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.

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.

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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

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

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.

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:

By Captain Vernon Reynolds

Bull Redfish have been King of the hill in Coastal Georgia waters the past couple of weeks. Bull Reds are even hitting trolled jigs, somewhat unusual. Bull Redfish spend most of there life in open ocean waters but for about six weeks in the spring and fall they return to the sound system in which they grew up in. They feed aggressively and are easy to locate due to the fact they return to the same structure every year. Mark the location where you catch a Bull and you may catch one there every year the rest of your life.

The typical fishing method is to bottom fish with live or dead bait. Redfish are scavengers and will eat dead or live bait equally well. Whiting, Poggie and Mullet produce well but any cut fish will do. Crab might be the best bait. You can get crabs free at most seafood shops that carry them. They must be sold alive for table fare, so the dead ones are thrown away. Simply hook the cut fish or crab onto the hook and toss it out with enough sinker weight to keep it on the bottom. Try to place the hook so the bait doesn’t twist in the current. A little twist is OK but a lot will have your line so twisted up you can not fish it. Place the rod in the rod holder and watch the tip of the pole. The tip will lightly bounce a few times before the fish makes a run. Wait until the rod is deeply bent before taking it from the holder and starting to reel. Circle hooks are employed when Bull Red fishing and there is no need to set the hook. The fight will last from five to 15 minutes depending on the weight class of the gear being used. Be sure to revive the fish once it is brought to boat side. Hold his mouth into the current, allowing water to rush over the gills. Once the fish is revived, release it unharmed.

Speckled Sea Trout have also been active the past several weeks. Many boats have been returning to dock with near limit to limits of Trout. These fish are some of the best tasting in our, or any other, area. Trout school this time of the year and feed actively in preparation for the winter migration upriver. Live shrimp is the best bait fished under a float rig. Trout must be over 13 inches in length to keep and there is a creel limit of 15 fish per person.

A few Flounder have been taken recently. Flounder are preparing to move offshore for the winter and can be found along ocean sand bars. Whiting are still active in area sounds. A few King Mackerel are still being found well offshore. These are fish that migrated to the mid-Atlantic states during the summer and are now moving to south Florida for the winter. These fish will move into the area for a day or two and then move on south.

Coastal Expeditions offers charter fishing trips and Dolphin/sightseeing tours. Join us for a fishing trip you will never forget or a Cumberland Island sightseeing tour. Contact Captain Reynolds at (912) 265-0392 or go to coastalcharterfishing.com to book a charter or for further information. Departing daily from Jekyll Harbor Marina.

By Dan Lott

Overlooking the intracoastal waterway and alongside the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, the Jekyll Island Invitational Tournament was played October 23-25 under very favorable weather conditions. It had been 17 years since the last tournament was played there.

The field consisted of eight strong players (four from Georgia and four from Florida). With only one block, each participant played five matches before the seeding of single elimination ladder play on Sunday.

It took several matches before seasoned tournament players Dick Brackett, John Curington, and Ted Knopf adapted to the challenging court, and began to assert their superior style of play.

Absent from the sport for many years, Jim Woodall was the surprise of the tournament going 4-1 in block play to earn the #2 seed position in the ladder. His only block loss was by one point to the eventual champion.

With the exception of a one point loss to Ted Knopf in block play, rising star Derrick Wassink was the dominant force in the tournament. He quickly adjusted to the vicissitudes of the court and overpowered his opponents, earning +48 Net Points in block play.

In the finals, when Ted Knopf stuffed one of his balls in #2 wicket, Wassink hit in and took control of the match, turning in a score of 26-4 to capture the championship trophy.

Log Date: 10/22/2009

Nice hide and thanks to log by mwillefl I knew the coords were about 40′ off and that helped when looking.   I took new coords and they are N 31° 06.082 W 081° 24.854.  My GPS showed 43′ difference and I am adding a waypoint (above) to this log for my coords.  NIce ‘tool box’, not what I expected - smaller and more hi-tech.  TFTC!

Jekyll Island Authority is a proud participant in the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia’s “Coastal Dawgs Unleashed” art fundraiser. The Humane Society’s goal is to raise $200,000, to support the shelter’s daily operational expenses and the capital campaign to build a new shelter by recruiting thirty-area businesses to sponsor Dawgs. Talented artists from the Jekyll Island Arts Association will paint our 4-foot-tall fiberglass bulldog named “Essence” to represent all the wonderful things about Jekyll Island. The dog will be worked on from November - March were final touches will be done live at the Jekyll Island Arts Association’s Art Festival.