It is situated on a piece of property formerly called Retreat Plantation, where the famed Sea Island cotton was produced during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The drive up the golf club's Avenue of Oaks, if not quite Magnolia Lane, still speaks volumes about the aura of the place. Huge trees line both sides of the narrow thoroughfare, leading up to a surprisingly modest clubhouse containing a small golf museum and wood-paneled locker rooms. Although some of the holes have undergone changes over the years to keep up with the pace of equipment technology, they remain coherent and fun to play in any of eight different combinations. The unquestioned gem of the group is the 3,405-yard Seaside course, laid out in 1929 by the English designers Henry Colt and Charles Allison.
Massive bunkers frame the holes, which are generally wide open but tough nonetheless.
Seaside's seventh hole is a beauty and a beast. It stretches to 425 yards and requires the tee shot to carry at least 200 yards over the marsh that extends up the left side. To the right is a gaping bunker that looks as if it could host a small wedding party, pinching the landing area to about 20 yards. It's as intimidating as Sea Island gets. The Plantation is the oldest of the resort's courses, laid out in 1927 by Walter Travis.