Seaside at Sea Island
Some brands are just synonymous with class. The sound of their name or a glance at their iconic logo, and you know immediately that everything associated with this brand is just a notch above most.
In golf, Sea Island evokes that exact response with the golfing public.
This coastal Georgia treasure has been a favorite of visitors for a long time, but in recent years the ownership group has invested heavily into enhancing the golf experience not only in terms of quality, but also in giving you options in how you can enjoy the property at a variety of price points, including lodging, so you can personalize the experience for you and your crew.
Sea Island is well-known for its legendary customer service and leaving no detail to chance which has allowed them to host the likes of U.S. Presidents Hoover, Eisenhower, Ford, Carter, and both George H. Bush and his son George W. Bush who hosted the 2004 G8 Summit at the resort. As if that wasn’t enough, the resort serves as the annual host of the RSM Classic on the PGA Tour and is the permanent home of a slew of PGA Tour professionals including Matt Kuchar, Davis Love III, Keith Mitchell, Zach Johnson, and Brian Harman.
There’s a reason why these dignitaries and professional golfers flock to Sea Island: The golf is exceptional. Three courses are available to resort guests, including the Seaside and Plantation courses that host the RSM Classic and the nearby Retreat course that offers a friendly yet formidable challenge, there’s plenty to enjoy on the course here as we outlined in our editorial piece here.
Today though, we’d like to help you focus on how to cultivate your perfect Sea Island experience through the lodging choices available to create the right mix for your group’s next getaway here.
Retreat Course at Sea Island
The Lodge
The Lodge at Sea Island tends to be our favorite location for most groups we send to Sea Island. This 43-room sanctuary gives you the seclusion of a boutique hotel while also affording you the access to all the amenities at the resort providing your group with the best of both worlds during your stay.
In addition to the Forbes Five-Star accommodations and exceptional service, you are also located at the epicenter of the golf experience at Sea Island as The Lodge is conveniently connected to the main pro shop and serves as the hub for the Seaside and Plantation courses.Â
In addition to these two 18-hole championship golf courses, you’ll also find the state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center that provides a holistic approach to golf instruction with fitness, mental skills, long game, short game, putting, and club fitting serving as the six core competencies to improve your game.
Not only does Sea Island cover all facets of the game here, but they’ve brought in the best of the best to help you with each of these aspects including Phil Kenyon (putting), Randy Myers (fitness), Justin Parson (instructor), Craig Allan (master club fitter), Gale Peterson (instructor), and Dr. Morris Pickens (sports psychologist) just to name a few.
Guests here should be sure to visit the Speedway Putting Course located on the backside of The Lodge to enjoy an 18-hole putting course that is the perfect way to settle any bets or sneak in a little bit of competition before enjoying your dinner.
Speaking of dinner, The Lodge offers several options including Colt & Alison for an American steakhouse experience for a finer dining option; the Oak Room for a more relaxed Southern experience; or the iconic Men’s Locker Room which features a full menu and bar and is arguably the best men’s locker room you will find anywhere. Oh, and did we mention the nightly bagpiper? Yeah, it’s pretty epic.
In addition to The Lodge rooms available at the main hotel, Sea Island also recently added in the Lodge Cottages for those looking for a little more room and seclusion during their stay. With a selection of two-bedroom and four-bedroom cottages available, you’ll find no expense spared in creating a home away from home for you and your group. There is also a new King Cottage available that is a reimagining of the original Golf Performance Center into a 4,200-square-foot, four-bedroom cottage that features its own hitting bay, massive great room, and a porch overlooking the driving range making it the perfect spot for a buddies trip.
The Lodge at Sea Island
The Cloister
Where elegance meets Southern charm, The Cloister at Sea Island is an American treasure and is without a doubt one of the best resorts in the country. Guests staying at The Cloister can enjoy rooms located in the main building or just off the wings of the main building, or they can also enjoy the Beach Club or Ocean Residences if you’re looking for an oceanside experience along the five miles of private beach. Â
Surrounded by the river, salt marshes, and the ocean, The Cloister offers guests a first-class experience where service is embedded in the DNA of those who work here to create an unforgettable visit. The rooms here are so elegant that the only dilemma you’ll have during your stay is whether to stay inside and enjoy the lap of luxury or leave to enjoy the golf and other activities available on property.
Speaking of activities, Sea Island has it all. The list of amenities here is seamlessly endless, and some of the main options located at The Cloister are the world-class spa and fitness center to restore your body through both exercise and treatments, as well as the exclusive Beach Club where you can relax by the water and enjoy the beauty of coastal Georgia. To see all activities available at the resort, click here to learn more.
The Cloister at Sea Island
The Inn
One of our favorite additions to Sea Island over the years is The Inn at Sea Island. Located on nearby St. Simons Island, The Inn at Sea Island offers guests more affordable accommodations opening the door for more golfers to enjoy the prestige that is Sea Island. The price point is a friendly one, and The Inn still provides guests with the same charm and spirit that have made this resort famous for so many years. It is important to note that for golf groups staying at The Inn, you will have access to the golf courses through booking a golf package but only guests at The Lodge and The Cloister can enjoy full resort access, with the exception of the Beach Club.
We applaud Sea Island for creating this option as it has opened the PGA Tour-level golf experience that this resort provides to more golfers who are mainly focused on playing as many holes as possible during their stay versus enjoying all of the activities that the resort has to offer.
If you’re looking for a bit of extra fun after your round, The Inn also features two TopGolf Swing Suites just off the main lobby with food and cocktails available as well.
The Inn at Sea Island
Recommendation
Sea Island is an American institution for a reason. The resort exudes a level of customer service and experience that are tough to beat, and over the years the team at Sea Island has continued to invest heavily into catering to golfers by enhancing the golf courses, adding in the Golf Performance Center, and cultivating different types of stay and play experiences to maximize both value and experience for guests at a variety of price points.
The fact of the matter is we’ve never sent a group here that didn’t love it, and if you’re considering a golf trip to the Southeast then Sea Island has to be a part of that conversation. Â