Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
If you recently attended the RSM Classic events that took place near The Lodge and Golf Performance Center at Sea Island Resort, you likely noticed the beautiful new guest cottages and putting green area. The six cottages, 18-hole putting course, oceanfront pool and pool house, expanded driving range tee, and new putting green and short game area are newly opened key components of the resort’s $25+ million enhancement project at The Lodge, which began in December 2017.
Built on the western side of The Lodge, five guest cottages with two bedrooms and a living room, and one larger cottage featuring four bedrooms and living room, offer stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The living spaces boast a cozy atmosphere created by wide plank hardwood floors, beams, iron lighting and fireplaces. Elegant furnishings adorn the bedrooms and charming details include paintings by local artists, custom framed television cabinets, and white marble bathrooms. Complete with personal butler service, the cottages are ideal for golf groups, corporate groups, couples or multi-generational families. To further enhance the guest experience, Sea Island has added an oceanfront pool and pool house that embodies the look and feel of The Lodge, with double fireplaces, a wrap-around porch, food and beverage service, and indoor and outdoor event space.
1 of 3
Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
2 of 3
Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
3 of 3
Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
Designed by Love Golf Design, the recently opened 18-hole Driftwood putting course on the ocean side of The Lodge provides a new dimension to the golf experience during the day and evening, perfect for both golfers and non-golfers alike. In the next phase of enhancements, Sea Island will soon unveil an all-new state-of-the-art 17,000 square-foot Golf Performance Center to replace its existing facility, which is widely recognized as one of the finest golf centers in the country. It will feature industry-leading technology, six instruction and club fitting bays, a putting studio designed by Sea Island’s Director of Putting Instruction, Phil Kenyon, a world-renowned putting instructor, a full-service golf club workshop, fitness center with locker rooms, spacious retail area, and indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces.
Love Golf Design is also embarking on a full redesign of Sea Island’s Plantation Course. The Loves intend to draw on the history of the course, using classical architectural features and historical hardscape and landscape elements. They will create new and interesting strategic elements while retaining the course’s character and routing, passed on by previous architects, beginning with Walter Travis’ original 1928 design of the first nine holes. Plantation Course is expected to reopen ahead of the 2019 RSM Classic. “We are very excited to play a role in the enhancements taking place at The Lodge,” said Davis Love III. “Mark and I have been redesigning Plantation in our minds for over 20 years as we have played it.”
Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
These enhancements come on the heels of the completion of three new guest rooms with adjoining parlor in The Lodge’s main building, and the expansion of the Trophy Room, a special event space that celebrates Sea Island’s rich golf history through unique memorabilia. Reminiscent of an English manor, The Lodge at Sea Island exudes warm Southern charm and hospitality. The intimate boutique hotel, now with 57 rooms, has received top accolades including twice being named the #1 hotel in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and receiving the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond awards since its opening in 2001.
Scott Steilen, President and CEO of Sea Island says of the enhancement project, “Rather than resting on our laurels of being consistently ranked among the top hotels in the country, we are taking these steps to transform the overall experience and expand the appeal of The Lodge. When combined with the additional recreational amenities and access to all that Sea Island has to offer, we believe The Lodge will become an unequaled destination for a luxury golf experience or couples getaway.”
For additional information about Sea Island or to book a reservation, visit seaisland.com or call 1.800.SEA.ISLAND.
