but Kiaway golfers also get to cross paths with prehistoric alligators.

I’m a born-and-raised Floridian. Alligators don’t phase me. I see gators quite literally every day as there is either one in the lake in my backyard or if it’s not there it’s in the pond across the street and I pass it while walking my dog. And I’ve seen some MASSIVE alligators in Florida, don’t get me wrong, it’s just rare to see anything as large as this alligator walking across the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

The viral video below was shared by @Top100Rick aka ‘Rick Golfs’ who maintains a very popular list of the ‘Top 100 Courses’ across America. He says a friend shared this video of the Kiawah Island alligator walking across the Ocean Course right in front of them like it owned the place.

Insane crocodile at the Kiawah Ocean Course! Props to the cameraman for getting close.

For a $600 green fee, you not only get to shoot a 103, but you get to meet this specimen!

My buddy sent me this. They literally walked right by him and then he crossed over the tee box… pic.twitter.com/YDaCAcQ63k

— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) April 2, 2025

Many have pointed out that he mistakenly called the animal a ‘crocodile’ and crocodiles only exist in the United States in South Florida, most certainly not in South Carolina. This true. It is an alligator. But you can look at the snout to see that.

As a Floridian, it is a little comical how many times over the years I’ve written about alligators in South Carolina in and around the Kiawah Island area. But over the years I’ve come to realize that the ‘low country’ is home to some of the largest alligators in the country. Whatever they’re putting in the water there (small sharks, redfish, turtles, etc) is keeping those gators nice and plump.

That alligator above reminded me of another one from nearby Fripp Island, just a little south down the coast, that is (was?) locally known as ‘General Sherman’ due to its massive size:

A 12-foot-long alligator was spotted crossing hole #4 at the Ocean Point Golf Links at Fripp Island–making its way to a nearby pond pic.twitter.com/tYKKhj4HyA

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) June 4, 2017

The Kiawah Island alligators will bite too, if provoked. A woman was killed by an alligator a handful of years ago when she tried to pet the gator while visiting a friend on Kiawah.

Discover Charleston-area favorites and lesser-known oceanfront communities.

The South Carolina coast is full of laid-back beach towns with wide stretches of sand, palm-lined bike paths, quaint boardwalks, and restaurants cooking up fresh-caught Lowcountry fare. I’ve spent much of my life frequenting the Palmetto State’s beach towns—visiting Kiawah Island every year and even living in Charleston for a period. Using my own experience and the expertise of a few locals, we narrowed down the list to the 10 best beach towns in South Carolina. See if your favorite made the cut below.

Isle of Palms

I’ve spent countless days on Isle of Palms, a small barrier island about 15 miles from downtown Charleston. It's one of the more family-friendly beach destinations in the area, and many visitors opt to stay at Wild Dunes Resort or rent a roomy oceanfront home. No matter where you are on the island, though, its leisurely pace, wide beach, and classic small-town vibes will entice visitors of all ages. One of my favorite things to do on “IOP,” as the locals call it, is to grab dinner at Islander 71 and watch the boats come in and out of the marina. I’d also recommend checking out the live music schedule at The Windjammer—or picking up a frosé (frozen rosé) to-go from The Co-Op.

Kiawah Island

In South Carolina, a beach town should evoke a nostalgic mix of humidity, salt water, and the distinctly earthy smell of pluff mud emanating from the salt marshes. Kiawah Island meets all of these criteria—and then some. A majority of the island functions as a gated private community, accessible only to residents, their guests, and those with reservations. However, there are a couple of areas open to the public if you want to do a day trip, namely Kiawah Beachwalker Park and the shopping center Freshfields Village. At the latter, you can load up on all your vacation essentials: groceries, beach reads, bathing suits, and more.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach may technically be a city, but it has all of the trappings of your classic beach town. There’s a bustling boardwalk, golf courses, go-karts, souvenir shopping, and, of course, a number of public beaches. “I’ve always been drawn to the nostalgia that you can find on Myrtle Beach,” says Betsy Fuller, owner of A Maker’s Post, a gift shop on Sullivan's Island. “One of my favorite movies, 'Shag,' is set there, and whenever I watch it, I daydream about going back to visit the beach town in the 1950s.”

While it might be synonymous with spring break crowds and families on summer vacation, this is a destination that always delivers beach fun—whether you’re hoping to spend the day by the water or keeping your schedule full from sunup to sundown.

25 Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Pawleys Island

Relaxation is paramount when you’re visiting Pawleys Island, a barrier island beach town located between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. This is the type of place where time slows down, you’re encouraged to log off and enjoy the natural splendor of South Carolina’s coast. Spend your days crabbing, surfing (if the waves permit), fishing, golfing, or dining on classic Lowcountry staples like okra soup or shrimp and grits; just don’t forget to save time for the art of doing absolutely nothing. For a particularly romantic getaway, book a room at The Pelican Inn, an eight-bedroom bed-and-breakfast with a charming wraparound porch.

Folly Beach

"As someone who lives 10 minutes from Folly Beach, I certainly feel like I'm on vacation where I live,” says Katie Hirsch, the former director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. One of the closest beach towns to Charleston, it’s a great option for a day trip if you’re visiting the Holy City; just be sure to arrive on the earlier side if you want to beat the crowds and have an easier time parking. Plus, “if you're an early riser,” says Hirsch, you might want to “try finding shark teeth during a morning beach walk.” She also recommends grabbing some food at local favorite Jack of Cups Saloon for “unexpected bites inspired by Asian cuisine.”

Hilton Head Island

"Hilton Head Island is one of the best places to escape to if you want to be near a beach town but want a different environment from Charleston,” explains Hirsch. “It has modern touches but still keeps its Southern charm, appealing to both tourists and locals alike.”

The historic island is known for its golf courses and bike trails, but offers a wide variety of things to do. Gullah heritage tours, boat rides, paddleboarding, and birding are all itinerary contenders, and Hirsch also says the destination has “some of the best thrift stores.” If that’s up your alley, save an afternoon for exploring the goods at The Bargain Box, My Sister’s Closet, and The Church Mouse.

Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s Island continues to be a favorite South Carolina beach town—especially for Charlestonians. “The beach is very relaxed, and the marsh views are second to none,” says Fuller. “If you’re visiting, I’d recommend taking a long beach walk [and exiting] at Station 22.5, so you can head into ‘town,’ aka Middle Street, to do a little shopping.” This part of Sullivan’s Island is popular for its various eateries; there’s everything from Mexican and barbecue to burgers and seafood. Fuller recommends getting a table at High Thyme or The Obstinate Daughter, then grabbing a nightcap at Dunleavy’s Pub.

12 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast, According to Locals

Beaufort

The second-oldest city in South Carolina, Beaufort is often compared to Charleston; it’s historic, beautiful, and filled with oak trees and amazing architecture. Its proximity to the water is also a perk. Like Charleston, you’ll have to drive a bit out of the main hub to get to the beach. If you don’t mind parking your beach chair by Battery Creek, rather than the Atlantic Ocean, make your way to the Sands Beach on the southern end of Port Royal. The beach is free to the public, and there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained, including a boardwalk, an observation tower, and shark-teeth-hunting opportunities. For a true oceanfront spot, you’ll need to drive half an hour to Hunting Island State Park, where five miles of beautiful beaches live alongside marshes, a saltwater lagoon, and maritime forests.

Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet, or the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” makes this list for a few reasons. For starters, the historic fishing village has a feature known as MarshWalk. Spanning a half-mile along a natural saltwater estuary, the wooden boardwalk is home to several restaurants, including Bovine’s, Wahoo’s Fish House, and The Claw House. Head five minutes down the road and you'll arrive at the far-from-crowded Huntington Beach State Park, where you can find three miles of pristine sands to lie on. If you have some time, stop by Brookgreen Gardens, a 9,127 site that also includes a zoo and sculpture garden.

Edisto Beach

Located on Edisto Island, Edisto Beach isn’t your typical, buzzy beach town—and that’s the beauty of it. There are no stoplights, high rises, or chain restaurants on the island, and the town wholeheartedly embraces the magic of slow living. Visitors can explore the 4.5 miles of coastline, take a dip in the ocean, and search for shells, shark teeth, and other fossils that may wash up on shore. Biking, kayaking, and dolphin tours are also popular vacation activities. But if there’s absolutely one thing you can’t miss while visiting Edisto Beach, it's the glorious sunsets. Bring a blanket to Edisto Beach State Park, sit back, and enjoy the show.

South Carolina’s coast is famous for “orange alligators” and now a yellow one has been seen at an 18-hole golf course along the coast, photos show.

It’s not exactly what it seems.

Just as the orange gators carry the tint of coastal clay, the “rare yellow alligator” on Kiawah Island is a wearing a thick layer of seasonal pollen. The island is about a 30-mile drive south from Charleston.

“Yellow season is hitting hard here in the Lowcountry,” the Town of Kiawah Island wrote in an April 1 Facebook post.

“Rod Buscher ... was playing golf on Cassique when he came across the pollen covered gator.”

The Facebook post had many expressing sympathy for the alligator’s “southern camo.”

“Oh the reptilian indignity!” Michael Bengtson wrote on Facebook.

“That’s how I know I’m in the Carolina’s in the spring! Everything outside is yellow,” Bruce Gardner posted.

Cassique is a 7,050-yard course with plenty of creeks and ponds to accommodate South Carolina’s native alligators.

Trees (oak, pine, willow, and birch) are “the main culprit” at this time of year for pollen, which remains an issue until Mother’s Day, according to the Medical University of South Carolina.

Climate change is making the situation worse, experts say. Warmer temperatures prompt “growing seasons (to) start earlier and last longer – leading to longer and more intense pollen allergy seasons,” the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports.

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Florida

March 18, 2025 7:23 AM

This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 7:26 AM.