If you play golf…at any level…
Sea Island should be on
your bucket list.
BY: JIM FRANKS, LINKS MAGAZINE
W
ith so much terrific golf to choose from, the Golden Isles could
just as easily be called the Green Isles. Throughout the region,
beautiful courses wind through marshes and majestic oaks,
look out on jaw-dropping views, host native wildlife, and offer
exciting challenges to every level of golfer.
The area’s original holes were recently treated to an ingenious
renovation. The Plantation Course at Sea Island—half of which dates back
to 1928—reopened last fall after a graceful redesign conducted by PGA
Tour star Davis Love III and his brother, Mark. The Love brothers grew
up on Sea Island, which gave the project added significance. “Since we
were working on our home course, there was a little extra trepidation,”
explained Mark, who lived in his mother’s house on the back nine while
overseeing the work. “We’ve been looking out at and playing this course
most of our lives, thinking about what we could do with it.”
What they did was tie the two nines a little more closely together while
restoring some of the features of the original architects: Walter Travis
(1928) on the front nine, Dick Wilson (1960) on the back. The greens are
large and full of subtle movement, and, particularly on the front, square-
shaped. The bunkers also have straight edges—a throwback feature Davis
wanted to work in wherever possible—and while there are still some 80
hazards to be negotiated, they are smaller and flatter than before, greatly
reducing the overall amount of sand. As a result, the course is fun and
welcoming, especially off the tee.
It’s also lovely to look at. Trees were trimmed, opening up the vistas
across Plantation and onto the adjacent Seaside Course. A number of
holes play along water, and golfers enjoying late afternoon rounds will be
Seaside
Sea Island Golf Course
Golf Performance Center, Sea Island
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