Jekyll Island Awaits Your Arrival

If you want an R & R destination in the Southeast that has everything that you could possibly want for a golf/vacation getaway, look no further than Jekyll Island, Georgia, located in the extreme southeastern corner of the Peach State.  Here, you have ten miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean plus kayak tours, bicycle rides, bird watching, tennis, paddle boarding, horseback riding, fishing, boating, canoeing, croquet, and 63 holes of golf.

With easy access off I-95 and located not far from the airports in Jacksonville, Florida (90 miles to the south) and Savannah, Georgia (65 miles to the north), Jekyll Island is an easy-to-arrive destination.  And, once you arrive, you will find it difficult leaving.

“Jekyll Island is one of the best places in the U.S. where you can go to unwind and relax while enjoying golf, fresh seafood, long walks along the beach, poolside siestas, and time off the grid,” said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, the Georgia Golf Trail.  “For golfers, the Jekyll Island Golf Club is one of the most popular getaways on the Georgia Golf Trail.  For families, Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s most popular stay-and-play destinations.”

While on Jekyll Island, stay at the Jekyll Island Club Resort (319 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island; 912-319-4349), which is one of the ultimate getaway hotels in the U.S.

The Jekyll Island Club Resort is steeped in history and creature comforts.  This property is where the first meeting was held in 1910 to create the Federal Reserve.  The Jekyll Island Club’s late-19th Century charm, historically inspired accommodations, diverse dining venues, many on-site activities, and direct access to the National Landmark Jekyll Island Historic District make it a wonderful place to stay. This resort also has a sun-soaked swimming pool with a fire pit nearby. For beach lovers, there’s a complimentary shuttle which will take you to and from the nearby seashore.  And, the on-site croquet courts are popular for hotel guests.

Back in the late 1800s, the Jekyll Island Club Resort was built to provide overnight accommodations for wealthy families such as the Rockefeller’s, Morgan’s, Vanderbilt’s, and Pulitzer’s, all of whom made regular annual trips to Jekyll Island.  In addition to rooms in the actual Resort, guests have two other accommodation options – the Jekyll Ocean Club, which is built along the beach, or one of three on-site historic cottages (Crane, Cherokee, and Sans Souci).  Built in 1917, the Crane Cottage features Victorian era architecture with a fabulous garden.  Built in 1904, the Cherokee Cottage is an Italian Renaissance structure.  The Victorian-style Sans Souci was once owned by the late J.P. Morgan.  All three cottages are luxurious destinations.

At the Resort, there are six on-site dining destinations:  The Wharf, Grand Dining Room, Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar, The Pantry, The Pool House and The Bar & Alexander Lounge.  The Wharf overlooks the surrounding marshlands.

The Jekyll Island Golf Club (322 Captain Willy Road, Jekyll Island; 912.635.2368) has three 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole layout.  The three 18-hole courses are Indian Mound, Oleander, and Pine Lakes.  The nine-hole course is Great Dunes.

Not surprisingly, the Jekyll Island Golf Club is Georgia’s largest public golf resort.

Indian Mound, constructed in 1975 by golf course designer Joe Lee, is the shortest of the three 18-hole courses.  BTW:  Water impacts play on 11 of the 18 holes.

Designed by golf course architect Dick Wilson, Oleander is known as the most ‘distinct’ of the three 18-hole golf courses on Jekyll Island.  It measures 6,500 yards from the back tees. BTW:  Oleander has hosted the Georgia Open on four occasions.

Pine Lakes, designed by Clyde Johnson, was first opened for play in 1968 and it was renovated in 2002.  The golf course meanders through ocean forests and natural marsh hammocks.  BTW:  Pine Lakes is peaceful, quiet, and tranquil.

Great Dunes was the first golf course on Jekyll Island.  The architect of this coastal jewel is the great Walter “Old Man” Travis.  Travis was asked to design and build the best golf course that money could buy.  He did as he was told.  The Great Dunes course opened in 1928.  BTW:  The United States Golf Association once used Great Dunes as a testing facility for clubs, shafts, and golf balls.

After golf, enjoy a post-round drink or snack at McCormick’s Grill.

To book your visit to Jekyll Island, check out JekyllIsland.com or GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com.  That oceanside beach, the 63 holes of golf, and the delicious seafood dishes await your arrival.