Retreat Course at Sea Island Resort
The relaxed one of the three. Davis and Mark Love redesigned it in 2001. About 300 more yards and wider fairways than before give it an open feel, framed by Georgia pines, oaks and bunkers. It sits apart from Seaside and Plantation, with its own clubhouse.
Can your group play here?
| Who can play | Resort guests and members | Third-party, confirm |
|---|---|---|
| How to book | Through the resort with your stay. The Sea Island Golf Package pre-arranges your rounds with a three-night minimum. | From the course |
| Group size | The golf package covers parties of 11 golfers or fewer. Groups of 12 or more book through Sea Island group sales. | From the course |
| Forecaddie | Not included or required. Available as an extra if you ask more than 24 hours ahead. | From the course |
| Walking caddie | Not yet confirmed | Asking the course |
| Pace of play | 4 hours 20 minutes or faster, enforced by course staff | From the course |
| Fivesomes | Not yet confirmed | Asking the course |
Course? Confirm or correct these details and we'll mark them "Confirmed by the course." How we check facts
Getting there
Most groups fly into Jacksonville (JAX): 26 of the 27 cities with nonstops land there. Brunswick (BQK) is closer, but only Atlanta flies there nonstop.
See all 27 cities with nonstops
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Flights: U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Segment (all carriers), 2025-08 to 2026-07. Drive times are estimates; traffic varies.
Where it fits in your trip
- Play Retreat on arrival day or the last morning. Wide fairways and no forecaddie to wait on make it the easy round of the trip. source
- Retreat is the backup during RSM Classic week, when Seaside and Plantation close (2026: Nov 16-22). source
- Retreat is set apart from the other two courses. Resort guests at The Cloister, Cottages and The Inn get a shuttle to the courses on the golf package; confirm the Retreat run when you book. source
- Check closures. Retreat is closed Nov 2-9, 2026 for overseeding, and July 6 to August 5, 2027 for aerification. source
Games that suit this course
Scramble
The wide fairways forgive the group's worst drivers. Save the scramble for Retreat and keep Seaside for real scores.
Skins
The 6th is a drivable par 4 with a three-tier green. Big hitters can win it with a drive, and anyone can lose it with a putt.
Wolf
Retreat lets everyone swing freely, so more players will want to go lone wolf. It keeps a mixed-skill foursome talking.
Good to know
- Retreat is the lowest-priced round of the three, and the forecaddie is optional. Skip it and there is no forecaddie tip. source
- If you add a forecaddie, plan on a tip per bag. The resort posts recommended gratuities. source
- Resort guests 18 and under pay no green fees. Only cart and caddie fees apply. source
- Restrooms are at holes 6 and 15. source
- Food at the turn: the Davis Love Grill at the Retreat course has grab-and-go food from breakfast through the afternoon. source
- Retreat has family tees with their own scorecard, so a group with mixed skill can all play at once. source
Heads-up before you book
- Seaside reopened October 19, 2026 after a restoration and is cart path only through November 23, 2026. source
- 2026 RSM Classic: Seaside and Plantation close November 10–12 and 16–22. Retreat closed November 2–9 for overseeding, and Plantation is cart path only November 1–23. source
- Late 2026: Plantation closes November 23–26 and November 30–December 2 for overseeding, and member events close Seaside around November 29–December 2. The 2027 RSM Classic closes Seaside and Plantation for much of November 8–21, 2027. source
- Road work ahead: Georgia DOT plans to replace the Sea Island Road bridge over Dunbar Creek, with about 24 months of construction while traffic keeps moving on the old bridge. Allow a few extra minutes on arrival day. source
Checked November 5, 2026. Schedules change, so confirm with the resort.
Stories to tell at dinner
- The Retreat name goes back to Dick Wilson's nine in 1960. Spectators followed the opening round in the first golf carts ever seen at Sea Island. source
- Today's Retreat began as the St. Simons Island Club course. When the Loves finished the redesign in 2001, their mother Penta joined them to cut the ribbon. source
- Davis Love III changed how the course plays so a broad range of players could enjoy it as much as he does. source
Our take
We haven't filmed Retreat Course yet. Our on-course notes and video go here after we play it.
Facts checked November 9, 2026. Access rules and tee-time policies change; confirm with the course before you book.