Southeast

Hilton Head Golf Island Releases Fall Golf Packages

Hilton Head Golf Island, the golf marketing arm of Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort area golf courses, is urging golfers to book their trips to this popular Lowcountry destination much further in advance than in previous years. One of America’s true golf capitals, Hilton Head is experiencing the same historic uptick in demand and other U.S. and global golf hotbeds.

“Golf Island’s” premier resort partners – The Sea Pines Resort, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and The Heritage Golf Collection – are making their fall golf packages available for booking this spring and summer in hopes golfers will book ahead before inventory is gone.

Comprising 26 courses across the scenic South Carolina Lowcountry counties of Beaufort, Bluffton and Jasper, “Golf Island” has long been one of the nation’s most sought-after golf destinations. The region’s stunning setting – marked by barrier islands, coastal marshes, and Spanish moss-draped live oaks – has inspired timeless designs from Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills, Bob Cupp, Willard Byrd, George Cobb, Clyde Johnston, Davis Love III and other noted architects.

Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes and Heritage Golf are collectively home to 189 golf holes spread among tournament-tested layouts such as famed Harbour Town Golf Links (home of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage), The Robert Trent Jones Course and Oyster Reef. All three are located within a short drive, setting up perfectly for golf buddy trips consisting of a steady diet of golf, great food and good times.

Highlighted fall golf packages available for booking:

The Villa Golf Package (The Sea Pines Resort)

The Sea Pines Resort’s most popular stay-and-play for small groups, the Villa Golf Package starts at $335 per person per night. It includes three total rounds on Harbour Town, Heron Point by Pete Dye, and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III and three nights’ deluxe villa accommodations. Afternoon replays are available for $75 on Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes. The resort’s private villas are the perfect lodging option for golfers to relax after a long, rewarding day under the Lowcountry sun. They offer fully-equipped kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, and all the comforts of home.

The Golf Group Package (The Sea Pines Resort)

Designed for leisure golf groups of 12 or more, the Golf Group Package (also $335 per person, per night) features three total rounds on Harbour Town, Heron Point by Pete Dye and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III, three nights’ deluxe villa accommodations, gratis resort gift, a personal on-site coordinator, and complimentary afternoon replays on Heron Point. And out of appreciation for all the hard work and planning that goes into organizing and executing a golf buddy trip for the ages, the group leader’s golf is covered by the resort.

Birdies and Beer Golf Getaway (Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort)

Hilton Head - Palmetto Dunes — The Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes.

Back by popular demand, Palmetto Dunes Birdies and Beer Golf Getaway is fully customizable by group size and preferences. The package features three nights’ accommodations in a two-bedroom villa, two or three total rounds on the Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio or Arthur Hills courses, a one-hour Toptracer Range experience and complimentary range balls. Additionally, golfers enjoy exclusive discounts on pro shop merchandise, dining at Big Jim’s, The Dunes House and Alexander’s Restaurant, preferred rates on bike, kayak and canoe rentals at Hilton Head Outfitters inside the resort, and two hours of tennis and pickleball court time per day based on availability. And of course, breakfast and beer are included.

All partner packages are subject to availability, rate changes and blackout dates. Golfers can visit the Hilton Head Golf Island website for more details.

Fall ‘Fore’ 2022 (Heritage Golf Group)

The Heritage Golf Collection offers 81 holes spread among three distinct properties: Port Royal Golf and Racquet Club (36 holes), Shipyard Golf Club (27 holes),) and Oyster Reef (18 holes). The Fall “Fore” 2022 Golf Package lets golfers secure their autumn golf getaway for just $150 down per person. Package pricing starts at $200 per night, per person, based on quad occupancy and includes four nights’ accommodations, taxes, and resort fees. Golfers also enjoy unlimited golf on all Heritage Golf courses, including cart fees and range balls, and a $100 gift card per person to be used for merchandise, food and beverage.

Getting There

Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) on the island’s north end offers non-stop and one-stop service from multiple hub cities and connections via American Airlines, Delta and United. American offers daily non-stop flights from Charlotte and seasonal service from Dallas / Ft. Worth, Philadelphia and Washington National (DCA). Delta has daily flights to Atlanta and United provides daily non-stop service to Newark (EWR) and Washington Dulles (IAD). Golfers can also utilize Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), with direct flights from numerous East Coast, Midwest and Texas airports on several major and discount airlines. For golfers who prefer to hit the open road, major metro areas in the Carolinas, Georgia and north Florida are under a half-day’s drive, while several Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern cities are seven to nine hours away.

For more information, visit www.hiltonheadgolfisland.com.

Destination: Hilton Head ‘Golf Island’

Before there was Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, Streamsong and the American Club, there was Hilton Head. This iconic golf destination in South Carolina’s famed Lowcountry region that came of age in the 80s and 90s remains one the East Coast’s premier strongholds for high-end resort and daily fee golf. Buoyed by a $200 million-plus investment in its hotels, resorts and golf courses over the past decade, “Golf Island’s” future is just as bright as its storied past.

In addition to the region-wide refresh, golfers will also appreciate Golf Island’s depth and breadth of courses. More than 30 18-hole layouts are conveniently clustered within the island’s 70 square-miles and sprinkled throughout neighboring Bluffton and Beaufort, off-island. No matter where you stay, the next round of golf is never more than a few minutes away, setting up perfectly for those who love to log 36 holes a day.

For those considering a Golf Island Getaway, here’s a lineup of the premier on- and off-island courses, as well as the inside scoop on accommodations, dining, and transportation.

Top Tier

Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort is the long-time home of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage (recently won by Jordan Spieth) and is a must-play for golf course architecture aficionados. This Pete Dye/ Jack Nicklaus collaboration epitomizes Lowcountry course design replete with live oak-lined corridors, diminutive greens and Dye’s trademark bulkheads lining languid lagoons.

For 16 holes, Harbour Town winds its way through the languid lagoons and towering pines of the island’s south end. But walking off the 16^th green and toward the tee box on the par-3 17^th, the Calibogue Sound comes into view with a panoramic parade of shrimp and sailboats passing by. Harbour Town then concludes with one of America’s most famous finishing holes, the par-4 18^th, with the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse as its backdrop.

Just a smooth 3-wood away from Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort’s Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III is a masterful overhaul of the resort’s historic Ocean Course, the island’s first course. Completely reinvented by Love Golf Design, native seaside grasses and coquina shells meld with pines and oaks to create a calming coastal ambiance that puts golfers at ease.

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is less than a Darius Rucker song away from the Sea Pines gates, and its Robert Trent Jones Course at is widely considered one of the most scenic and challenging courses in the state. Having opened in 1967 just two years before Harbour Town, the two courses’ histories are forever linked by two World Golf Hall of Fame architects.

Jones’ former protégé Roger Rulewich updated the course in 2002, elevating the fairway on the signature par-5 10^th hole for even better views of the Atlantic Ocean. Credited with designing most of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Rulewich spent considerable time reworking every tee box and green.

Solid Seconds

Situated in east Bluffton just a cart path-drop off the island, Old South Golf Links is widely considered one of the area’s most underrated layouts. Designed by Hilton Head-based golf course architect Clyde Johnston, Old South is the only public access course playing along the Intracoastal Waterway. Johnston cut his teeth with Willard Byrd, Ron Kirby and Dennis Griffiths and is known for his non-penal, player-friendly approach to design.

The front and back nine views at Old South, with MacKay Creek and the Calibogue Sound in the distance, are among the best in the region. The endless views and overall vibe are perfect for welcoming your golf group to the Lowcountry. The variety of indigenous terrain is also surreal – oak forest, pastures and tidal marshes are all on display and in play.

Circling back to The Sea Pines Resort, Heron Point by Pete Dye (formerly the Sea Marsh course) was a labor of love for the renowned golf course architect, who returned several times to tweak its putting surfaces and green surrounds. From its 7,035-yard tips and with a slope of 140, it gives Harbour Town a run for its money as the resort’s most demanding track.

Playing to more than 7,000 yards with a 139-slope rating from the tips on the island’s north end, Oyster Reef beguiles low handicap golfers while appealing to players of all skill levels with its spectacular setting. The redoubtable Rees Jones returned in 2018 to lead a full-scale bunker renovation project at this Heritage Collection flagship facility, restoring the course to its circa 1982 splendor.

From one of Golf Island’s most postcard-ready venues to perhaps its most difficult – the George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes is Hilton Head Island’s only par-70. With a slope of 144 from the 6,873-yard back tees, it’s considered by many to be the most challenging resort course on the island. With just two par 5s and a series of meaty par 4s, birdie opportunities are few and far between.

Where to Stay

For sheer convenience during a multi-day golf trip, it’s hard to top a rental home or villa at The Sea Pines Resort or Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. These vacation residences are fully-appointed with all the amenities of home, including flat-screen TVs, washers and dryers, wireless internet and fully-equipped kitchens. For smaller groups or shorter stays, Golf Island obliges with brand flag hotels from Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, and historic and charming inns and B & Bs.

Dining and Nightlife

More than 250 restaurants on Hilton Head Island range from celebrity chef-driven restaurants to locally owned seafood joints, as the region has emerged as a foodie destination over the past decade. Check out Skull Creek Boathouse or Skull Creek Dockside for a true taste of Lowcountry waterfront dining.

Replenish calories burned from a long day on the links with a full Italian meal at Frankie Bones or a dry aged steak from WiseGuys. And whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, do not miss the chance to visit Java Burrito for the region’s best “Fresh Mex” and espresso.

Options abound for those who prefer to grab a bite at or near the golf course. At Palmetto Dunes, Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers, Pizza at the Robert Trent Jones Course clubhouse is open seven days a week, serving three meals a day. In the stunning new Harbour Town Clubhouse, Links, an American Grill, serves up signature filet, strip and porterhouse steaks. The LagerHead Tavern at Oyster Reef showcases Southern comfort food with a twist.

Getting Here

Golfers can also utilize Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), with direct flights from numerous East Coast, Midwest and Texas airports. Southwest Airlines service began in March with six flights from five markets. SAV is an approximate one-hour drive to Golf Island, and golfers should allow for more time getting over the James F Byrnes Bridge to the island during busy periods.

Hilton Head Golf Island’s expert golf vacation planners can help design your ideal Hilton Head Golf Island golf trip. Click here to complete a brief form and to receive a custom quote.

Five Family-Friendly Golf Getaways for 2022

Spring break is just a few weeks away for most school districts, while summer break is just over the horizon. Across the country, vacations are being painstakingly planned by diligent moms and dads with “advanced degrees” in Google, Bing, Trip Advisor and Yelp. And these days, many parents also have a “minor” in golf.

With thousands of juniors taking up golf during and following the pandemic, the U.S is now home to more golfing families than ever before. Time off school and work will translate into more family golf getaways in 2022. If your family falls into the “have clubs and kids will travel” category, here are five family-friendly golf getaways to check out in 2022.

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

First, it’s worth noting that South Carolina is home to one of the best junior golf associations in the country, the South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA). Kids who set up GHIN indexes through the SCJGA can join Youth on Course for no charge and play for $5 or less (that’s not a misprint) at hundreds of courses throughout the state.

In the state’s famed Lowcountry region, Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort is one of the most family-friendly golf destinations in a state. Located less than an hour from historic Beaufort, “Fripp” is home to two decidedly different 18-hole layouts, Ocean Point (designed by George Cobb) and Ocean Creek (designed by Davis Love III).

While golf packages are available, mom and dad can call or email the resort about the number of juniors who’ll be playing. For kids 12-15, the 18-hole walking rate is just $12 and $9 for nine holes. For younger players ages 5-11, both Fripp courses offer “Wee Links” tees after 3 p.m. for $15.

Junior golf is all about walking the golf course and experiencing the game the way it was meant to be played. Unlike many golf resorts that are hyper-focused on golf cart revenue, Fripp allows walking any time of day at Ocean Point and Ocean Creek. Both layouts are a pleasure to hoof with their relatively small footprints and greens and tee boxes in proximity.

For more information, visit www.frippislandresort.com or call (888) 741.8974.

Pinehurst Resort

Many parents will assume that Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. exceeds their budget. After all, the Cradle of American Golf is considered by many to be our country’s St. Andrews, and courses like No. 2 and No. 4 host major championships such as the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur and noted amateur tournament like the North & South.

Dig a little deeper, though, and they’ll discover that Pinehurst goes above and beyond to make family golf trips affordable for various budgets. One of the best deals on the golfing planet, kids 12 and under stay, play and eat for free when sharing a room with a parent. Kids 17 and under play for free on every course except No. 2 when playing with an adult.

What’s more, Pinehurst is home to one of the world’s best short courses, the nine-hole Cradle, and one of the largest putting courses, Thistle Dhu. Even if the kids are just starting to dip their toes into the game, there are several options.

Pinehurst Resort even provides itineraries for the entire family based on experience level. And with a myriad of activities available within walking or biking distance in and around the historic Village, there’s no need to use the car again until it’s time to leave

For more information, visit www.pinehurst.com or call (855) 235-8507.

Sea Island Golf Resort

This iconic resort on Georgia’s Gold Coast boasts as much or more history than any destination in the U.S. With multiple five-star hotels, three nationally-ranked golf courses, and TOUR-caliber practice facilities, Sea Island Golf Resort is a bucket trip for golf buddy and couples’ trips. There are several reasons, however, for families to make the sojourn to St. Simmons Island.

Kids under 19 don’t pay greens fees to play the resort’s Seaside, Retreat and Plantation courses. Before 3 p.m., they pay for either a cart and forecaddie or a caddie (if walking). After 3 p.m., when walking unaccompanied is allowed for resorts guests, juniors effectively play for free, according to Director of Golf Brannen Veal.

Post-round, families love to gather at The Lodge’s 18-hole putting course, The Speedway. The course is open Wednesday – Monday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Beverage service is provided, so mom and dad can kick back with their favorite cocktail as the fun ensues.

For more information, visit www.seaisland.com, or call (877) 661-9064.

Rumbling Bald

Vacation rentals with all the amenities and comforts of home have become the preferred lodging option for families over the past two years. Airbnb recently reported that the company’s average length of stay and the average number of bedrooms per rental increased substantially in 2021.

In that sense, Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure in Western North Carolina fits the family golf travel bill. This 3,000-acre retreat at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to a wide selection of vacation rentals ranging from studios and villas to luxury mountain homes.

Rumbling Bald is home to two 18-hole layouts, Apple Valley and Bald Mountain, both of which are family-friendly in offering multiple sets of tees and minimal forced carries over hazards and natural areas. Kids 17 and under can play 18 holes for $30 or nine holes for $20. Rumbling Bald also offers replay rates, subject to availability, for families who just can’t get enough golf.

Or, for those who prefer to stick to 18 holes a day, there are plenty of other activities and amenities to keep busy. Kids Adventure Camp is available June 6 through August 12 and features tennis, arts, crafts, games, mini-golf, yoga, dance and more. The Beach Cabana below Legends on the Lake is Rumbling Bald’s lake headquarters and offers boat, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals.

For more information, visit www.rumblingbald.com, or call (828) 694-3000.

Greenville, S.C.

It’s not a golf destination, per se, but Greenville is a hotbed of junior golf that sets up perfectly for a long weekend getaway. Located midway between Charlotte and Atlanta along the I-85 corridor, Greenville is an easy stopping point for those traveling in the Southeast.

Get things started at the Haas Family Golf Center, founded by former PGA TOUR player and current Champions Tour member Jay Haas, his wife Jan and his son, TOUR player Bill. With an acre of grass tees and hitting area and 40 covered and heated hitting stations, Haas Family Golf Center is the largest practice facility in the Southeast.

carolinas cherokee valley — Cherokee Valley

Once the family has the game dialed in, kick it up a notch with a little friendly competition at 3’s Greenville Golf and Grill. This innovative, 12-hole par-3 course features holes designed by several different architects and TOUR players. There’s also an 18-hole putting green and extensive short game area for members. The clubhouse serves up killer eats from its on-site smoker, and plenty of cold drinks.

With everyone primed for a regulation 18-hole loop, head north to the Tigerville area for a round at Cherokee Valley Course and Club. There are discounted rates and memberships for juniors, and owner Matthew Jennings’s inclusive approach to the game ensures there’s always a family-friendly vibe going on. Stick around and grab dinner at Cherokee Valley’s new restaurant, Core 450, which serves small plates, pizzas and chef-created entrees.

For more information, visit www.cherokeevalleyclub.com, or call (864) 689-3585.

Swing into Spring 2022 at These Southeastern Golf Destinations

Sea-Island_Plantation12_DJI_0135--1024x767

There’s more to the Southeast than just college football. That’s right, before the overlapping SEC and ACC regions perennially produced America’s national champion seemingly every year, they were home to many of the best golf destinations in the U.S. As we round winter’s corner into the peak spring season, here’s a short-list of golf resorts across four states to consider visiting as the dogwoods and azaleas begin to bloom.

Florida

Innisbrook Golf Resort – Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course is a favorite among PGA TOUR pros, and it’s also one of the most challenging tracks on the pro circuit. This highly amenitized resort west of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico houses four courses along with a variety of rooms, suites and vacation rentals that have been upgraded recently to offer a comfy extended stay for golf groups of all sizes.

PGA National Resort and Spa – Palm Beach County is a hotbed of golf, and it doesn’t get any hotter than PGA National Resort and Spa, home of the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic. Five courses, including the Jack Nicklaus designed Champ, await golfers willing to test their mettle against this tournament-tested venue. The resort recently opened “The Staple,” an innovative short course designed by Andy Staple.

PGA Golf Club – The flagship public property of the PGA of America, PGA Golf Club is a 54-hole golf panacea with a world-class practice range, short game area and short course. Catch a bite to eat in the Taplow Pub and stay a few nights in the adjacent Perfect Drive Villas or neighboring Hilton Garden Inn. PGA Golf Club is a pure golf experience for those who prefer 36 holes a day, a beer and a bed.

Streamsong Resort – One of Florida’s newest golf resorts (10 years young this year) got even newer with the opening of its Gil Hanse-designed Black Course in 2018. Streamsong’s Red and Blue courses have also quickly moved atop the national rankings, and the Streamsong Lodge is the perfect place to kick back and relax, post round. And at the 2022 PGA Show, resort officials revealed that Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have been commissioned to a non-traditional fourth course with holes ranging from 70 to 300 yards.

Paradise Coast – The quaint city of Naples and tropical atoll Marco Island in Southwest Florida – dubbed the “Paradise Coast” – are home to more golf courses per capita than just about anywhere in the world. Resorts like Tiburon Golf Club, The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and The Lely Resort Golf and Country Club offer a multi-course experience, and there are plenty of standalone options as well. For those who fall in love with the area, The Club at Olde Cypress beckons with a “life on vacation” lifestyle and the area’s only P.B. Dye design.

Georgia

Reynolds Lake Oconee – Reynolds Lake Oconee is to Georgia as Pinehurst Resort is to North Carolina: a seemingly endless supply of golf in the form of six highly-ranked layouts designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Bob Cupp and Jim Engh. Nicklaus’ Great Waters headlines the collection, as it was recently renovated and restored to its original glory. Lodging ranges from cozy cottages to the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Lake Oconee.

Sea Island Resort – While Georgia is known as the home of The Masters, the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort is a PGA TOUR player and fan favorite. So much so, several pros make their home at this golf haven on Atlantic. The Seaside Course is a Tom Fazio redesign perched right on the ocean, the Plantation Course was recently renovated by natives Davis and Mark Love, who also recast the Retreat Course in 2001. Diehard golfers gravitate to The Lodge with its ocean view and “walk-to” access to the Seaside and Plantation courses. Dinner in the Oak Room is a must, with its rich mahogany veneer and formidable wine, beer and spirts menu, as is a post-round libation in the famed Men’s Locker Room.

North Carolina

Grandover Resort – Golfers need only veer off I-85 in Greensboro to access this 36-hole collection designed by Gary Panks. A full-service onsite hotel offers all the accouterments, from casual and fine dining to a spa and fitness center. Grandover’s combo of convenience and quality is hard to beat, and for an extended golf swing, the North Carolina Sandhills is only an hour’s drive south.

Pinehurst Resort – Nine 18-hole courses, including the famed No. 2 U.S., make Pinehurst Resort the largest golf resort in the U.S. and a must-visit for any serious golfer. In addition to its lineup of regulation tracks, Pinehurst is home to a nine-hole short course designed by Gil Hanse, The Cradle, and Thistle Dhu, a 75,000 square-foot putting course. Golfers can choose from three hotels, including the recently renovated Manor Inn, just a short walk to the new Pinehurst Brewing Co. And renovations are underway at The Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst’s historic crown jewel.

new pinehurst no. 4 three holes — Pinehurst No. 4

Rumbling Bald – Spring in Western North Carolina means mountain golf and Rumbling Bald along scenic Lake Lure obliges with two 18-hole tracks, Apple Valley and Bald Mountain, designed by W.B. Lewis and Dan Maples. Apple Valley is this golf retreat’s premier offering, playing to 6,800 yards and featuring new Champion Bermuda greens. Spacious vacation rentals are available for stay-and-plays, and the lake offers endless off-course activities. For golfers who visit and don’t want to leave, nearby Champion Hills in Hendersonville offers a Tom Fazio-designed mountain masterpiece and a variety of membership types to suit any lifestyle. The course is ranked 51st in Golfweek’s “Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S.” and is considered one of Fazio’s seminal Western N.C. designs.

South Carolina

Cherokee Valley Course and Club – Upstate South Carolina’s premier golf destination, Cherokee Valley is home to a P.B. Dye mountain-style layout, on-site cottages and a brand-new casual dining restaurant, Core 450, that has garnered rave reviews from Greenville area foodies. Get your game ready at one of South Carolina’s most expansive practice facilities, which is also home to neighboring North Greenville University.

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort – “Fripp” as South Carolinians refer to it, flies just under the radar of the national golf cognoscenti, just how Palmetto State golfers like it. Home to two courses, Ocean Point and Ocean Creek, Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort is situated on the most seaward of South Carolina’s Sea Islands 18 miles east of historic Beaufort, where novelist Pat Conroy spent his summers. The resort offers seasonal golf packages that include golf rounds, practice balls and lodging in a Fripp Island vacation rental.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort – For golfers who want to play where the pros play this year, Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course is hosting the 2020 PGA Championship in May. If Pete Dye’s diabolic oceanside layout it too tough to tackle, four other 18-hole courses adorn this majestic barrier island near Charleston. Catch a good night’s rest at the Sanctuary at Kiawah, a AAA Five Diamond hotel.

Myrtle Beach – While it’s not a resort, per se, the Grand Strand one of the world’s most iconic golf destinations. Accommodation options are limitless, and lineup cards can be filled with vaunted venues like Tidewater Golf Club, Grande Dunes Resort Course, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club.

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort – Hilton Head is known as “Golf Island,” and the three brawny layouts at Palmetto Dunes are a big reason for that moniker. The Robert Trent Jones features one of the island’s only oceanfront holes, and the George Fazio and Arthur Hills courses round out the bill. Golf groups love the popular “Birdies and Beer Getaway” and the resort’s comfy vacation rentals.

Sea Pines Resort – Settled along Hilton Head Island’s south end, The Sea Pines Resort is home of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage tournament and famed Harbour Town Golf Links. Two other championship caliber tracks reside inside the gates, Heron Point by Pete Dye and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III. The Inn and Club at Harbor Town is just a pitching wedge from the clubhouse and the famed Yacht Basin is a short jaunt away.

P.B. Dye’s ‘Diabolical’ Best

If there was a shortlist of the unsung heroes of golf course architecture’s modern era, P.B. Dye would likely find himself on it. Given his unabashedly outgoing demeanor and penchant for expressing strong opinions about anything from golf to college football, it’s a wonder he never got more “press.”

While he could certainly be the life of any party, the youngest son of legendary Pete Dye was always happiest on the seat of a bulldozer during his design heyday in the 80s and 90s. P.B. was a driving force, no pun intended, on dozens of famous Dye designs including the Honors Course and Long Cove.

Many of his peers were caught up in a constant search for the perfect building site for a shrine to their brands. Dye, however, relished the opportunity to work with big-time golf resort and community developers regardless of the location. These titans of industry, after all, were his clients, and Dye was quick to understand that real estate was the driving force behind golf during his period.

For traveling golfers or those looking to settle down in a golf community, here are some of the top P.B. Dye golf courses you can play (public) or join (private).

P.B. Dye Golf Club

Most golf course critics consider the P.B. Dye Golf Club in Ijamsville, Maryland, to be Dye’s seminal work. Golf Digest once ranked it as one of the 50 Toughest Courses in America, and its resistance to scoring and strategic shot values are off the charts. The layout pitches and rolls over 250 acres and boasts the complete array of P.B. Dye accouterments: mounds, moguls, multi-tiered greens and deep pot bunkers. P.B. Dye Golf Club is open to the public with rates starting at $65 in the afternoon.

For more information: www.pbdyegolf.com.

The Club at Olde Cypress

Olde Cypress in the golf capital of Naples, Fla. is eminently enjoyable, progressively playable for the forward to middle tees, and long enough to challenge long hitters from the tips. Seeking omnipresent sunshine, pristine beaches and a lifestyle only Southwest Florida can offer, new members have flocked to this privately owned, private club over the past 18 months. Adding to the attraction: Olde Cypress recently reopened following a re-grassing of all tee boxes, fairways and greens, as well as updates to bunkers, the practice facility and clubhouse. Membership categories include social, full golf and associate golf and offer access to the club’s other amenities, like tennis, pickleball and fitness, as well as fine and casual dining.

For more information: www.oldecypress.com.

Cherokee Valley Course and Club

At Cherokee Valley just north of Greenville, S.C., Dye essentially delights golfers with multiple courses within a single layout. The first four holes are relatively flat and laid out in proximity to the new golf shop and chef-driven restaurant, Core 450. Six through eight take players closer to Glassy Mountain, nine and 10 circle around the practice range, while 11-18 feature more than 300-feet of elevation change. Both memberships and daily fee play are offered, as are golf packages featuring the club’s quaint cottages. Cherokee Valley is just 30 minutes from downtown Greenville, one of the best small cities in the U.S.

For more information: www.cherokeevalleyclub.com.

Moorland Course

When P.B. and developer Larry Young unveiled the Moorland Course at Legends Resort in Myrtle Beach in 1990, shock value was a necessary ingredient to make a splash in a market with more than 100 golf courses. Golf Digest immediately tapped it as one of the toughest tracks in the U.S., and Dye and Young delighted in causing golfers to rise to incredible heights and sink to considerable depths all in five hours. The 245-yard par-4 16^th hole is guarded by the Grand Strand’s most famous bunker, dubbed “Hell’s Half Acre.”

For more information: www.legendsgolf.com/moorland.

The Links at Fisher Island

For a nine-hole facility to make a list of its designer’s best golf courses, it has to be something special. The Links at Fisher Island is more than that – it’s one of the country’s most precious golf assets. The course is the centerpiece of the Fisher Island Club, a 216-acre barrier island off the coast of Miami. Dye loves to say he packed 18 holes of design features into nine holes at the Links at Fisher Island. Not only did he do that, there’s a full-size practice range and an immaculate 10,000-square-foot clubhouse. Equity memberships are offered for property owners and a limited number of non-owners.

For more information: www.fisherislandclub.com.

Best Tom Fazio Mountain Courses to Play (or Join)

With all due respect to Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Donald Ross, Tom Fazio is the undisputed king of modern mountain golf course architecture. And as we approach his 77^th birthday on Feb. 10, it’s only appropriate that we give credit where so much credit it due.

From the Blue Ridge to the Rockies and numerous ranges in between, the master architect has more nationally ranked mountain layouts than his World Golf Hall of Fame contemporaries combined.

The former North Carolina native designed 32 (nearly a third) of the courses on Golfweek / USA Today’s 2022 list of the “Top 100 Residential Golf Courses in the U.S.” For courses ranked 101-200, he has 11 more design credits.

So enamored with mountain golf in general, and its North Carolina interpretation, specifically, Fazio chose Hendersonville (where he also lived while working on Champion Hills) for his office and nearby Lake Toxaway for his summer home.

For golfers looking to tee it up at elevations where the temps are cool throughout the summer and the tee shots soar amid purple mountain majesties, here’s a collection of 10 of Fazio’s best highland golf course designs.

Champion Hills

The golf cognoscenti and course rankings experts agree: Champion Hills is one of Fazio’s seminal designs, a game-changing layout that along with Wade Hampton forever altered the way mountain golf courses were routed and built. Fazio deftly demonstrates that playing at altitude doesn’t have to mean blind shots and uneven lies. And playing to 6,510-yards from the back tees, the timeless layout reminds players that the 7,000-yard benchmark is an arbitrary measurement of “championship” caliber golf. Proof positive: Champion Hills moved up 13 spots in Golfweek’s ranking of the “Top 200 Residential Courses”

Diamond Creek

Former Winged Foot head professional John McNeely and Frederica (St. Simons, Ga.) owner Wayne Huizenga founded this uber-exclusive golf club in Banner Elk, N.C. As the story goes, they had their sights set on working with Fazio and Fazio only. McNeely made the two-hour drive down to Hendersonville to personally pitch Fazio at his office. The rest, as they say, is history.

Mountaintop

Situated in neighboring Cashiers, Mountaintop, along with Wade Hampton, Diamond Creek and Champion Hills completes North Carolina’s famed foursome of Fazio mountain marvels. The layout climbs gradually from a valley floor to a mountaintop pinnacle that serves as the inspiration for the course’s name.

Wade Hampton

Like Champion Hills, Wade Hampton was a late 80s western North Carolina layout that established Fazio as the nation’s premier mountain golf craftsman. Also similar to Champion Hills, Wade Hampton is “private golf Fazio” at the top of his game: generous fairways, flowing bunkers and severely undulating greens.

Gozzer Ranch

Given its proximity to chic Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, it’s little wonder that Gozzer Ranch attracts more than its fair share of celebrity golfers. Former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez is a frequent guest, and hockey great Wayne Gretzky is a long-time member. Fazio routed several holes along the site’s basalt bluffs, where 100-foot-high spires, crags and cliff faces are back-dropped by sweeping views of the lake and nearby mountains.

Red Sky Ranch

Located near the Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts, Red Sky Ranch sits at a breathtaking (literally) 7,000 feet on a former sheep ranch. Its routing rises and falls amid 600-feet of total elevation change throughout its 7,113-yards. A 7,113-yard stunner, this top-of-the-world layout offers panoramic views of Castle Peak to the west and Vail’s fabled Back Bowls to the east.

Shooting Star

At Shooting Star in celebrity-soaked Jackson Hole, Wyo., Fazio devised a brilliantly simple method of designing an eminently playable mountain golf course: site the majority of the holes in a valley. Well, a 25-acre meadow to be precise, but the result is just as stunning as any of Fazio’s highland heroics. There are also over 50 acres of lakes on property that come into play on 13 of 18 holes.

Martis Camp

The Lake Tahoe region is coveted by many golf course architects, and a design credit in the high Sierras is a mountain golf badge of honor. Set at 6,100-feet above sea level amid 2,177 rambling acres, Martis Camp is considered by many, including former PGA Tour player and two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, to be among Fazio’s greatest courses.

The Stock Farm

Fazio designed Stock Farm in the southwest corner of Montana’s Big Sky country in the very heart of the Bitterroot Valley. The course originally opened in 1999, and Fazio returned in 2018 for a complete renovation including rebuilding green complexes and bunkers. Situated at a reasonable 3,500 feet, it’s the views of the surrounding Bitterroot Mountains that cause golfers to reach for their smartphone cameras.

Pronghorn

The Fazio Course at Pronghorn in Bend, Ore., is unquestionably one of the most visually stunning golf courses in the U.S. Its rolling fairways and sculpted greens are punctuated by ancient lava rocks that create a surreal, almost Mars-like effect. Considered one of the most unique holes in the world, the par-3 eighth hole includes a 45-foot canyon and exposed lava tube.

Three Mountain Golf ‘Must Plays’ This Spring

Spring is just a few weeks away in the Southeastern U.S. as temps will begin to climb into the 60s in late February and early March. The southern tier of the Blue Ridge Mountains, cutting through parts of Virginia, the Carolinas and northern Georgia, is the first mountain golf region to open each year, featuring postcard-ready summits and deep diving ravines. Here are three must-play mountain golf getaways to check out this spring as the dogwoods and azaleas begin to bloom.

1. Rumbling Bald (North Carolina)

Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf retreat on North Carolina’s stunning Lake Lure is reachable in under a half day’s drive from several East Coast metro areas. Open year-round, this 3,000-acre golf panacea offers golf packages customized for golf groups of any size and is ideal for those looking to unplug from the hustle and bustle for a few days.

Rumbling Bald’s “Hole-in-One” package features a two-night stay, two rounds of golf, breakfast both days and complimentary, unlimited range balls. Lodging options include the recently updated Apple Valley Studios and two- and four-bedroom Fairway Villas. Rates vary by season, so be sure to visit the website for the latest pricing.

Two contrasting, 18-hole layouts grace the property: W.B. Lewis-designed Bald Mountain and the Dan Maples-designed Apple Valley, which sports new Champion Bermuda greens. Apple Valley is Rumbling Bald’s marquee offering, stretching to nearly 6,800 yards and offering jaw-dropping views of Bald Mountain and the surrounding Lake Lure area.

Bald Mountain, at 6,300 yards, is more of a true mountain-style layout with numerous doglegs, up and downhill fairways and diminutive greens. The course is renowned for its unique configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s, as well as its par-3 16^th hole, the setting for a scene in the moving Dirty Dancing. It reopened in the spring of 2021 following a series of enhancements to tee boxes, approaches and the surrounds.

Golf packages combine rounds at both courses with 150 sparkling clean vacation rental homes, condos and studios. Ideal for social distancing, they feature golf course and mountain views. Golfers can eat-in or grab to-go meals from Legends on the Lake, the retreat’s casual dining restaurant on Lake Lure.

2. Cherokee Valley Course and Club (South Carolina)

The highly-decorated small city of Greenville is home to Cherokee Valley Course and Club, the Upstate’s premier golf destination. Its P.B. Dye-designed, mountain-style golf course and collection of on-site cottages make for an enjoyable and efficient stay-and-play experience.

With wrap-around front porches and all the comforts of home, the cottages are conveniently located just a few steps from the golf shop and first tee. Full cottage rentals start at $400 and single rooms at $130, per night (tax not included). Golf can be added for $30 or $50 all-day subject to availability.

Cherokee Valley’s routing is fascinating, and Dye effectively provides golfers with multiple layouts within a single course. The first five holes are relatively flat and laid out in proximity to the brand-new golf shop and full-service restaurant, Core 450.

Holes six through eight take players right up to the base of the Glassy Mountain. Nine and 10 level off around the golf shop, restaurant and practice range, offering a brief reprieve before the 300-foot climb into Cherokee Valley’s mountainous five-hole stretch. The par-5 16^th plunges back down the hill, followed by two of the toughest par 4s on the course in 17 and 18.

Ideally located 30 minutes north of bustling downtown Greenville (home to more than 100 restaurants), Cherokee Valley is the perfect basecamp for exploring the beauty and adventure of this amazing four-season corner of the Palmetto State. Its new chef-driven restaurant, Core 450, opened in 2021 and features shareable plates, entrees, and wood-fired pizzas.

3. Primland Resort (Virginia)

Situated just five hours from the Washington D.C. metro area and an hour north of North Carolina’s Triad region, Primland is a boutique luxury resort in the southwestern Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Designed by Donald Steele, the resort’s Highland Course showcases breathtaking views at every turn. This challenging-yet-fair circuit makes its way through the peaks and valleys of the Dan River Gorge and is framed by rough ridges that offer no quarter for wayward shots.

Nationally ranked by Golfweek, GOLF Magazine, and Golf Digest, its unique configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s was dictated by the land. Tee times are in 15-minute intervals to allow golfers time to soak up the serene setting and to plot a proper strategy.

The Highland Course is known for its immaculate conditions, true-rolling bentgrass greens and “core golf” experience devoid of surrounding development. It’s truly a masterful effort by Steel, whose design philosophy highlights nature and golf tradition. Check the website for the availability of select golf packages throughout the season.

Mountain Golf Living

Golfers with the freedom to live and work where they choose, or nearing retirement, are flocking to golf communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Champion Hills in charming Hendersonville, N.C., is a prime case in point. Situated just minutes from downtown, Champion Hills offers a beguiling blend of luxury resale homes and custom-building lots. Its magnificent, mountain-style clubhouse sits atop one of the area’s highest points, affording members and guests unobstructed views.

For avid golfers, Champion Hills’ Tom Fazio-designed mountain masterpiece pitches and rolls through heavily forested hills, deep ravines and cool mountain streams. Fazio and his all-star team of shapers deftly pulled ridges into valleys and filled hollows to create “playing platforms” that provide golfers with level lies amid 350-feet of elevation change.

While real estate is heating up throughout the Southeast, Western Carolina, generally, and Champion Hills, specifically, offer golfers a lot of bang for the buck. Building lots typically range from .5 up to 1.5 acres, with prices from $50,000 to $300,000. Move-in ready luxury residences, currently in short supply, generally range from $500,000 to $2 million featuring golf course, mountain and wooded views.

Pinehurst Resort by the Numbers

Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina’s famed Sandhills has undergone nothing short of a renaissance over the past decade. From the restoration of No. 2, the opening of The Cradle, the reimagination of No. 4 and the USGA’s Golf House Pinehurst, the past decade has been a whirlwind of activity that has set the golf world ablaze.

Planning a golf buddy or family trip to the Cradle of American Golf is an exhilarating experience. With nine courses, three hotels and a fistful of outstanding eateries, it can also be a bit overwhelming. The resort has an outstanding trip planning service to walk you through the details.

But we’re here well in advance with a host of insider tips to help you pull off the ultimate golf bucket list trip with relative ease.

Best Arrival Day Course: You can make a case for No. 5, an underrated Ellis Maples design that gently pitches and rolls through a residential area across Beulah Hill Rd. from the main golf campus. But the logical point to begin the epic journey that is Pinehurst Resort is the No. 1 Course, completed by Donald Ross in 1901.

The expansive fairway of the par-4 opening hole is an arms-wide-open welcome to the Cradle of American Golf. The dead-straight, par-4 second follows suit, and every hole between it and the par-5 18^th hole encourages golfers to play their absolute best. As a bonus, the 18^th tee box with the clubhouse in the background is the perfect buddies’ trip or family photo opp.

Best Championship Course (other than No. 2 or No. 4): No shocker, here, as No. 8 is situated third among the resort’s courses in the national and in-state rankings. But put Tom Fazio’s Centennial in just about any other state and it’s the best track around. The golf cognoscenti tend to forget just how pure this layout is, and the green complexes, green speed and pin positions rival any tournament-caliber venue.

No. 8 isn’t cut from the same Sandhills aesthetic cloth as No. 2 and No. 4. Rather, Fazio was handed 420 acres of rolling hills and wetlands that required a skillful routing. There are several forced-carry tee shots and aerial approaches into greens, but its brilliance manifests in No. 8’s differentiation from its siblings. An early morning or late afternoon round, here, is a transcendental experience, as each hole corridor is isolated from the next.

Best Course to Revisit (if You Haven’t Played it in Years): The obvious answer is No. 4. In the 70s it was a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, in the 80s a Rees Jones course and from 1999 to 2017, No. 4 was a highly-ranked Fazio design. The golf course architecture musical chairs ended in 2018 when Gil Hanse completely reimagined and redesigned No. 4 as a “companion” course to No. 2. Hanse’s craftsmanship is so on-point that 19^th hole debates rage as to whether it or No. 2 is the superior circuit.

The not-so-obvious answer, on the other hand? No. 7. Original designer Rees Jones restyled this off-campus course into a Herculean test of golf in 2002. No. 7 is 7,216-yards of pure muscle fiber routed through 25 acres of wetland, three acres of waste bunkers and 75 bunkers. Its 520-yard par-5 opening hole, with a double-bending fairway, sets the stage immediately for “hard par, easy bogey” – a timeless hallmark of Jones family design. Tee shots are generally downhill, approach shots are usually uphill, and Jones’ routing takes on a steady rhythm that makes No. 7 a joy to play.

Best Bar Scene: If golf was a religion (and for many, it comes close), then The Cradle would be its church. On any given day, and especially in the mid to late afternoon, Hanse’s 10-acre short course is humming with golf groups from all over the U.S. and around the world with their shoes off and transfusions in hand.

Music from hidden speakers fills the air, as do tee shots from both grass and mat tees. The experience is collective and redemptive, and by the time golfers walk off the ninth green, they’ve made at least 100 new friends. And when church lets out, the people can simply adjourn to the 75,000-square-foot playground that is the Thistle Dhu putting course.

Best Non-Golf Bonding Experience: The Drum & Quill in the Village of Pinehurst is the type of joint where if the shades were pulled down tight, you’d lose all sense of space and time. The iconic pub and eatery owned by former golf marketer and writer Kevin Drum is as busting and boisterous at lunch as it is at nightfall. Well, maybe not quite. Pull up a barstool, order fish and chips, have the bar keep pull your favorite pint, and forget about what ails you. You won’t regret it.

Meanwhile, back at Pinehurst, the Deuce serves this role and serves it well. Situated on the far side of the main clubhouse, this authentic tavern is located just behind the 18^th green on No. 2. Outdoor seating allows guests to grab a beer and a bite and watch all the action coming in. An ample selection of craft brews are on tap, and everything on the gastropub-focused menu is perfectly executed.

Best Restaurant for Buddies and Family Trips: When the Pinehurst Brewing Company opened in the old Village steam plant in 2018, the vision called for a neighborhood gathering place that was equal parts golf buddy hang and family dining destination. Mission accomplished on that front and throw in a nice mix of local patrons and out-of-town visitors to top it all off.

The “PBC’s” BBQ is front and center, highlighted by smoked baby back ribs, pork shoulder, brisket and homemade sausages. But hand-tossed, wood-fired pizzas are a sneaky second favorite, and pair just as well with the brewery’s selection of handcrafted ales and lagers. The Pivot IPA has become the stuff of legend, and as soon as it hits the taps and coolers (in cans), the supply can be wiped out in a matter of days.

Best Lodging for an Extended Stay: For those who want to play as many Pinehurst Resort courses as possible, i.e. all of them, even a 36-hole-a-day pace yields a five-day, five-night vacation that ventures into “extended stay” territory. The Carolina Villas rise to the occasion to fill this niche perfectly. Located adjacent to the Carolina Hotel, they feature four privately keyed guest rooms with their own bathrooms.

Better yet, the four bedrooms spill out into a spacious living room with a wet bar, dining area, and either a balcony or patio for chilling outdoors. The bed configuration is two queens, with each unit easily accommodating eight golfers or two families. All the modern accouterments are included, such as Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffee makers.

For more information on Pinehurst Resort’s nine, 18-hole courses, The Cradle, accommodations, dining and other amenities and activities, visit www.pinehurst.com.

JW Marriott Miami Sparkles Anew

In the towering condo jungle of North Miami, there is a 300-acre oasis. The JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, which has previously operated under other management flags, remains the centerpiece of North Miami’s trendy Aventura enclave, but now has new energy and amenities normally seen at properties twice its size.

Those include two golf courses, Soffer and Miller; the renovated âme Spa & Wellness Collective Spa; a five-acre waterpark called Tidal Cove; the nation’s largest FlowRider Triple surf simulator; more than 120,000 square feet of meeting space, and a new 16-story Orchid Tower comprised of 325 guest rooms that more-than doubled the resort’s occupancy to 685 guest rooms.

There also are new membership options; a new lobby bar called Soff’s; and two new dining options – Surf House Bar & Grill and Freestyle – in addition to Corsair restaurant (home of off-the-charts brunches every Saturday and Sunday and some innovative beer pairings dinners) and celebrity Chef Michael Mina’s outstanding Bourbon Steak, which is one of the top steak houses in Florida.

Located only 12 miles from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 18 miles from Miami International Airport, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa makes a great headquarters for everything South Florida.

A bit of history: Over the years, the 53-year-old resort – developed by a group led by real estate magnate Donald Soffer, who developed the City of Aventura – has been flagged as a Mandarin and a Fairmont property.

In 2012, then-Turnberry Isle Miami joined Marriott’s Autograph Collection. In December 2018 the resort officially became the JW Marriott it is today.

“The ‘JW’ brand has very loyal leisure and transient following, along with a meetings following,’’ said resort Director of Sales and Marketing Shane Allor. “So, we’ve seen a bit of a [rooms night] increase,’’ in the past year.

Under the luxury JW Marriott flag, Turnberry Miami has spent much of the past year-plus on marketing campaigns showcasing the new brand identity and amenities, which include its Miller and Soffer golf courses.

“Golf is big part of who we are here,’’ Allor said.

And JW Marriott Miami Turnberry certainly does golf as well as any resort in South Florida. The staging area for each course, for example, is a beehive of activity, but it’s always well-coordinated so as to avoid the “factory’’ feel of some of its competitors.

The Miller Course (6,192 yards from the tips) is a solid resort course, protected by bunkers and recently renovated with wall-to-wall Paspalum grass, including on its greens. The greens on the Soffer Course (7,021 yards) were re-done on 2019 with TifEagle Bermuda, which make them a bit faster than the greens on the Miller Course.

For the best golf experience at the resort, the idea is to play each course. But if you only can play one, make it the Soffer, particularly if you are a better player, as it requires some long carries from the back sets of tees and carries over water on some of the par 3s. The Soffer is as complete a golf course as there is in South Florida, from Miami-Dade County to Palm Beach County.

The multimillion-dollar renovations have given the resort a brighter look throughout, and Tidal Cove, which features seven slides that even adults find thrilling, makes JW Marriott Miami Turnberry one of South Florida’s more family-friendly destinations. Tidal Cove is accessible only to resort guests and club members.

Regardless of the flag, the resort has for the past several years been regarded as one of South Florida’s top spa destination. The two-story âme Spa & Wellness Collective Spa fits that bill with a 3,600 square-foot fitness center and a plethora of massage treatments that include a Deep Tissue Sports Massage and a terrific CBD massage. Both are great for golfers.

This destination has helped enlarge the JW Marriott brand’s footprint in Florida. The brand’s portfolio also includes the two other Miami properties, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes (sister to The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes), JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and new JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.

www.jwmarriott.com

Gotta Love Sea Island Performance Center

Four decades ago, Davis Love, Jr., built a small shed with two hitting bays that became the first Golf Performance Center at Georgia’s Sea Island Golf Resort.

Three years after Love’s death in a place crash — under the supervision of his longtime friend Jack Lumpkin — a 4,000 square-foot Golf Performance Center made its debut overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

True to his Southern Gentleman personality, Lumpkin scoffs at the notion that he is a pioneer in the world of golf performance centers, but the truth is, the man known around Sea Island Golf Resort as “Mr. Jack,’’ is exactly that — a visionary who, like Love, Jr., was always looking for better ways to teach the game of golf.

In that regard, the new Sea Island Golf Performance Center opened this past May as a fitting tribute to the two men who helped shape Sea Island as a world class golf destination.

“I had a little input,’’ on the new 17,000 square-foot Golf Performance Center, said Lumpkin, a legendary teacher of such noted PGA Tour stars a Davis Love III and Loren Roberts who serves as Sea Island’s Senior Director of Instruction. “All of the instructors shared their ideas. Craig Allen (Golf Performance Center Manager) was the one who really sold it to the [Sea Island] Company.

“I did have a lot to do with the original building because I built it. At the time there was nothing comparable. We needed to do something for our students during rainy days to help, entertain and educate them at the same time. We needed meeting rooms and ball-striking rooms, too, so it was all kind of put together out of need and necessity.’’

The new Golf Performance Center is part of Sea Island Company’s $30 million renovations and additions project, which includes an 18-hole Driftwood putting course; six new cottages with 14 new sleeping rooms; a new oceanfront pool; pool house; and extended practice facility and short game area, each overlooking the Atlantic.

In addition, the Plantation Course, currently being renovated by Love III’s design group, reopened in fall 2019 as an outstanding complement to the fabled Seaside Course, built in 1929 by Harry S. Colt and Charles Alison.

The new Golf Performance Center, located behind and just a few yards away from the original center (that will be reshaped into an-other cottage complete with a hitting bay) is the centerpiece of the new amenities — and solidifies Sea Island Golf Resort’s reputation as one of the country’s great places to learn and play the game.

That reputation, of course, is thanks in large part to Lumpkin and other instructors, including putting guru Phil Kenyon and Director of Fitness Randy Myers. Each has his own space at the new Center. For example, two indoor putting studios for Kenyon and an extensive exercise room with outdoor patio for Myers.

The new Center also features six instruction and club fitting bays, a golf simulator, retail area, and indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces.

“We think the new Center is going to be as good as anybody’s,’’ Lumpkin said. “Hopefully people will want to come.’’

No doubt they will come, but with all of the Center’s technologies and toys, it begs the question, when does a student (or teacher) reach techno overload?

There is no better person to answer than Lumpkin, an avowed “old school’’ instructor who has embraced 21st century teaching technology.

“I use video and Trackman (launch monitor), but for specific purposes,’’ he said. “Some teachers won’t teach without a Trackman. They use it for everything from face angle to ball spin.

“A lot of times when I’m working with Tour players, we are working on distance control. We will work on Trackman simply for that alone. We might then work on trajectory or spin. But I don’t think I have to have it to deliver a good lesson.’’

Indeed. The mark of a good teacher — or in Lumpkin’s case, a great teacher — is figuring out how his or her student learns best.

“Some (students) are very analytical and want all those numbers,’’ Lumpkin said. “Then there is the student who plays totally by feel. So, as a teacher, you need to put the person in a place he or she can learn the most. After all, that’s what it’s all about.’’

And that’s what the Sea Island Golf Performance delivers.

CHECK OUT RANDY MYERS’ PRE-ROUND GOLF POSTURE DRILL