Sea Island, Georgia

[Wayne_Kozun]

I will be attending a conference at Sea Island in late March.  Does anyone have recommendations on the golf courses there or in close proximity?  Should I just stick with the Seaside course or are the other courses worth playing?  Doing a search of Sea Island doesn't turn up much on GCA - it doesn't look like it has been discussed too often.

[John_Cullum]

I think Seaside is pretty spectacular, and it is the most expensive too. If you want a little variety the Retreat course is very good, with pretty interesting greens, and it might cost less than the Plantation.

I think the very exclusive Ocean Forest is very overrated, sort of in the Longaberger, Sand Pines category.

The 9 hole course at jekyll has some merit.

[wsmorrison]

Wayne,

Hopefully Paul Cowley and Bob Crosby will see this and respond.  Both Paul and Bob are full of it...information on Sea Island, GA that is  

Paul lives on the island and Bob has been there many times.  Hopefully you'll be staying at the Lodge.  I had drinks with Paul and Bob there and it is beautiful.  We got lost trying to find the place, alright I got lost, and didn't show up until dark.  So while I cannot confirm anything about the courses, the Lodge is very nice with golf architecture drawings nicely displayed in an elegant bar/restaurant area.

If you need help getting information from either of these guys, please let me know.  Sounds like John knows what he's talking about though.

Regards,
Wayne

[A.G._Crockett]

The 9 hole course at jekyll has some merit.

John,
You probably ought to explain what you mean by this very true statement.  

[Wayne_Kozun]

I will be staying at the Cloister - if they don't respond I will PM Paul and/or Bob.

[BCrosby]

Wayne -

I line up pretty much with John Cullum. My first choice would be Seaside. I like what Fazio did to the old Marshside nine, less so the old Seaside nine, but it's the best of the bunch.

The new ultra private course there is Frederica. It's Fazio too. I have heard mixed reviews, but I have not played it.

Next time I'm down there I want to play the old Brunswick CC (Ross). Paul's group has been restoring it, I think.

Bob  

[Anthony_Nysse]

I believe that Ocean Forest shut down at the end of November to do a huge renovation-Greens will be tifeagle, fairways will be cavalier zoysia and tees will be diamond zoysia. All the bunkers will be re-worked along with a brand new irrigation system.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[jeffwarne]

Tony,
That's the great thing about joining a high end Rees course.
Either he (or someone else) will redesign it within 10 years of its' opening, so you get a two for one deal

Of course this sets up a future restoration!

[John_Cullum]

The 9 hole course at jekyll has some merit.

John,
You probably ought to explain what you mean by this very true statement.  

My take on the old course is that it has alot of history, and probably plays alot today like it did 100 years ago. Some of the greens are miniscule. Several of the holes are very interesting, 1 and 9 are pretty pedestrian, but it is a very relaxing throw back.

[Mike Hendren]

Sarge is right.  Play Travis' Grand Dunes on Jekyll Island.  Cheap and a blast.  Worth playing there just for the 5th hole alone, a cool alps:



Mike

[cary lichtenstein]

I like Sea Island the best far and away, Ocean Forest is shut down but worth playing.  I believe they moved a significant number of 250 year live oaks at Frederica and I would like to know how they fared.

I have heard nothing about the Frederica course however.

[wsmorrison]

Tom Paul and I walked around Frederica during construction with Paul Cowley.  Talk about a lot of earth moving.  They dug a huge lake for irrigation and design between the 10th, 13th, 15th and 18th fairways.  It is 7383 yards from the championship tees with 6 tees down to 5363 yards.

Routing:

[Derek_Duncan]

I'd give a shout out to the Love group's Sanctuary Cove just a few miles south of St. Simons. They built some very cool putting surfaces with lots of little bowls, ridges and wings, and well as some vintage looking flat-bottomed, steep grass-faced bunkers.

[Michael Christensen]

beg, borrow or steal to get onto Frederica...it is great....I would play Seaside too......even if Ocean Forest was open, I would skip it....not one of my favorites

[Mike Policano]

Michael,

I am playing Frederica in April.  What did you like about it?

[Michael Christensen]

Frederica has a "big course" feel to it.......just felt on every tee you had a mile to aim at and hit.....I like options of the tee and this course gave it to me

The conditioning was also phenomenal....and I didn't get the "you're a guest" feeling there as I did at Ocean Forest

The people at OF think they are Augusta  

[paul cowley]

Sarge is right.  Play Travis' Grand Dunes on Jekyll Island.  Cheap and a blast.  Worth playing there just for the 5th hole alone, a cool alps:



Mike

Mike ....most around here refer to the fifth as Mae West....although nowadays you really need to grope through the overgrowth to comprehend the strategic elements.
The hole could use a major vegetation removal.
Its a fun throw back course that can be enjoyed with modern or more primitive equipment.
I play it at least once a year.

[JESII]

Sarge is right.  Play Travis' Grand Dunes on Jekyll Island.  Cheap and a blast.  Worth playing there just for the 5th hole alone, a cool ALPS:



Mike

looks just like the 10th at Merion...