Photos of Sea Island G.C. (Seaside)

[Carlyle Rood]

I've finally published some photographs of Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course.  I'm still going through the photos and adding as I go along.  Right now I've included holes 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.  I've also added some photos of some landscaping I just found interesting.

http://www.golfarch.com/Seaside/

The course was redesigned by Tom Fazio a few years back.  The last nine holes were originally designed by Colt and Alison.

I'm afraid that I was distracted by the beauty of the surroundings, so the strategy of many of the holes isn't well documented by the photos.  Nonetheless, I think they do begin to capture the ambiance of the place.

Carlyle

P.S.  Oh, and here's a tease of the 11th hole.

[Sam Maryland]

I wonder who the new owner of Sea Island will be...?

SM

[BCrosby]

I've heard the same rumors.

I've also heard counter rumors that the original rumors were just rumors.

So who knows.

Bob 

[Sam Maryland]

a few facts:

1. widespread layoffs, 2 rounds (including CFO).

2. many service pullbacks in various golf and catering operations.

3. Bill Jones III resigned from Synovus board (his lead bank).

4. Sea Island offering discounts to club member's who are paying the initiation on an installment basis if they will go ahead and pay it off.

changing the company focus from hospitality to full blown real estate development is probably going to cost Jones III more than he ever could have imagined...

[BCrosby]

Interesting. There's no question but that SI lost its focus over the last decade. It was once a great family destination. Not sure what it is now.

I assume that Frederica and the Cloister rebuild were the tipping points?

Bob

[Jeff Spittel]

From what I experienced there, it is still a great family destination. That is assuming, of course, that you are a member of the Vanderbilt family.

[D_Malley]

is that a wicker basket?

[Kenny Baer]

What does anyone think about the golf course?

I personally think it is great; wicker baskets and all.  I like something different on top of the flag, last I heard Merion doesn't have exclusive rights to the Wicker Basket.

[Sam Maryland]

Interesting. There's no question but that SI lost its focus over the last decade. It was once a great family destination. Not sure what it is now.

I assume that Frederica and the Cloister rebuild were the tipping points?

Bob

Bob,

The real tipping point was when Bill Jones III took over day-to-day mgmt of the company in 1993.  He was only 35 then, and from day-1 was in WAY over his head.

At the time The Cloister was a Mobil 4-Star destination whereas it had once been 5-Stars.  For whatever reason Jones III felt like he had to get that 5th Star back, at any cost.  Long-time residents/visitors could have cared less about the 5th Star, or the 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st, for that matter.

This 5-Star quest consumed young Bill such that doors across the island had to be modified so he could get his head through them.  As time passed he came to conclude that Sea Island had to be "the best" at everything so what he proceeded to do was:

- tear down a perfectly good Cloister hotel and build the current disaster that long-time residents refer to as "Las Vegas East".

- tear down a perfectly good Beach Club and put up the current disaster with day beds that look like they belong in Beverly Hills, I'm sure Paris Hilton will visit soon.

- tear down a perfectly good clubhouse at the Golf Club and put up a monster that is just ridiculous in the level of overkill -- 24/7 butlers, absurd!

- some of the golf course reno's are good, especially Davis's work at the old Island Club...but at what cost?  What was a $65-85 green fee is now $275 on Seaside. 

With these overall reno's have come astronomical price increases that really have alienated a large percentage of the old guard.  Sea Island used to be about the jeep train to the end of the island for an oyster roast while you battle the bugs and locals sing by the fire -- now it's about new money and black tie events with Harry Connick Jr.

But the biggest mistake Jones III made was thinking he had to maximize return on assets like a public company is required to do -- so he went out and borrowed a TON of money and the Sea Island Company became a real estate development company first, with a little sideline in hospitality...

...end of story - game over. 

The only chapter left to be written is who will be the new owner?

I bet right about now Bill III wishes he had the old Cloister back with only 2-Stars.

SM

PS...two interesting links, one from NYTs today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/us/01island.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=sea%20island&st=cse&oref=slogin

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Golf_Detail/0,4475,70,00.html

[Jeff Spittel]

What does anyone think about the golf course?

I personally think it is great; wicker baskets and all.  I like something different on top of the flag, last I heard Merion doesn't have exclusive rights to the Wicker Basket.

I thought it was a very nice track as well, Kenny. Like everything else at SI, way overpriced, but definitely a cool place to play.

[Kenny Baer]

Way overpriced; if you take the price out of it I really loved the golf course.  I agree that the price is too much.

[Sam Maryland]

the Seaside and Plantation courses are very very good.  most of us thought the four existing 9's were pretty darn good as they were, but it is what it is.

but Seaside is on the verge not being playable on a day-in day-out basis for almost all "retiree" age people...and the Sea Island community has a lot of those (or used to anyway).

however, in terms of really being delightful and playable on a daily basis for the average person (including "retirees"), Davis Love's Retreat course (the old Island Club) has taken that track from worst to first.  Davis's renovation is EXCEPTIONAL and completely transformed that course and it is just awesome.  I enjoyed it the most of the three Sea Island courses.

SM

[BCrosby]

Did Love's group redo The Island Club (now Retreat) in the last couple of years?

As an aside, about a year ago I got a flier from SI for a special rate. I figured that even with their special rate, it was still cheaper to catch a flight to Edinburgh, play golf for 3 or 4 days, stay in B&B's my wife and I love and return home.

Bob

[Sam Maryland]

DLIII's reno of the Island Club was actually 6 or so years ago now...

I'm not surprised by your math. 

The way I figure it when Jones III "refocused" the company he set his sights on the man with $50mm+ in wealth ($2mm to $10mm was sufficient before).  That $50mm+ group is a fickle bunch...maybe he can attract some Russians to help the situation, they'll probably like those day beds and 24/7 butlers.

SM

[KBanks]

Sam,

I miss the old Sea Island clubhouse. Constructed of tabby masonry,
originally it had been the corn barn of Retreat plantation. It had a fine golf atmosphere to it.

I think it's still there, but I'm not sure if they use it for anything now.

Ken

[Sam Maryland]

Sam,

I miss the old Sea Island clubhouse. Constructed of tabby masonry,
originally it had been the corn barn of Retreat plantation. It had a fine golf atmosphere to it.

I think it's still there, but I'm not sure if they use it for anything now.

Ken

I miss it too.  In there I was always able to change my clothes, get my shoes cleaned, get a cold beer, get a sandwich, find a seat, settle the bets, and watch a little tv if I liked.  What else is there?  ;-)

And it was kind of cool to see old pictures of my grandfather on the wall while I was at it...

...it's a storage bin now.

SM

[Dean Stokes]

Way overpriced; if you take the price out of it I really loved the golf course.  I agree that the price is too much.

Kenny,

Is that not golf in general???

Hopefully with all that's going on in the world, golf will get cheaper. I may be able to start playing again then instead of just reading about it on here