No Need To Be a Newb
at St. Simons Island’s Hampton Club

by Lisa Moretti<

Subheading: They say that all good deals are done on the golf course, but if you’re not a duffer the whole golf experience can be a little intimidating.  Not to worry, here’s how to feel like a pro while enjoying a great vacation on this barrier island in Georgia!

It’s Like a Secret Decoder Ring

We all know the feeling and the accompanying prayer, “Please God, don’t let me look like total spaz!”  But if your next big deal depends on some green time, pack a bag and head out to St. Simons King and Prince Resort.  Not only is the course gorgeous, the resort lovely, and the Southern Charm…well charming, you’ll also find wonderful golf professionals who will ride the course with you, teach you to putt and drive, and generally encourage you Bela Karolyi-style – “Youcahndoooyit!”

The Hampton Club, which is the home course of the King and Prince Resort, is beautiful; it’s lined with grandfather oaks dripping in romantic Spanish moss, views out to the Atlantic, and specialty grasses grow at each hole to make you a sure-thing golfing legend (at least to your mom.) The wildlife that calls the course home is also stunning – alligators (safely at a distance), osprey, songbirds, but no gophers escort you through acres of beauty.  If you’re going to learn to play the game – do it top drawer and with good company!

But the best part of all, before you even leave home, you can see each hole online (see below for a link) and get a lay of the land.  It’s like getting the other team’s playbook!  The course was designed by the famous golf course designer Joe Lee.  His goal was not to see if he could stump a golfer with a tough course, but to create a course that was both challenging and encouraging to a golfer.  Recently, Billy Fuller who was the Superintendent at Augusta (home of The Masters) came to help enhance the course and create some new vistas.  But both men were/are the type to make it all about you – just the way it should be, right?!

A Little Help Here?

There’s something about Southern gentlemen!  Rick Maddox who runs course and his wily pro Matt are the gentle, mannerly types to help a girl learn a new craft.  The new driving range right by the club house is the perfect spot to begin.  Both men are patient and unintimidating.  In short order you’ll be driving the ball straight and true.

You can also call ahead and make an appointment to have Rick ride the course with you.  (Seriously – golf carts are waaaay too much fun!  Rick just installed a new fleet that makes driving as much fun as the game.)  At each hole, Rick will share with you how best to play that spot and what the hazards are.  He’s also passionate about grass; so get down on your hands and knees with him to see the special breeds that will make your game so much easier.  It will also serve as handy trivia in clutch; as in “Wow, this St. Augustine grass is nice but that new hybrid called Celebration Bermuda and the Mini Verde over on St. Simons is really plush – I love the even lay it has!”  Write it down – Rick will help you out.

Remember This!

Golf is a game that always offers a challenge; not even Arnie plays it perfect every time.  No matter how long you play, you’re always going to have room for improvement.  Take a secret side trip and get your basics on a top-notch course!  You can blithely refer to your latest victory over at the Hampton Club when you’re in the deep soup of the deal to keep your partners off balance.  You don’t have to be the best one out there – you just need to know the basics, know the etiquette, and have a cute pair of shoes. 

The King and Prince have got your back!  You’ll leave your crash course ready to hold your own and not look like a ‘newb.

Getting There:  Fly into either Savannah/Hilton Head International or Jacksonville International.  Savannah is north of St. Simons Island and Jacksonville is just south across the state line in Florida. Rent a car and expect a drive of about an hour.  Hey – it’s worth it!

Photos by David A. Monroe, www.damimagist.com

The King and Prince Resort, www.kingandprince.com. 

Virtual golf course tour, http://www.kingandprince.com/golf/flyover.html