The Sea Island Golf Club is more than just a backdrop for a tournament; it’s a place steeped in decades of golf tradition. Founded in 1927, the club has long been a destination for players seeking seaside fairways and a classic coastal vibe.
Over the years, the resort surrounding the club has grown to include five-star accommodations, including The Lodge at Sea Island, The Cloister, cottages and other amenities, but the heart of the experience remains its legendary courses.
Because of this combination–storied courses, coastal setting, and resort-class hospitality–Sea Island draws not only top pros but also fans and guests looking to soak in the full “Golden Isles” experience.
Two Championship Courses
Seaside Course
The showpiece of the RSM Classic is the Seaside Course. First built in 1929 by famed architects Harry S. Colt and Charles Alison, Seaside has evolved over time, including a major redesign in 1999 by Tom Fazio working with Davis Love III.
Seaside’s character is pure links golf: think tidal creeks, sweeping dunes, salt marshes, and the Atlantic Ocean just beyond the edges of the course.
It’s set up as a 7,005-yard, par-70 test–a layout that rewards shot-making, creativity, and control over brute distance. Because of its coastal exposure, the wind plays a huge role, and no two rounds ever feel the same. A calm morning can turn into a gusty afternoon, changing everything from club selection to strategy.
Seaside’s combination of natural beauty and challenging design has earned it a consistent spot among the top golf courses in the U.S.
Plantation Course
Rounding out the tournament’s venue is the Plantation Course. The original Sea Island layout dates back to 1928, but in 2019, Davis Love III and his brother Mark undertook a full redesign to restore and modernize the course’s character.
Plantation offers a different flavor, though still challenging, with a more traditional parkland-style design. It retains classic features like railroad-tie bunkers, punchbowl greens (notably the “Principal’s Nose” on the 10th, the punchbowl green on the 13th), and a strategic layout that rewards shot placement, course management, and composure down the stretch.
While perhaps more forgiving than Seaside in terms of wind exposure, Plantation still demands respect, especially when conditions turn firm and fast, typical for late-November on Georgia’s coast.
Why Sea Island Tests Every Part of a Pro’s Game
What makes Sea Island such a daunting venue, and a fitting final test of the PGA Tour season, is the breadth of challenges it presents.
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Wind and coastal conditions: On Seaside, wind isn’t just a factor; it’s often the defining factor. A deep understanding of links golf (ball flight, bounce, roll, wind reading) may separate those who contend from those who struggle.
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Strategic shot-making required: Between soft, firm, or variable turf; tidal marshes and dunes; and a course layout that punishes overcommitment, players must think three shots ahead. You can’t just swing for distance–placement and patience often win out.
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Variety and reset: Because the tournament uses two entirely different courses, players must be adaptable. What works on Thursday on Plantation might not carry over to Saturday or Sunday on Seaside. It tests all aspects of a golfer’s arsenal– length, precision, course management, mental toughness.
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Resort environment with distractions: It’s not just the golf. Sea Island offers amenities, accommodations, and social events, which might appeal, but also require discipline and focus from the players. Fitness, rest, recovery, and mental readiness become part of the equation.
Sea Island’s Legacy and the RSM Classic’s Place
Since its inception in 2010 (originally as the McGladrey Classic), the RSM Classic has grown in prestige and become a beloved year-end fixture on the PGA Tour, and it owes much of that to Sea Island itself.
The tournament isn’t just about competition; it’s also a celebration of Sea Island’s heritage, its connection to legendary course designers, and its reputation for combining top-tier golf with southern hospitality. Players, caddies, and fans alike get drawn into the ambiance: ocean breezes, marshland backdrops, high-quality resort lodging, and a sense of history and exclusivity.
The dual-course format ensures that the winner at the end of the week has truly earned it. It’s not just one style of golf or one type of condition that’s conquered; it’s a holistic test across terrain, climate, and design.
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