Sea Island - Easy to Find. Hard to Leave.
Sea Island, a private resort located on Georgia’s coast, has an expansive campus surrounded by ocean, river and marsh, providing the backdrop for the ultimate getaway for travelers, particularly for those who love the game of golf. Few resorts open a golf course before their hotel is ready for guests, but in 1928, legendary golf at Sea Island began its rich history by doing just that. Designed by the distinguished architect Walter Travis, Sea Island’s nine-hole Plantation Course opened months before The Cloister, with guests staying aboard a floating hotel docked nearby. Now this perennial Forbes Five-Star resort prides itself on offerings for every traveler, whether they are seeking a golf, beach, nature, wellness or romantic retreat, with an array of accommodation options that include private cottages as well as hotel rooms and suites.
Today, golf at Sea Island is remarkable. The resort recently completed a $30 million enhancement program that will secure its place in the top echelons of golf for years to come. Combine this with mild, year-round temperatures, it’s no wonder why more than a dozen touring professionals live, play, and/or train there, including Ryder Cup vice captains Davis Love III and Zach Johnson.
Enhancements include a pool, pool house and two- and four-bedroom oceanfront, “golf-in, golf-out” cottages at The Lodge at Sea Island, home to the Sea Island Golf Club and its three championship courses. Each offers a spacious living area, wet bar, marble bath, and 24-hour butler service. The King Cottage, a 4,200-square-foot “cottage” overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and features four bedrooms each with a marble bathroom; large living and dining area for entertaining; a catering kitchen with the option of an Executive Chef; and a private, indoor hitting bay where players hit directly onto the driving range.
When you’re hitting from your indoor bay at King Cottage, you can’t help but notice the 17,000-square-foot Golf Performance Center across the range. Known as the finest golf instructional center in the world, the “GPC” features industry-leading technology, instruction and club fitting bays, putting studio, golf club workshop, and gym. Its world-class instruction, however, truly sets Sea Island above the rest, with internationally known coaches such as Phil Kenyon and Justin Parsons, Golf Magazine Hall of Famer Jack Lumpkin, and three Top 100 Master Clubfitters. It’s all designed to enhance the game of every skill level, from juniors to touring pros.
Plantation, Sea Island’s oldest course, re-opened in Fall 2019 following a full redesign by Mark and Davis Love III. Along with the signature Seaside Course, Plantation is the site of the annual RSM Classic, a PGA TOUR FedEx Cup tournament hosted by Davis Love III. Sea Island’s third course, Retreat, rounds out Sea Island’s trio of exceptional golf options.
Steps away from all this is the Speedway putting course, an 18-hole, oceanfront course designed by Davis Love III and his brother, Mark. It’s a fun spot for new or seasoned putters, especially when the sun is setting over the water and the bagpiper is piping away the day, as he does every evening.
Sea Island is distinguished by more than 93 outdoor experiences. Along with golf, enjoy the nation’s finest Beach Club, searching for loggerhead sea turtle nests with a naturalist along five miles of private beach, fishing with the family and then savor the day’s catch for dinner. Additional amenities and activities include tennis, sailing, paddleboarding, Shooting School, year-round children’s programs, falconry, and Hawk Walks. Extensive dining options range from Forbes Five-Star to casual, including Sea Strike, a new bowling alley and pub.
Accommodation options include The Cloister, located between the Atlantic Ocean and Black Banks River. This Mediterranean masterpiece consists of 265 rooms and suites, many newly refurbished. There are also over 150 cottages, ranging from one to eight bedrooms, offering the flexibility of a private home while being close to amenities and the beach; and The Lodge at Sea Island, situated between two of the three golf courses and perfect for those looking to get away whether for romance or golf. The Lodge, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, features butler service, 43 rooms and seven oceanfront cottages and is the longest standing hotel to consecutively receive Forbes Five-Star ranking since opening its doors.
In addition to captivating experiences, setting and superb facilities, Sea Island has been known for generations for providing genuine Southern hospitality to its guests. The result is it being the only resort in the world to receive four Forbes Five-Star awards for 13 consecutive years.
To learn more, visit Seaisland.com.