Spending On Seabrook

At at time when many if not most clubs are tightening the reigns on spending, South Carolina's Seabrook Island is moving ahead with a $30 million makeover. Here is a report on the project in today's Charleston Post and Courier.

The club already has two highly regarded golf courses: Crooked Oaks, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, and Ocean Winds, a William Byrd layout (pictured). Neither is open to the public. You have to be a club member or resort guest to play them.

As part of its "Horizon Plan" Seabrook Island is adding a 36,000-square-foot clubhouse, a 15,000-square-foot beach club and a 24,000-square-foot community center with a gym, among other things.

The old adage goes "you have to spend money to make money." Does that still apply in 2009? We'll see.

-- P.F.