Ocean Forest Golf Club
Sea Island, GA • Private
Courtesy of the club
courtesy of Sea Island
courtesy of Sea Island
courtesy of Sea Island
courtesy of Sea Island
Overview
Ocean Forest occupies one of the premier oceanside settings on the East Coast. Originally designed by Rees Jones, the fairways laterally traverse the site’s interior pines, skirting marshes and breaking out in memorable moments to the shore of the broad Hampton River inlet before finishing along the Atlantic Ocean at 17 and 18. The course has been a fixture among our top 200 courses nationally (and in the top six in Georgia), but by 2023 it was in need of updates and revisions so the club opted to have Beau Welling initiate some major changes. The main order of business was to try to better connect the formerly perched up green sites to the low, rambling terrain to be more accessible for members, enlarging them in the process. Welling also removed most of the Bermuda roughs and added open sandscapes along the holes to emulate the beach atmosphere, reconceived the par-3 17th on the water and elevated the 18th fairways so the ocean was visible above the dune line. The alterations combine to give the architecture a stronger seaside character that’s on par with the magical property.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013.
2023-'24 ranking: 160th.
Previous ranking: 162nd.
Highest ranking: No. 128, 2013-'14.
100 Greatest: Ranked for 12 years from 1999-2000 and 2003-'12.
Highest ranking: No. 66, 2005-'06.
Best in State: Ranked fourth, 2011-'12. Ranked fifth, 2013-'20. Ranked inside the top 5, 1997-2010. Ranked sixth, 2021-'24.
Current ranking: Sixth.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Really challenging course. T-shots demand accuracy. Greens are not overly large, but difficult. Course flows really well through property. Beautiful holes along the oceans to finish."
Read More2025
Review
“Really challenging course. T-shots demand accuracy. Greens are not overly large, but difficult. Course flows really well through property. Beautiful holes along the oceans to finish."
Read More2025
Review
“Exclusive Sea Island Georgia championship course. Annual host of prestigious Jones Cup Invitational for top amateur players since 2001. Also hosted 2001 Walker Cup played between the US and Great Britain & Ireland. Private course. If you know a member you must put this on your list."
Read More2024
Review
“Best Renovation Candidate located on the very remote Sea Island, Georgia. Host of the Historic 2001 Walker Cup and is slated to host the Georgia State Amateur in 2026. Originally designed by Rees Jones in 1995 and refreshed in 2023 by Beau Wellling. Also hosts the Jones Cup Invitational annually since 2001 with past winners including Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Akshay Bhatia & Ludvig Aberg to name a few. Renovation focused on placement of bunkers and addition of runoffs surrounds to chipping areas that give the player plentiful options. The greens are Tif Eagle Bermuda and are firm, fast, and smooth with many slopes that divide the putting surfaces. Challenging, enjoyable and beautiful."
Read More2024
Review
“Ocean Forest stands out in a region teeming with good golf courses. Despite being located in the Sea Islands and mere steps from the Atlantic Ocean, the course features unexpected mounding, elevated green complexes, and moderately rolling dunescape. The updated bunkering is the most striking design element, in my opinion. Several small but strategically placed greenside bunkers demand careful thought, strategic planning, and precise shot execution. One highlight is the par-5 6th hole, where a newly added bunker at the center of the green significantly influences approach shots and pitch play. The greens themselves are as firm, fast, and true as any I've played in recent memory."
Read More2024
Review
“Excellent remodel opening up views and vistas. A lot of practical changes. It has been 20 plus years since my last round there."
Read More2024
Review
“Great redesign that has made it more fun and more playable. This is a great course to play if you have the opportunity to get on. It's Private and a bit off the beaten path on St. Simon's Island GA. If you are there for vacation play it! I'd say top 5 course in GA. That's saying something given Augusta is one of those 5."
Read More2024
Review
“The changes made have opened up the course more, taking out many many trees allowing greater viewing from hole to hole adding to the aesthetics and conditioning. The holes along the ocean are stunning and create a different challenge then experienced on the inside holes as the wind becomes very challenging as it comes off the ocean. Taking out many of the bunkers have made the course more playable for those members who might enjoy running balls up vice needing to hit higher shots to clear bunkers. The long tee boxes allow for multiple tees and changes in distance so the course can play differently from day to day. Overall a great ocean course with tons of character and challenges. The renovations have made it more fun and playable. Beau Welling did a wonderful renovation that Reese Jones would have approved of."
Read More2024
Review
“Renovated in 2023 Improved visibility across routing and air flow for conditioning Moderate changes to green/bunkers improved design variety and challenge Private … a good get if your in the Sea Island area .."
Read More2024
Review
“Renovation - The tee boxes were changed from individual tee boxes to “ribbon” tee boxes where they are now one long continuous winding tee box, which allows for an infinite number of teeing locations. The greens and bunkers were all completely redone. The greens were also expanded to create more pin positions and undulations were changed. Approaches to greens were widened significantly at the front of each green to allow run up shots, which benefits the higher handicappers. Trees were removed in some areas to open up views and allow better air circulation. This allows you to see adjacent holes that you didn’t use to see before. Designed by Rees Jones(1995). The renovation took place between February and October of 2023 by Beau Welling This private links course is located in Sea Island, Georgia and was designed by Rees Jones(1995) and remodeled in 2023 by Beau Welling. This routing passes thru tall dunes, marsh land and the Hampton River and finishes at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean."
Read More2024
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