The Sea Island Resort is located on St. Simons Island halfway between Savannah GA and Jacksonville, FL. just off the east coast of Georgia. A Triple-A Five Star resort, Sea Island has been the site of many historic events including the wedding of Winston Churchill's daughter Sarah and the G8 Summit during George W. Bush's Presidency.
The storied history of the resort began in 1924 when the Causeway between Brunswick, GA and St. Simons Island opened. In 1928. The Cloister, the first of the island's hotels opened along with the 9-hole Seaside golf course.
Many Presidents have spent time at the resort including Calvin Coolidge who started a tradition of planting Oak trees during a visit in December 1928. Dwight Eisenhower followed suit as did Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Other dignitaries including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and queens and princes have participated in the tradition.
Over the years, new lodging options were added and in 1998, Rees Jones and Tom Fazio turned the four nine hole courses on the property into the Seaside and Plantation golf courses.
The Lodge at Sea Island opened in 2001 and that same year, Davis Love III and his brother Mark created the Resort Course which transformed the former St. Simons Island Club course.
In 2010, the first McGladrey Classic, now known as the RSM Classic was played on the Seaside course. This PGA Tour FedEx Cup event is hosted by Davis Love III.
Most recently, the Loves completed an extensive redesign of the Plantation Course.
The storied history of the resort began in 1924 when the Causeway between Brunswick, GA and St. Simons Island opened. In 1928. The Cloister, the first of the island's hotels opened along with the 9-hole Seaside golf course.
Many Presidents have spent time at the resort including Calvin Coolidge who started a tradition of planting Oak trees during a visit in December 1928. Dwight Eisenhower followed suit as did Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Other dignitaries including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and queens and princes have participated in the tradition.
Over the years, new lodging options were added and in 1998, Rees Jones and Tom Fazio turned the four nine hole courses on the property into the Seaside and Plantation golf courses.
The Lodge at Sea Island opened in 2001 and that same year, Davis Love III and his brother Mark created the Resort Course which transformed the former St. Simons Island Club course.
In 2010, the first McGladrey Classic, now known as the RSM Classic was played on the Seaside course. This PGA Tour FedEx Cup event is hosted by Davis Love III.
Most recently, the Loves completed an extensive redesign of the Plantation Course.
The Lodge at Sea Island
I drove to the resort after my Sunday morning round at the May River course in Bluffton, SC. Because I arrived several hours before the 3:00 PM check-in time, I had time to tour the facilities. One of the first things I learned is that gentlemen are not allowed to wear hats anywhere inside The Lodge or Pro Shop.
I chose to stay at The Lodge during my visit because of its proximity to the golf courses and practice facilities. There are several other lodging options including The Cloister, Sea Island's original hotel, The Inn, six cottages close to The Lodge, and Broadfield, a Southern-style Sporting Club.
Very simply, everything at this resort is first class. The Lodge has rich wood, exposed beams and marble baths. And while relatively new, it is made to look like an older English-style manor. I appreciated the smaller scale, quaint experience as opposed to some of larger resorts I've experienced. One simple example is the ability to park the car right below my room near the check-in area.
I chose to stay at The Lodge during my visit because of its proximity to the golf courses and practice facilities. There are several other lodging options including The Cloister, Sea Island's original hotel, The Inn, six cottages close to The Lodge, and Broadfield, a Southern-style Sporting Club.
Very simply, everything at this resort is first class. The Lodge has rich wood, exposed beams and marble baths. And while relatively new, it is made to look like an older English-style manor. I appreciated the smaller scale, quaint experience as opposed to some of larger resorts I've experienced. One simple example is the ability to park the car right below my room near the check-in area.
Additionally, the lodge overlooks the ocean and a mammoth 18 hole putting course designed by Davis Love III. The Pro Shop for the Seaside and Plantation courses is attached to the Lodge and it is within walking distance of the practice facilities and the two courses.
While there are many dining options at the resort, I chose to have a few IPA's in the Oak Room at The Lodge before checking into my room and later, experienced The Colt & Alison, a seaside steakhouse also at The Lodge. As you would expect, the dining experience was first class.
After dinner, I spent time on the 18 hole Putting Green before watching as a bagpiper walked up the path along the ocean near dusk.
Turn down service included warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. How could anyone complain about that?!
After dinner, I spent time on the 18 hole Putting Green before watching as a bagpiper walked up the path along the ocean near dusk.
Turn down service included warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. How could anyone complain about that?!
The Seaside Course
Of course, my visit to Sea Island was necessitated by The Quest, my attempt to play all the courses that have ever had a spot on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" list.
And the need to spend a night at the resort is a requirement to play golf at the resort.
Seaside is ranked 22 on the most recent list and has been as high as 16. It is ranked 33 on Golf Digest's most recent list.
Famous golf course architects Harry S. Colt and Charles Alison were the designers of Seaside's original nine holes in 1929. In 1999, Tom Fazio blended these original nine holes along with another original nine hole course, the Marshside, and delivered what Davis Love III described as "18 holes that didn't match into 18 matchless holes."
The golf course is a links style course that borders a large marsh adjacent to the sea. Its conditions were impeccable. The recent rains were nothing for this sand-based course.
There are two other courses at the resort. The Plantation Course (which was undergoing a redesign by the Love brothers during my visit) and The Retreat, redesigned by the Love brothers in 2001. The Plantation Course incorporates Walter Travis' original nine hole course which opened in 1928 and The Retreat was reconfigured on the site of the original St. Simons Island Club course.
Although I had the first tee time of the day, a twosome snuck out in front of me.They soon found out they would be pushed hard and allowed me to play through on hole 4. As is usual with a first tee time, I encountered many grounds crew workers and had no issue. I don't think they did either.
The front nine plays back towards the clubhouse in case golfers need to make a stop. The 13th green and 14th hole are really the only holes along the sea.
And the need to spend a night at the resort is a requirement to play golf at the resort.
Seaside is ranked 22 on the most recent list and has been as high as 16. It is ranked 33 on Golf Digest's most recent list.
Famous golf course architects Harry S. Colt and Charles Alison were the designers of Seaside's original nine holes in 1929. In 1999, Tom Fazio blended these original nine holes along with another original nine hole course, the Marshside, and delivered what Davis Love III described as "18 holes that didn't match into 18 matchless holes."
The golf course is a links style course that borders a large marsh adjacent to the sea. Its conditions were impeccable. The recent rains were nothing for this sand-based course.
There are two other courses at the resort. The Plantation Course (which was undergoing a redesign by the Love brothers during my visit) and The Retreat, redesigned by the Love brothers in 2001. The Plantation Course incorporates Walter Travis' original nine hole course which opened in 1928 and The Retreat was reconfigured on the site of the original St. Simons Island Club course.
Although I had the first tee time of the day, a twosome snuck out in front of me.They soon found out they would be pushed hard and allowed me to play through on hole 4. As is usual with a first tee time, I encountered many grounds crew workers and had no issue. I don't think they did either.
The front nine plays back towards the clubhouse in case golfers need to make a stop. The 13th green and 14th hole are really the only holes along the sea.
If nothing else, the slideshow depicts the flatness of the land, the prevalence of marshland, the gorgeous vistas, and its impeccable condition.
The Pro Shop at Sea Island is one of the best I have ever seen. It has a little of everything and its selection of hats and shirts is a golf tourist's dream. Needles to say, I got my money's worth there.
I had only one small issue during my entire stay. On the morning of my round, I received no direction from anyone at the facility and wasted time trying to find Seaside's first tee.
That said, you will love this resort. It has everything for the golfer and the golfer's family.
The Pro Shop at Sea Island is one of the best I have ever seen. It has a little of everything and its selection of hats and shirts is a golf tourist's dream. Needles to say, I got my money's worth there.
I had only one small issue during my entire stay. On the morning of my round, I received no direction from anyone at the facility and wasted time trying to find Seaside's first tee.
That said, you will love this resort. It has everything for the golfer and the golfer's family.
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