Sea Island and Brunswick

[Jim Jackson]

I'm making a trip to Sea Island this summer, and will have 1-2 days to play in a region I've often visited but never played golf.

For those with experience, how would you rank your top 3 in the Golden Isles region?  Anything a must see?  Must say that from overhead I'm not blown away by the Sea Island courses.  Let's assume access is not an issue for discussion's sake. 

I'm particularly interested in Brunswick CC (nod to the previous brief photo tour from a few years ago), as on the surface it looks like a great redo by the DL3 group from a few years ago.

Thanks.

[Paul OConnor]

Jim,
I played Seaside last week, in the afternoon after the conclusion of the SEC Golf Championship.  I've had the good fortune to play  Seaside 5-6 times over the last 15 years, and the condition of the course last week was simply spectacular.  Perfect greens, firm conditions throughout, the usual dose of wind and green surrounds cut very tightly, much tighter than I remember from past visits. 

I really love Seaside, and I think it is one of the finest links courses I have played in the USA.  Why it is not ranked higher in the usual lists is a mystery to me.

The green fees are pretty steep, but, in my opinion worth every penny.  I don't know about any of the other courses in the area, but Seaside is an absolute must play. 

[Tom Ferrell]

Seaside is the only Sea Island course I play (although I used to play what is now Retreat quite a bit when it was the old Island Club).  I agree with Jim that it is pretty spectacular and a lot of fun.


Brunswick CC is AWESOME.  There probably isn't any more than a foot of elevation on the property, so the design has to hold up, and it does.  DL3 group did a great job reclaiming the Ross greens.  Fantastic membership as well.  Don't miss it.


If you are into the bones of history, go over and play the Great Dunes 9-hole course at Jekyll Island.  Walter Travis - several OUTSTANDING golf holes (used to be a seaside 18, but that was long ago).  I hope the state will see fit to restore and rejuvenate this little course sometime.  A great way to spend a couple of hours. The Mae West hole is especially memorable.


Amelia Island and the famed Fernandina Beach Muni is only an hour away (there are other good, not great courses on Amelia Island as well).


And I'd be completely wrong not to give you the hidden gem tip of the year (no one ever takes me up on it!). Make the one-hour drive to Waycross and give the Joe Lee-designed Okefenokee Golf Club a spin.  Sandy soil.  River frontage.  40 feet of elevation.  Great, great layout that would get a lot of attention if it were near a major population - and yes, I'm biased, having grown up there. You can add a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp Park to that day, and it's worth it!

[Jim Jackson]

Thanks guys.  Will put Seaside at the top of the pile, and keep Great Dunes and Brunswick on the short list.

Anyone dispute that or recommend Frederica or Ocean Forest?  OF at one point made some world top 100 lists, so I have to believe there's some good golf there.

[Richard Hetzel]

Thanks guys.  Will put Seaside at the top of the pile, and keep Great Dunes and Brunswick on the short list.

Anyone dispute that or recommend Frederica or Ocean Forest?  OF at one point made some world top 100 lists, so I have to believe there's some good golf there.

Would love to play Frederica and/or Ocean Forest some day. Brunswick CC is really fun; flat with great, restored Ross greens. A lot of movement on them for sure! Great Dunes is a really fun 9 holer that you can get around really quickly (9 or 18) and is an extremely easy walk. I also like Oleander (Dick Wilson) on Jekyll, which would be super nice with some restoration work.

[Jim Hoak]

Personal opinion--Seaside is an A; Ocean Forest a B; and Frederica a C.  If access is not the issue, play them in that order, I'd recommend.  I agree with the comments above that I can't figure out why Seaside is not higher rated--and also that it is the only Sea Island course worth playing.

[Tom Ferrell]

Personal opinion--Seaside is an A; Ocean Forest a B; and Frederica a C.  If access is not the issue, play them in that order, I'd recommend.  I agree with the comments above that I can't figure out why Seaside is not higher rated--and also that it is the only Sea Island course worth playing.

Ocean Forest, to me, is the big miss.  Such a wonderful site!  We had a bald eagle following us around during my last visit there. Absolutely beautiful place to play golf, though, and could have been a jaw-dropping course.  But is not.  Frederica is a far less gifted site, but I did enjoy the course and the vibe there.  Neither OF or Frederica holds a candle to Seaside, which I agree is woefully underrated.


Brunswick CC is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than Great Dunes.  BUT, with just little love, Great Dunes could be a historical treasure.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I actually like Ocean Forest. It is a great site and has a good collection of holes. Frederica is a cool place and the course ism wry user friendly. It doesn't hold a candle to OF.

[Mike_Young]

Personal opinion--Seaside is an A; Ocean Forest a B; and Frederica a C.  If access is not the issue, play them in that order, I'd recommend.  I agree with the comments above that I can't figure out why Seaside is not higher rated--and also that it is the only Sea Island course worth playing.

Ocean Forest, to me, is the big miss.  Such a wonderful site!  We had a bald eagle following us around during my last visit there. Absolutely beautiful place to play golf, though, and could have been a jaw-dropping course.  But is not.  Frederica is a far less gifted site, but I did enjoy the course and the vibe there.  Neither OF or Frederica holds a candle to Seaside, which I agree is woefully underrated.


Brunswick CC is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than Great Dunes.  BUT, with just little love, Great Dunes could be a historical treasure.

I'm down here now.  was at Brunswick CC today..good shape..