Jekyll Island, Georgia Offers Idealic Setting
by Scott A. Sumner
www.golfingnews.ca
When April comes around in NW Ontario most of us are waiting for the snow to go. In my case I am ready for some green grass, especially on the golf courses. This year I found a tremendous place to be at that time, historic Jekyll Island, Georgia about a 4 hour
drive from Orlando. My destinaton at Jekyll was the Jekyll Island Club Hotel which has had a very interesting history.
“ We are on the Atlantic coast, a barrier island like those from the east coat to Florida on the intracostal waterway. At high tide the drift is 12 feet. The orignal owners, which included JP
Morgan, started a hunting club here 125 years ago. They come up in their yachts an landed near the warf. January, February and March was the season when the members came down. Jekyll had been a sea island cotton plantation. There were a group of millionaires who lived primarily in New York. The were looking for somewhere to coming hunting with their yachts, “ stated Sue Anderson Public Relations & Guest Relations Manager Jekyll Island Club Hotel. “ They belonged to the Union Club in New York. 50 of them purchased the Jekyll Island Club and years later a hotel finished in 1888 took form with a foremost New York Architect and a landscape architect. It opened as a hunting retreat for their use until 1942 and with the threat of the WW2 they elected not to come back. Many had lost interest in coming as well. They didn’t pay their mortgages and taxes etc so the state of Georgia got ownership of everything on the Island including the Island.
Jekyll Island became a state park from 1947 to 1971. People could now come over by car after the causeway was built. There was not funding to spruce up the buildings and by 1986 it was in poor condition. Just in the knick of time, according to Sue Anderson, a golfer named Larry Evans came by, looked up and saw this place and that day decided to breathe life back into the resort. It was declared a national historic landmark which meant certain standards
would have to be kept up. A pro forma showed how it would make money as Jekyll so funds would flow to Georgia. In 1988 the Jekyll Island Club Hotel opened and has been improving until it has almost reached perfection. “ There is constant renovation.The property guarantees
that what you see is very very beautiful. There is also a high level of service here. Some have balconies, some views of the river or courtyard. We are a complex, a campus of buildings. There are 5 that have overnight accommodations and all have their own style including
stained glass bay windows and floor to ceiling windows. There is a turret that sits on the corner above the presidential suite,” said Sue Anderson.
Jekyll island is 7. 5 miles by 1 miles in size and only 35 % can be developed. The state of Georgia owns the whole island and you can only lease the land. The historic nature must be kept up and revenue flows to the state of Georgia.
There are 63 holes of golf on the island including Oleander, Pine Lakes, Indian Mounds and the 9 hole ocean course built by Walter Travis as 18 but mother nature took 9 holes back. The course has postage sized greens and is set up like a links course and the wind plays a factor. “ We call it the millionaires club where JP Morgan played. Oleander was the oldest, PIne Lakes built in 1968 and redone in 2002. Indian Mound was completed in 1975, “ said Brian
Powers, Asst Golf Pro Jekyll Island Golf Club. “ We offer tremendous value for golf with our $38 to $42 green fees. This is not Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach. There are no stop lights and our fees are lower by 20%. You won’t need a 3 day vacation from this vacation. You will recharge and be ready to attack life again.”
“ I have seen people play all 63 holes in a day. Winter is our busy time and January to April we have wonderful weather. Many come from Canada. A lot of our winter guests drive down in 2 days and stop at Savannah.They get lots of golf on the way. I know of 60 couples
who drive down and will rent homes. Those that own a home here sometimes move out in the winter to rent it out. There are no houses on any of our courses. It is a nature sanctuary. You can see 50 types of birds, rabbits and alligators. It is a slowed down home feeling here.” smiled Powers.
