Sea Island: Coast, Nature and Golf

Sea Island combines the landscape of a barrier island with nature observation, coastal experiences, golf and a remarkable resort history. The island is one of the four barrier islands of the Golden Isles on Georgia’s southeastern coast and covers 2,000 acres, including marshland. At the same time, Sea Island is not an openly accessible beach destination: Because of its private ownership, there is no public beach access from the mainland, and Sea Island and its facilities are accessible exclusively to resort guests and members of the Sea Island Club.

Between Marsh, Sea and Sea Turtles

Those who place nature experiences at the center of their travel plans will find various ways to get to know the landscape on Sea Island. The Sea Island Eco Tour explores the habitats of a barrier island by golf cart and with a naturalist. On the Birding Tour on Golf Cart, a naturalist takes you to the island’s best bird-watching spots and scenic locations.

Sea turtles are also part of this distinctive natural environment. The beaches of Sea Island are used by loggerhead sea turtles for nesting. The Sea Turtle Education and Night Walk combines a presentation about sea turtles at the Sea Island Nature Center with a search for newly hatched hatchlings or nesting sea turtles on the beach. As part of Coastal Encounters, participants can get to know native animals at the Nature Center, touch some educational animals and learn about their importance to local ecosystems. The Sea Island Sea Turtle Program has monitored sea turtles for more than 20 years and offers educational programs for residents and visitors.

Water, Coast and Excursions

The five-mile-long private Atlantic beach defines the island’s coastal character. The Sea Island Beach Club offers kayaking, sailing and swimming. The Beach Club also has three swimming pools heated year-round to 82°F, a water slide and a splash area. The Beach Horseback Ride travels along the southern end of the beach through Georgia’s coastal intertidal beach habitat. For an excursion on the water, the Sea Island Explorer is available, a 71-foot-long, multi-level yacht for cruises through marsh-lined waterways and wildlife observation.

Golf and Resort History

Golf enthusiasts encounter a well-established course and training culture on Sea Island. The three 18-hole golf courses blend into the salt marshes along the island’s coast, characterized by sea oats. The Seaside Course hosts the annual PGA TOUR RSM Classic. Tom Fazio redesigned the course to resemble a Scottish links course. In addition, the Speedway Putting Course at The Lodge offers an 18-hole putting course designed by Mark Love and Davis Love III. The Sea Island Golf Performance Center is a 17,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility.

The cultural side includes The Cloister Hotel, which opened in October 1928. The Cloister Hotel History Walking Tour conveys nearly 100 years of Sea Island and Golden Isles history through art, architecture and antiques at The Cloister; it is offered year-round. Sea Island was also the site of the 2004 G8 Summit of heads of state and government. A culinary tradition is the Rainbow Island Suppers, which have been held for more than 50 years and include, among other things, roasted oysters, shrimp, Brunswick stew, collard greens, fried chicken and Georgia pecan pie.

Which Accommodation Fits Your Travel Plans?

When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you should first determine your preferred focus: nature observation, water activities, golf or the resort’s history. The access rule is a decisive factor. Anyone expecting public beach access from the mainland should take the private ownership structure and lack of public access into account.

Sea Island is connected to St. Simons Island by a causeway. This creates a clear geographical connection for travel planning, but does not replace checking the applicable access conditions. You can view other destinations in the broader selection under Country Club Estates, Jekyll Island, Brunswick and St. Simons Island.

For the broader travel overview: Glynn.