Jekyll Island, GA
Jekyll Island
Gilded Age island golf — tee it up where the Rockefellers and Morgans wintered.
gilded-agehistoric-clubhouseisland-valuestate-park-island
The place
For half a century Jekyll Island was the private winter retreat of the Rockefellers, Morgans and Vanderbilts; today the whole island is a Georgia state park, and its golf — the largest public golf operation in the state — comes with driftwood beaches, moss-hung oaks and a turreted 1886 clubhouse you can sleep in. Walter Travis's oceanfront Great Dunes nine survives from the millionaires' era, and the island's full-length courses stack easy, affordable rounds under the live oaks. It is the trip where the history is as good as the golf and the bill is better than both.
The courses on property
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Dunes | Walter Travis | The surviving oceanfront nine from the millionaires' club era — pure time travel. Play it twice. | public |
| Pine Lakes | — | The island's rolling headliner through pines and lagoons. | public |
| Indian Mound | Joe Lee | Friendly Joe Lee resort golf under the moss-hung oaks. | public |
| Oleander | Dick Wilson | The Dick Wilson course locals call the island's toughest — concierge confirms current status. | public |
Where you crash
The resort
Jekyll Island Club Resort
The 1886 turreted clubhouse of the original millionaires' club — croquet lawns, wraparound verandas and river-sunset cocktails. Sleeping in the history is the point.
◆ The private house
The Private House
An island cottage under the oaks — bikes in the garage, a screened porch for cards, and both the beach and the courses minutes away. Jekyll's small rental pool books early; St. Simons houses across the causeway are the overflow.
4-6 BR · sleeps 8-12 · ~$600–$1,800/nt
The 5-day plan
- 1
Arrive & Great Dunes
AM Road-trip day to the Golden Isles — on the island by afternoon.
PM Check into the clubhouse, a sunset loop of Travis's Great Dunes nine, low-country boil at the wharf.
- 2
Pine Lakes
AM The island's headliner through the pines.
PM Driftwood Beach walk, bikes around the historic district, oysters at sunset.
- 3
Indian Mound (36 optional)
AM Joe Lee's friendly loop — a scoring day.
PM Diehards add Oleander; others fish the pier or tour the millionaires' cottages. Dinner in the Grand Dining Room.
- 4
Cup day & the veranda
AM Team match on the best-conditioned course of the week — captain's call.
PM Trophy cocktails on the veranda, one last Great Dunes twilight nine.
- 5
Beach sunrise & home
AM Driftwood Beach at first light, clubhouse breakfast, then the drive home.
Why it wins
A whole state-park island of public golf, a genuinely historic clubhouse hotel, and green fees that feel like a different decade. The value-and-history play of the Golden Isles.
Booking notes
Book through Jekyll Island Golf Club and the Jekyll Island Club Resort together — the island has been renovating its course lineup, so have the concierge confirm exactly which courses are open for your dates.