Jekyll Island is the rare golf destination where the state has done the right thing by keeping everything public and affordable. The courses are not championship tracks in the Golf Digest ranking sense, but they are well-maintained, interesting to play, and surrounded by maritime forest and salt marsh. The Club Resort is genuinely charming and not expensive by resort standards. This is one of the Southeasts most underrated golf weekends.
Courses included
The trip experience
Jekyll Island is an anomaly in the American resort golf market: four public courses on a Georgia state park barrier island, all walkable, all priced for the local and regional market rather than the destination traveler. The state of Georgia purchased the island in 1947 from the Jekyll Island Club -- the private enclave that had served the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Morgans since 1886 -- and converted it to a public state park. The golf courses are part of that public mandate and the pricing reflects it: no round costs more than $85, including cart.
Pine Lakes and Indian Mound are the two full 18-hole courses designed specifically for the state park period. Pine Lakes plays through the island's interior pine forest with a routing that maximizes shade and natural tree cover; Indian Mound plays more through the open marsh corridors along the island's interior waterways. Oleander Golf Course adds a third 18-hole option with similar character to Pine Lakes. Great Dunes, the historic 9-hole layout on the Atlantic oceanfront, has been restored and reintegrated into the rotation after years of partial availability -- it is the course with the most direct Atlantic exposure and the one with the most historical significance.
"Jekyll Island's four public courses -- all under $85 including cart, all walkable -- sit on a Georgia state park where no round has cost triple digits since the state bought the island from the Vanderbilts in 1947."
Sea Island, 10 minutes north across the Sidney Lanier Bridge to St. Simons Island, is the luxury counterpart that makes the Jekyll Island trip genuinely interesting from a course variety standpoint. The Seaside Course, consistently ranked in Golf Digest's top 100 public courses, plays along the St. Simons Sound with ocean views from multiple holes. The Plantation and Retreat courses round out one of the most distinguished resort collections in the Southeast. Groups using Jekyll Island as a base can day-trip to Sea Island for a premium round at a fraction of what staying at Sea Island would cost.
"Sea Island's Seaside Course is ranked in Golf Digest's top 100 public courses and sits 10 minutes from Jekyll Island -- groups who base on Jekyll can access the premium round without paying Sea Island's overnight rates."
The Jekyll Island Club Resort provides the historic stay on the island. The Queen Anne Victorian buildings of the original Millionaire's Club are now the hotel, and the grounds are a legitimate historic district with bike-friendly paved paths connecting the golf courses, beach, and club buildings. The island is 11 miles long and mostly car-free in the sense that everything is accessible by bike from the hotel.
Drive in from Jacksonville (60 miles south) or Savannah (70 miles north) -- both airports have flights from major hubs, and the 75-minute drive on I-95 south and the Jekyll Island causeway is straightforward. Peak season runs from Thanksgiving through April; summer is hot and humid but the island is less crowded than the Georgia and Florida Atlantic beach towns and the golf is rarely backed up. Book Sea Island tee times at least 30 days out; Jekyll Island courses are generally available within a week.
Side trips & bonus golf
Sea Island is the most important add-on and the one that transforms a modest value trip into something more substantial. The Sea Island Golf Club (Plantation and Seaside courses) is a legitimate luxury destination 10 miles away, with green fees in the $250-350 range and caddie programs available. Playing two Jekyll rounds at $75 each and one Sea Island round at $300 makes the trip both varied and well-priced overall.
St. Simons Island, directly across the water, has its own golf options including Sea Palms and the Sea Island Retreat Course. The causeway connecting the islands makes it a 15-minute drive. If your group wants more variety beyond Jekylls four tracks, St. Simons is the natural extension.
Savannah is 70 miles north and makes an excellent day-trip or arrival city. The historic district is worth an evening, and Savannah has better restaurant options than the immediate Jekyll Island area. Several groups structure the trip around a Savannah overnight at the start or end.
For non-golfers or a full family trip, the Jekyll Island bike path system covers nearly 20 miles around the island through maritime forest and along the beach. The historic district walking tours run through the Millionaire Row cottages and explain the islands Gilded Age history in detail. It is a legitimate afternoon activity even for people who have been to the island before.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓Book this trip if your group wants public-access golf at honest prices without sacrificing a quality resort experience at the Club.
- ✓Book this trip if you want to walk and carry. All Jekyll courses are walkable and the flat terrain makes it easy even in heat.
- ✓Book this trip if history is interesting to your group. The Jekyll Island Club operated as a private retreat for the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and Morgans until World War II.
- ✓Book this trip if you are driving from Jacksonville, Savannah, or Atlanta and want a short, easy road trip rather than a flight.
- ✓Book this trip if a mix of golf and beach is on the agenda. Jekylls beaches are uncrowded by barrier island standards and the state keeps commercial development deliberately limited.
- ✗Skip this trip if championship-caliber course quality is the primary driver. Jekylls courses are well-maintained public tracks, not destination-quality designs.
- ✗Skip this trip if fine dining is a priority. The restaurant options on the island are limited and even the Club dining is casual.
- ✗Skip this trip if you want a high-volume golf trip. With four courses in a small radius, you will see everything in two days.
- ✗Skip this trip if you are traveling with a large group that wants nightlife. Jekyll Island shuts down early and there is no nightlife to speak of.
When to go
- March through May offers temperatures in the 60-75 degree range with low humidity and minimal bug pressure.
- Azaleas across the Jekyll Island historic district bloom in March and April and are worth timing the trip around if possible.
- Spring break concentrates families on the island in late March, primarily at the beach areas. Golf courses stay accessible.
- Course conditions are best in spring when the Bermuda and zoysia grasses have fully greened up.
- Weekend tee times at Pine Lakes fill 2-3 weeks out during March and April.
- October and November offer the most consistent weather of the year with temperatures in the 65-80 degree range and no humidity.
- Fall rates hold at the same level as spring, which means Jekyll remains a value at any time of year.
- Hurricane risk decreases significantly after October 1, making fall travel more predictable.
- Wildlife activity picks up in fall. The island is a significant sea turtle nesting site and loggerhead activity is visible on evening beach walks through September.
- December through February sees almost no tourists and tee times are walk-up accessible at most courses.
- Winter temperatures run 50-65 degrees, cool enough to be comfortable for golf but cold enough to require a layer in the morning.
- The Jekyll Island Club Resort remains open year-round and winter rates are the lowest of the annual cycle.
- Summer brings peak heat and humidity but also peak family beach activity. Golf is technically playable but early tee times before 8am are essential in July and August.
What a Jekyll Island trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (3 rounds + Sea Island day) | $345-$545 | $270-$430 | $220-$350 |
| Lodging (3 nights, Jekyll Island Club) | $450-$1,200 | $330-$880 | $260-$680 |
| Food & drink | $200-$380 | $160-$300 | $130-$250 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $150-$260 | $120-$210 | $100-$170 |
| Total (est.) | $1,145–$2,385 | $880–$1,820 | $710–$1,450 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (3 rounds + Sea Island day) | $345-$545 |
| Lodging (3 nights, Jekyll Island Club) | $450-$1,200 |
| Food & drink | $200-$380 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $150-$260 |
| Total (est.) | $1,145–$2,385 |
Per-person estimates for a 3-round, 3-night trip on Jekyll Island with a Sea Island premium day trip. Excludes flights. Drive from Jacksonville (60 mi) or Savannah (70 mi). All-in: $900-1,800 peak (Nov-Apr), $700-1,400 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Book through the Jekyll Island Golf Club phone line for Pine Lakes and Indian Mound912-635-2368. Online booking is available but tee times are nonrefundable when booked online.
- 2Cancellations require 48 hours noticeChange or cancel by phone only during business hours. Credit cards are charged automatically if you miss a tee time without notice.
- 3Great Dunes uses a separate lineCall 912-635-2170 for Great Dunes tee times. It books separately from the other three courses.
- 4Rates change by time of dayEarly morning 8am-noon slots run $75 for 18 holes. Afternoon rates drop to $55 after noon and $50 after 2pm. Walking saves another $35.
- 5Pine Lakes is the premium courseAt $95/18 holes, it is the highest-rated and highest-priced of the Jekyll tracks. Book it for the best playing experience.
Common mistakes
- !Missing the Great Dunes historyWalter Travis designed this course in 1927 as his final project. It reopened in fall 2025 after a full restoration. Playing it as a throwaway 9-hole warmup misses the significance.
- !Driving past the causeway toll without preparationJekyll Island charges a $10 per vehicle daily parking/access fee at the causeway. Keep cash or a card accessible.
- !Expecting Sea Island-level course qualityJekylls courses are well-maintained public tracks on a state-owned island. The maintenance standard is solid but the design is not at the same level as Sea Island or Harbour Town.
- !Not combining with Sea IslandThe 10-mile drive to Sea Island for one round dramatically upgrades the overall trip quality. Skip it and you are leaving the best nearby golf unplayed.
- !Underestimating the walking distancesThe island is small but the courses are spread out. Do not assume you can walk between courses on foot.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + Pine LakesDrive from JAX or SAV. Afternoon Pine Lakes. Bike loop of the island historic district.
- Day 2Sea Island SeasideMorning Sea Island Seaside. Afternoon St. Simons Island village and shops.
- Day 3Indian Mound + Great DunesMorning Indian Mound. Afternoon Great Dunes 9-hole loop on the Atlantic oceanfront -- the historic round.
- Day 4DepartMorning Sea Island Retreat or Sanctuary Cove. Afternoon drive to JAX or SAV.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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