Cornelius Lee, Secretary of the United States Golf Association (USGA), was a member of the Jekyll Island Club from 1919– 1947. He served as the Chairman of the Green Committee for the Jekyll Island Club. In 1924, under his influence, low-to-high handicap golfers conducted a series of equipment tests on Jekyll Island. These tests resulted in the adoption of a lighter ball and steel-shafted clubs for use by the USGA.

The USGA permitted the use of steel-shafted clubs in 1924. In 1931, it also dictated the use of a larger, lighter ball that was very unpopular. After a year the USGA reverted back to a heavier ball but maintained the larger size.

The Change in technology signified a switch to more modern golf equipment. It also represented America’s shift away from the rules of golf established by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in Scotland, which had determined international golf standards since its fomation in 1754.

Tags: cornelius lee, jekyll island golf, jekyll island golf vacation, jekyll island history, usga
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009 | No Comments »

HHCP Architecture design team presents project planning and programming concepts for the revitalization of Jekyll Island beach village and entry corridor projects.

recap of work effort

The HHCP Architecture Design Team started work in April with a fact gathering kick off meeting with Jones Hooks, Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director, and Jim Broadwell, Jekyll Island Authority Project Manager. This was followed by a two day on-Island workshop with Jekyll Island Authority ( JIA) staff and Linger Longer Jekyll, LLC (LLJ) representatives. The purpose of this meeting was to establish the project goals and vision, review design concepts developed prior to the workshop, and to establish direction for future design work. Numerous ideas suggested in the workshop, as well as in follow-up discussions with JIA & LLJ, were subsequently developed and refi ned and have resulted in the conceptual plans for the Beach Village, Beach Park, and Convention Center, shown herein. A user input work session for the Village Signature Park/Boardwalk was held on May 27, 2009. With input from this session and from JIA staff and management, planning was completed in July with presentations to the JIA Board and the public on July 13th and 14th.

budget

The current Project Budget is $44.6 million dollars. JIA is carrying an additional $5 million dollar contingency. This includes all construction, equipment, furnishings and professional fees for all components of the project. Project components include: 1) Beach Village/Beach Park related entry and internal roads, parking, utilities, drainage and amenities; 2) New Convention
Center; 3) Refurbishing of the historic Morgan Building; 4) Providing temporary structures for convention use during 2010 & 2011. Budget estimates show that the current plan direction is within budget.

entry road

The majestic canopy of Jekyll Island’s live oaks will enhance the Beach Village entry experience at Ben Fortson Parkway. The two major roads of Jekyll Island, the Causeway and Beachview Drive, are both two lane roads and provide adequate traffic capacity for the existing and proposed development. The four lanes of Ben Fortson Parkway are presently oversized. The new design will convert the existing eastbound lanes into a two lane entry road. The existing westbound lanes will be used as part of an overfl ow parking lot. All improvements will take advantage of the existing live oaks to enhance the intimate character of the Jekyll Island entry experience.

beach park
Jekyll Island will be providing a newly expanded Beach Park experience. This park will include a walkway along the base of the existing dune tying
the park into the Village Green and retail buildings as well as the hotel development to the south. The Convention Center’s existing parking will be
redesigned to provide parking for the new Convention Center and Beach Park. The new design will have expanded family and group pavilions
with flexible activity lawns to accommodate a wide range of activities. A new beach deck will provide users an elevated view of the beach and
lawn activities. The large shade pavilion will provide restrooms and a comfortable place to enjoy the views and enhance the civic identity. Two new
dune crossovers will be constructed. All beach crossovers will have bicycle parking and showers. Native tree and shrub plantings will enhance the
beachside feel and provide durable, low maintenance vegetation to protect the dunes, provide wildlife habitat and educate visitors on the sensitivity
of barrier islands.

Tags: hhcp architecture, jekyll island beach village, jekyll island development, jekyll island revitalization, north beach park on jekyll island
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009, Press Releases | No Comments »

by Andrea Marroquin, Programming Coordinator

While many Jekyll Island Club Members were known as “Captains of Industry,” lawyer Robert Weeks De Forest was dubbed the “Captain of Philanthropy” for his lifetime of social service.

The Charity Organization Society was just one of many organizations De Forest created to assist others. It coordinated relief for New York’s poor.

Starting the Christmas of 1912, the Charity Organization Society took an active part in the New York Times’ first Christmas fund drive asking its readers not to forget their jobless, orphaned, aged, injured, homeless, and ill neighbors struggling to make ends meet. Headlines read, “Santa Clause please take notice! Here are New York’s 100 neediest cases.” One of four organizations involved in the campaign’s early years, the Charity Organizajtion Society collected stories about the poor and their struggles. It told personal stories of fathers, mothers, small children, and elderly citizens in distress. The appeals did not request money, but simply presented their circumstances and stated their needs.

Aid was given in many ways. People were provided food, shelter, and medicine. The sick and injured were treated. Boys and girls were sent to school and taught skills to help their struggling families. One hundred percent of the funds raised went to the needy, with The New York Times supporting all the costs of the campaign.

Readers rushed to help those in need of Christmas generosity. Some donations were received from the wealthy, but the drive appealed to everyone according to their means. Letters showed that a dollar given by one meant as much as a thousand given by another, and all gifts were sent in the same spirit of generosity and good will. During the Christmas of 1916, De Forest wrote to thank the New York Times for giving readers an opportunity to help. De Forest wrote “The desire on the part of us who are more ‘blessed’ with prosperity to help those who are least ‘blessed,’ is I am glad to say, quite universal among our American people.” Donations poured in from all ages and social classes, and varied from less than one dollar to $1,600, raising $17,000 of Christmas joy that season alone. To De Forest, the Christmas drive was, in part, an opportunity to develop the spirit of giving in the young. “I have been accustomed to encourage each child of my acquaintance to give each year to some particular case on your list and I have provided each with the means for doing so,” he wrote. One child told him she helped a particular family “because the boys are so brave.” Through the touching stories, people came to care about helping others. The “100 Neediest Cases” fund became a year, the “100 Neediest Cases” has raised $250 million.

Robert Weeks De Forest devoted himself to numerous charitable, civic, and cultural activities. President Taft once called his services on behalf of others a “shining record.” Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. Capture the Holiday Spirit this Season!

This holiday season there are many needs in the local community. The Jekyll Island Authority has created some fun and easy ways to make a big difference locally through its sponsorship of United Way of Coastal Georgia. United Way advances the education, health, and financial independence of Glynn and McIntosh Counties through its many partner agencies. Here are some simple ways you can participate in the season of giving on Jekyll Island and help United Way:

United Way Golf Tournament - Support United Way November 14, 2009. 9:00 am Shot-Gun. 2 Person Scramble on Indian Mound’s Course. $50 per person (includes Golf/Cart, Boxed Lunch & prizes). For more information, contact the Jekyll Island Golf Course, 912-635-2368.

Tags: jekyll island club era, jekyll island history, jekyll island museum, jekyll island united way, philanthropy, robert weeks de forest, season of giving, united way golf tournament
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009 | No Comments »

In the early-1940’s, Raccoon Key’s owners built an aquaculture farm for the purpose of raising commercial seafood and freshwater fish. There were six fresh water lakes and a lake that was rotated between freshwater and saltwater that was built as part of the farm. For years, the owners, under the name Marineland Farms, commercially harvested numerous species of seafood and freshwater fish, lobster, crab and shrimp. Due to an increase in freshwater intrusion from the aquifer the ponds could not continue to support commercial quantities of marine life and the owners abandoned their business but kept the island. New owners purchased the Island in 2006 and are excited to open up their paradise to those interested in taking 3 hour day trips to view the magnificent wildlife and pristine beaches that surround Raccoon Key.

Once you depart from the Jekyll Island Wharf Marina, you will be able to enjoy a leisurely 20 minute ride on their roomy 40 passenger boat. You are immediately struck by the beauty of the surrounding marshes and abundance of life, including large amounts of Dolphin and bird life! Unlike most trips to your destination, this one is worth treasuring with its unique views of Jekyll Island and surrounding marshes and tidal rivers.

With over 200 species recorded, bird watching on Raccoon Key is among the finest in the world. Raccoon Key is a stopping point on the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds, including: the American oystercatcher, Wilson’s plover and the least tern. The freshwater lake are filled with white ibis, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, black skimmers and various species of herons, egrets and ducks. The tree lines around the lakes are filled with upland species, including buntings, dove, woodpeckers, redwinged blackbirds, warblers, and wrens. Raccoon Key is now an official part of the Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival with several field trips to which affords the attendees a stunning array of bird activity.

So if your passion is sea shell collecting, bird watching, relaxing on a pristine priaccommodations, full breakfast buffet in the Grand Dining Room, a romantic Getaway? From November 1, 2009 – February 28, 2010, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will be offering 25% off this package rate. The package includes Traditional Queen or King Accommodations for two nights, champagne and fresh fruit upon arrival, and a breakfast buffet each morning! This would be a great gift for parents, aunts, uncles, or even just special friends.

Do you have a golf enthusiast you need to buy for? Starting December 1st and running through January 31st the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will offer guests a “Golfer’s Heaven Package.” Guests can bring their clubs for a free round of golf each day. Rates include accommodations and 18 holes of golf on one of Jekyll Island’s four courses. Rates start at $85.00* per night at the hotel. Whether you are a visitor to the island, or a local Golden Islander, there is something for everyone this holiday season at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel! vate beach or strolling through fresh water lakes inhabited with an array of wildlife, Raccoon Key, just 20 minutes away by boat from Jekyll Island is the perfect day time destination for discovery, memories and adventure.

The Wharf also has two restaurants, The Rah Bar and Latitude 31, with great food and casual atmosphere that is uniquely Latitude 31 or enjoy steamed shrimp, oysters and crab legs at the Rah Bar.

more online

You can book your Raccoon Key trip by contacting the Jekyll Wharf Marina at 912-635- 3152. Captain Phillip can also be reached by email at tours@goldenislesfun.com Also please visit their website for pricing and schedules: www.raccoonkey.info

Tags: goldenislesfun.com, jekyll island tour, jekyll wharf marina, raccoon key
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009 | No Comments »

A bountiful Thanksgiving Day Brunch is an annual sell-out in the Grand Dining Room (11:00 a.m. – 2:30 pm.) and the Courtyard at Crane Cottage (11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.). Guests will enjoy a vast array of salads and appetizers, omelets and waffles, carving stations, a variety of vegetables and accompaniments, and delectable desserts. The Grand Dining Room also serves Thanksgiving Dinner (6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) and the Crane Cottage continues to serve an a la carte menu. For families looking for the “at home experience” of quality time together, the hotel also offers wonderful private dining spaces. Reservations are required for all meals, so call now!

And, with the holidays just around the corner, don’t forget the annual Jekyll Island Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov.28th (4:30 p.m.). Visitors are invited to the hotel lawn in the Historic District to welcome Santa Clause to town! On December 2nd at 4:00 p.m. guests are invited to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel to enjoy it in all of its Christmas finery, as the guide takes you on a candlelight tour of the Grand Dining Room, lobby, and all public areas.

For those history buffs, you may want to be taken back in time to see what Christmas was like through the years. From December 5th thru December 31st, you can venture inside the cottages of Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District and experience the holidays from the Victorian Era to the Jazz Age with the museum’s “Holidays in History” tour.

Always a holiday favorite, the hotel will be hosting a Gingerbread House making workshop on December 5th at 10:00 a.m. The Hotel’s famous pastry chefs will be prepared to host this family friendly 2-hour event. Put themtogether, ice, decorate, and take home and enjoy! On December 12th, gather in the Boar’s Head Lounge at 7:30 p.m. for a toast to Christmas Present. Follow the merrymakers into the Grand Dining Room for a holiday feast and musical dinner theatre. Based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the Atlanta acting company revisits Christmas with Tiny Tim and a host of other characters.

Santa will be making another appearance on December 13th, and Jolly Old Saint Nick will be welcoming children with a great big “Ho-ho-ho” and an invitation to share their Christmas wishes and stories. Enjoy lunch at the Courtyard at Crane before or after! Leading up to Christmas Day, December 19th- 24th, Scottish bagpiper Tim Akins will celebrate the season and will play traditional holiday favorites while parading toward the Riverfront Veranda from the Cottages. As sunset approaches, he advances to the banks of the Jekyll Rivers for a last salute.

On December 23rd, at 5:30 p.m., don your hats and mufflers and meet on the Riverfront Veranda ready to sing your favorite carols at Crane and Cherokee Cottages, the Club and Sans Souci.

Want to get a head start on holiday shopping? Then give the gift of history and fun with a wonderful vacation package to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. During the holiday season the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is offering a variety of great packages for guests. From November 29th thru December 29th guests are invited to take advantage of the “Christmas at the Historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel Package.” The package features Traditional or Club priaccommodations, full breakfast buffet in the Grand Dining Room, a romantic Getaway? From November 1, 2009 – February 28, 2010, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will be offering 25% off this package rate. The package includes Traditional Queen or King Accommodations for two nights, champagne and fresh fruit upon arrival, and a breakfast buffet each morning! This would be a great gift for parents, aunts, uncles, or even just special friends.

Do you have a golf enthusiast you need to buy for? Starting December 1st and running through January 31st the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will offer guests a “Golfer’s Heaven Package.” Guests can bring their clubs for a free round ofgolf each day. Rates include accommodations and 18 holes of golf on one of Jekyll Island’s four courses. Rates start at $85.00* per night at the hotel. Whether you are a visitor to the island, or a local Golden Islander, there is something for everyone this holiday season at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel!

more info

Please contact the hotel for details, certain restrictions apply:
(912) 635-2600 www.jekyllclub.com

Tags: Holiday Island on Jekyll Island, jekyll island accommodations, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island hotels
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009 | No Comments »

The Sea Turtles injured by cold stunning caught a private  flight to come to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. See the details in this video.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtles
Posted in In the News | No Comments »

Thirty years ago, PGA Golf Pro Johnny Paulk and friends, H.P. Weldon and Frank Inman, decided to put together a “little” golf tournament geared toward University of Georgia football fans . . .

Every October, these three avid golfers watched as UGA fans flocked to Jekyll Island before the big Georgia-Florida football showdown in Jacksonville, FL. The island was filled with team spirit and competitiveness. Paulk, Weldon, and Inman decided to channel this excitement into a one-day golf tournament. This “little” golf tournament was the birth of the annual Georgia-Florida Golf Classic which is now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary and has become the biggest amateur golf tournament in Georgia.

Forty golfers teed off for that first tournament in 1979 to play one round, in one day, with the winning team taking home new golf bags. The Georgia-Florida Golf Classic has evolved since then with 576 players participating last year in the two-day, 36-hole competition. Now, the winning team not only receives bragging rights, but also the exclusive Georgia- Florida Golf Classic ring. Additionally, the top 75 teams receive prizes from vendors like Nike, Callaway, Odyssey, Cobra, TaylorMade and Cleveland. And, if that’s not enough, the players and their dates enjoy a cocktail party, an oyster roast with entertainment by the Swingin’ Medallions, a putting contest, a wine & cheese party, a doubles tennis tournament, and a ladies’ luncheon.

Today Mr. Paulk continues to lead the tournament as Tournament Director. However, he will tell you he could not pull this tournament together if it were not for his lovely wife, Virginia, the Jekyll Island Authority, and 110 volunteers.

“It is a lot of work, but it is worth it,” says Paulk. “A golf tournament is just what Jekyll Island and the fans need to get the party started.”

By encouraging camaraderie and promoting good sportsmanship during one of the most competitive rivalries in college sports, Johnny Paulk embodies his legacy as one of Georgia’s, and Jekyll Island’s, greatest sportsmen. The Jekyll Island Authority, tournament players, and volunteers all appreciate his dedication and hard work. We look forward to another great Georgia-Florida Golf Classic and many more years to come.

more online

The Georgia-Florida Golf Classic runs October 28-30th at the Jekyll Island Golf Course. For more information and GA /FL Golf Classic Registration, please visit us online: www.jekyllisland.com/georgiaflorida

Tags: georgia florida golf classic, golf tournament, jekyll island golf, jekyll island golf tournament, johnny paulk
Posted in Beachscape, November 2009 | No Comments »

SC, Ga., hosting 3 injured sea turtles - AP State GA - Ledger-Enquirer.com.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtles
Posted in In the News | No Comments »

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. - Country and oldies are blasting through speakers on the roof of the Jekyll Island Resort clubhouse.

Once in a while, a tape of legendary Georgia radio announcer Larry Munson calling Lindsay Scott’s game-winning touchdown against Florida in 1980 is slipped in.

Read the whole story here:

Georgia-Florida Classic weaved into fabric of rivalry | Jacksonville.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

We asked some of the ladies playing in the putting contest and some of the guys warming up on the driving range, what was their favorite part of the Georgia Florida Golf Classic:

Tags: georgia beaches, georgia coast, georgia florida golf classic, golf tournament, golf tournaments, jekyll island golf, jekyll island vacation
Posted in Diversions, Wild Georgia Golf | No Comments »