Sea Island: Seaside

Saint Simons Island, GA • Private

4.2

Panelists

197 Reviews

1 / 13

Stephen Szurlej

2 / 13

Photo by Stephen Szurlej

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Courtesy of the club

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Courtesy of the club

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Courtesy of the club

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12th & 13th holes of Seaside Course at Sea Island Club

courtesy of Sea Island

7 / 13

14th hole, The Seaside Course at Sea Island Club

courtesy of Sea Island

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courtesy of Sea Island

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8th Hole, The Seaside Course at The Sea Island Club

courtesy of Sea Island

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courtesy of Sea Island

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courtesy of Sea Island

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11th Hole, The Seaside Course at The Sea Island Club

courtesy of Sea Island

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courtesy of Sea Island

Overview

The Sea Island resort continues to credit famed British golf architect H.S. Colt for its Seaside design, but in truth it was never purely Colt's design. It was the work of Colt's partner, Charles Alison, who traveled to the U.S. and beyond in the 1920s and 30s while Colt remainied in England. But the Seaside Course isn't even Alison's anymore--it is purely Tom Fazio, who incorporated Alison's original Seaside nine (today's 10-18) along with a nine (the Marshland Nine) designed in 1974 by Joe Lee, to create a totally new 18- hole course. But in keeping with the resort’s heritage, Fazio styled his new course in the design fashion of Alison, with big clamshell bunkers, smallish putting surfaces and exposed sand dunes off most of the windswept fairways. The Seaside Course has hosted numerous USGA championships and has been a mainstay of the PGA Tour’s early season roster for many years.

About

Holes 18

Length 6657

Slope 137

Facility Type Private

Designer Colt & Alison/(R) Thomas Fazio, ASGCA

Awards

Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013. Highest ranking: No. 155, 2013-'14. 2021-'22 ranking: No. 176.

100 Greatest Public: Ranked since the inaugural edition in 2003. Highest ranking: No. 22, 2005-'06. 2023-'24 ranking: No. 36.

Best in State: Ranked sixth, 2011-'12, 2017-'20. Ranked seventh, 2015-'16, 2021-'24. Ranked eighth, 2013-'14.

Current ranking: Seventh.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.2

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

7.1802

Character

7.3698

Challenge

7.17

Layout Variety

7.1588

Fun

7.1618

Aesthetics

7.5044

Conditioning

7.3247

Reviews

1 / 12

Review

“Coastal winds and smallish sloped greens are the primary defense of this classic course that got a modern makeover from Fazio. Clamshell bunkering and exposed sandy areas add to the visual aesthetics of this golf course. But some of the best land on the property belongs to the driving range......"

2022

2 / 12

Review

“Not too fun because this course is HARD. Beautiful setting and great conditions thought...so play it for sure. Clubhouse is connected to the Lodge, so it doesn't get much better then that. Practice facility is best I've seen."

2021

3 / 12

Review

“Lovely golf along the coastal lowlands."

2021

4 / 12

Review

“Well-maintained PGA Tour stop with smooth greens."

2021

5 / 12

Review

“This is a real golf complex. The course is a challenge but fun to play."

2019

6 / 12

Review

“Great condition, world-class amenities (get lunch in the Men's Locker Room--seriously!), superb practice facilities and learning center. Only significant downside, besides the cost, is lack of playability for higher handicaps--many forced carries, turtleback greens and tough driving areas."

2019

7 / 12

Review

“Unplayable wetlands on many holes diminish playability and shot values for average resort player."

2018

8 / 12

Review

“Classic low country golf. Traditional Charles Alison design meandering through the tidal marshes offering nice views and compelling shot values. The Sea Island Lodge is iconic and the ultimate in service which adds to the experience. And, there aren't too many courses around that feature basket pins."

2018

9 / 12

Review

“A really great track. Some terrific Bobby Jones history on the back nine. The club still has basket flags akin to Merion as an ode to Bobby's win there. The fairways and greens are quite firm. Nearly impossible to make a ball mark. The back nine is a lot of fun to play."

2018

10 / 12

Review

“Great resort and Seaside is fantastic. Combines a great location with some really good golf."

2018

11 / 12

Review

“Enjoy this golf course each time I play it! Fazio did an exceptional job with this redesign. Sea island is an awesome resort and this is the can’t miss golf course to play."

2018

12 / 12

Review

“Fun to play where the PGA Tour plays each fall. Tough course in the wind. The Sea Island restaurants offer plenty of options after the round, from Italian, Southern and seafood. Lots to choose from."

2018