SEA ISLAND, GA. - Sea Island, a Forbes Five-Star resort on the coast of Georgia, announced plans for a $25 million enhancement program at The Lodge at Sea Island, which will include six new cottages, a new state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center, an oceanfront pool and pool house, and a new putting course. Work on these new additions will begin in December 2017 and are expected to debut in November in time for the RSM Classic, an official PGA TOUR event held annually at Sea Island Golf Club. Additionally, in December 2018, Sea Island's Plantation Course will undergo a full renovation under the direction of Love Golf Design, reopening in October 2019.
The six new guest cottages will be built on the western side of The Lodge, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Five of the cottages will have two bedrooms and a parlor, and one larger cottage will feature four bedrooms and a parlor. To further enhance the guest experience, Sea Island will also create an oceanfront pool and pool house that will embody the look and feel of The Lodge, with double fireplaces, a wrap-around porch, food and beverage service, and indoor and outdoor event space.
Renowned for world-class golf and golf instruction, Sea Island is raising the bar even higher, beginning with the addition of a new 17,000 square-foot Golf Performance Center. This state-of-the-art facility will replace the resort's existing Golf Performance Center, widely recognized as one of the finest golf centers in the country. The new Golf Performance Center will feature six instruction and club fitting bays and a putting studio – both with industry-leading technology for teaching and club fitting – a full-service golf club workshop, a gym with locker rooms, spacious retail area, and indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces. In addition to the new Golf Performance Center, a new putting course with an expansive, undulating green will be created on the ocean side of The Lodge, adding a fresh dimension to the golf experience during the day and evening.
In December 2018, Love Golf Design, a golf course architecture firm founded by Sea Island's own Davis Love III and his brother Mark, will begin a full renovation of the resort's Plantation Course. The Loves intend to draw on the history of the course and golf course architecture, 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 golf club's first nine holes. The Plantation Course is expected to reopen in October 2019, ahead of the RSM Classic. During the renovation, the driving range closest to the ocean will also be expanded to allow for a longer range.
"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."
This announcement comes on the heels of the completion of three new guest rooms with adjoining parlor in The Lodge's main building, along with an expansion of the Trophy Room, a special event space that celebrates Sea Island's rich golf history through unique memorabilia.
"We are on the verge of another very exciting time at Sea Island," said Scott Steilen, President and CEO of Sea Island. "The Lodge at Sea Island is proud to be consistently ranked among the top hotels in the country, and rather than resting on our laurels, we are taking steps to further enhance the overall experience and expand the appeal – making The Lodge an ideal destination for not only golfers but also couples seeking a romantic getaway." Once complete, The Lodge will offer a total of 57 sleeping rooms and 11,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space.
Reminiscent of an English manor, The Lodge at Sea Island exudes warm Southern charm and hospitality. The intimate boutique hotel, with 43 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.
