Free Room Upgrade at the Oceanside Inn & Suites on Jekyll Island from May 1st – 31st
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

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Thought we’d share a letter the General Manager of the new Hampton Inn & Suites on Jekyll Island received from a guest:
When winter is just a memory and warm breezes remind the family of good times on Jekyll Island, it’s hard to get the car packed and down the driveway soon enough.
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel each year welcomes families from across the country and many from abroad. This time of year, the landscapers have nurtured the lawns and gardens, the chefs have created exciting new menus for the season, and the accommodations have the charm and appeal of a life of elegant leisure. Special packages have been created to accommodate families on a budget. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is the ideal location for a family getaway or reunion. Situated on this beautiful barrier island with ten miles of ocean beach, the hotel offers an adventure opportunity for every member of the family. The Grand Dining Room and the Courtyard at Crane restaurants offer gourmet dining. The kid-friendly favorites are Café Solterra, a bakery/delicatessen and the Poolside Grill (open seasonally).
In this historic landmark setting, the choices for customizing a family reunion are many. For example, several cottages may be reserved for the exclusive use of the family. One of these, Cherokee Cottage, has ten rooms and suites plus a spacious area for the family to gather for those memorable, cozy evenings together. The Sans Souci building, which has 24 rooms and suites, also has two beautifully appointed hospitality rooms. Crane Cottage, an Italian Renaissance structure, has 13 rooms and suites as well as the Courtyard at Crane restaurant for alfresco and indoor dining. Arrangements may be made for volleyball on the lawn or beach, a croquet tournament, or a shrimp boat excursion. The Hotel also has a photographer for hire (available by appointment) to take family photographs and group portraits.
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Betty N. Mori, who has coordinated her family’s reunion here, described her experience in a recent interview. We have had several family reunions, five or six, at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Several generations of us gather for this important tradition. Many times, we’ve gathered at Thanksgiving. Family members of all ages begin appearing at the hotel on Wednesday night from various parts of the country. They bring their little children, and one family member is in his mid 80’s. For some, it’s the only visit of the year, and we’re so very glad to see one another.
This year it was my turn to coordinate the event at the Club, and we expected 60-100 people. The hotel has some wonderful, professional people who helped with everything we needed. From Sales to Catering, they handled it graciously. Our Thanksgiving dinnerin the Club Ballroom was, well… wonderful. Our sales representative suggested the hospitality suite in the Sans Souci building as a central meeting spot, and it was lovely. At the last reunion, we organized a trip on a shrimp boat, and we had such fun. Later some of the family took a nature walk while others visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. I just cannot think of a better place to have a family reunion.
Every member of your family will find exciting, fun things to do together at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. For information or reservations contact the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, 371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA, 31527, call 912-635-2600 or 800-535-9547, e-mail sales@jekyllclub.com or visit our web site at www.jekyllclub.com
Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s Golden Isles, delights travelers with its rich history and natural beauty. Whether you’re seeking a weekend away with your honey or a family-friendly vacation, this place has it all and is a mere stone’s throw from Atlanta. Read the full article here.

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Build an eco-friendly, beachside hotel using sustainable practices to help preserve one of the eastern seaboard’s few remaining true maritime forest and dune eco-systems. The developers of the new Hampton Inn & Suites on Georgia’s Jekyll Island did just that when building the barrier island’s first new hotel in 35 years.
New Castle Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel ownership and development company and third-party manager, and co-developers Jekyll Ocean Oaks, LLC, an affiliate of the ownership group of the island’s existing Jekyll Island Club Hotel, followed an extensive set of guidelines, adopted by the Jekyll Island Authority, that require development respect and preserve the unique natural environment and historic character of the island. Developers applied a range of conservation practices throughout the building process, and incorporated sustainability practices into the hotel’s operation, including:
The 138-room Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island opened in January 2010, the first new hotel to be built on the island in 35 years. Among Georgia’s 14 barrier islands, Jekyll Island is one of just four accessible by causeway.
“The days are warm, the azaleas are in bloom, and the beach is perfect for walking and sunbathing. And for our guests who think the ocean is a bit chilly, we have a large new heated pool and a hot tub.”
Located on 2,500 feet of beachfront property, the Days Inn & Suites boasts 84 tastefully decorated, very affordable guest rooms and 40 oceanfront suites with kitchenettes. The hotel, which completed a $4.5 million renovation in 1999, has a number of attractive amenities, including a complimentary continental breakfast (some say it’s the best on the island!) served to all guests on the second floor of the inn overlooking the Atlantic.
The famed Historic District of Jekyll, with its majestic Jekyll Island Club, quaint shops, and fascinating museums is only minutes away. Rent a bike at the hotel and tour this scenic island that in the late 1800s and early 1900s was the exclusive retreat of the Vanderbilts, Morgans, Goodyears, Pulitzers, and other wealthy American families.
The Days Inn & Suites offers several exciting vacation packages. “The Treasure Island package is one of our most popular,” says Shirley. “It includes accommodations for two people for two nights with deluxe continental breakfast each morning, a Jekyll Island Historic Tour, and a dinner/gambling cruise on the Emerald Princess casino ship. Guests also receive a unique island treasure as a gift upon arrival, two themed t-shirts, and a $50.00 dinner voucher for two at an island restaurant.”
The hotel’s new Land and Sea package is also very popular. It includes a 90-minute guided dolphin cruise along the Intercoastal Waterway of Jekyll Island, four hours of bike rental for two (choice of two bikes or surrey), dinner voucher for $50.00 to Latitude 31 restaurant overlooking the water in the Historic District, and a tour of the acclaimed Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Golfing and other packages are also available. To learn more and to make reservations, visit daysinnjekyll.com, or call 888-635-3003. Reservations for packages must be made at least five days in advance of arrival.
I recently read an article about two young boys playing in a junior tournament. One was smaller in stature than the other was and his game was one or two clubs shorter in distance. Halfway through the match the larger boy was asked how he was playing. He responded by saying that he was losing and the smaller young man was “getting it up and down from the garbage cans and that this was driving him crazy.” The smaller boy won the tournament. After, the smaller of the two boys was asked how he developed such a phenomenal short game. It turns out that he had been in an accident and was only able to chip and putt for the past two years. Through his love of the game and practicing, his lack of distance meant nothing to him or his performance level. This is the perfect example of the importance of a sound short game, solid chipping & putting.
The first element of a sound short game is putting. While putting is very individualized, there are certain things to practice to make your shot more consistent. The first thing is getting your eyes directly over the ball allowing the putter to move along the intended target line. Second is to work on the length of the backswing. Most players tend to take the putter back too far and decelerate through the stroke. A good way to develop a consistent stroke is to take the putter back only as far as the right foot. This will help make a good accelerating motion through the ball. However, a few drills incorporated into your practice routine will help improve putting; for example, putting 3 or 4 foot putts, while looking at the hole, will put your focus on your target. It will be surprising how easy these short putts become with practice.
Another critical element to a sound short game is chipping. This shot generally lies 4 to 6 feet from the green in the second cut. When presented with this shot I have found that players are in the habit of using just one club. They fail in the shot before they ever attempt it. They get infatuated with getting the ball in the air when in fact the ball has a better chance of going in if it is rolling. The chip shot is very simple if players set up in a manner that will allow them to get the ball close to the hole. A good rule of thumb is the 1/3 – 2/3 rule. Let the length of the shot determine which club you choose. Ideally, the club chosen is one which will direct the ball towards the target with the first 1/3 of the distance in the air and with the remaining 2/3 distance rolling on the ground. Therefore, for a shorter shot the choice may be a sand wedge or pitching wedge. A little longer shot an 8 iron would be needed. Longer then that a 6 iron does the trick and so on, all the way to a hybrid club for the longest of chips. Players need to help execute this shot by setting up properly. Primarily the club head must never pass the hands. The hands should always lead. Set up with a narrow stance, slightly open with 60% more of the weight on the left side. The ball is played off the right foot in order to set the hands well ahead of the club head. Remember what was previously said about deceleration? A long backswing and slowing through the hitting area will not work. Make the motion as if it was a putt. In essence, putting with a lofted golf club, having the proper set-up, using all of the appropriate clubs and utilizing the putting stroke will improve your chipping.
So the next time you have practice time available, do not spend it all beating balls on the range. Use a portion of that time to practice chipping and putting for they are the keys to lower your scores.
Thanks for Sharing Jake and Stone!
Reposted with permission from travelgracenotes.blogspot.com
Travels with Jake and Stone: A Paradise Lite.
We were in the area for a wedding on St. Simons Island and decided to stay an extra day to go to the georgia Sea Turtle Center and experience Jekyll Island. Our side trip to the center was so worth staying an extra evening. The center was interesting and the staff was very informed and willing to share information and respond to questions.


Juggling obligations for work, school, family and relationships, a woman’s life can get hectic. When it comes time to take a breather, nothing does it better than a getaway with female family members or girlfriends for a weekend of relaxation, rejuvenation and a little retail therapy.
With your confidantes along to provide comedy, conversation and companionship, a visit to one of these three Southeastern destinations is sure to put the pep back in your step.
Jekyll Island, Ga.
Girlfriends who like to travel in style can appreciate a weekend at the grand, historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel (www.jekyllclub.com). The girlfriends’ getaway package includes a two-bed room for two nights, breakfast buffet, bottle of wine, bicycle rentals with picnic lunch, massage and Victorian tea, starting at $775.
Sun worshipers may be content to loll by the pool or on the beach all day, but more active types will find tennis, golf, kayaking, horseback riding, bicycle riding and more.
Shopping options are plentiful along Pier Road and in the Historic District. Just By Hand sells handcrafted items, and The Commissary carries specialty coffees and teas.
● Stay: Jekyll Oceanfront Resort. This Clarion beachside property features 260 rooms and villas. Rates start at $80. 975 N. Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, 912-635-2531. www.jekyllinn.com
● Eat: Latitude 31 Restaurant & Lounge. Seafood, including fresh-caught Georgia wild shrimp and seafood crepes. $15-$25. 1 Pier Road. 912-635-3800, www.latitude31andrahbar.com
● Info: Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. 912-265-0620, www.brunswick-georgia.com
Jekyll Island Club Member Charles Meldrum Daniels won 8 medals over three Olympic tournaments (1904, 1906, and 1908), including 5 Gold Medals, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronzes. Daniels was the first American to win an Olympic swimming event. He modified the Australian crawl into what became the “American crawl” and developed the freestyle breaststroke. Setting world records at every distance from 25 yards to one mile, he became known as “the greatest swimmer in the world.”
Jekyll Island Club Member George J. Gould was appointed an honorary Vice President of the 1906 Olympic Committee in Athens by H.R.H. Crown Prince Constantine of Greece. At the 1908 Olympics in London, George Gould’s son, Jay Gould II won a Gold Medal in Court Tennis the only year the event appeared. Later termed the “monarch of court tennis for more than a quarter of a century,” Jay practiced tennis on Jekyll Island at his Uncle Edwin Gould’s luxurious Gould Casino. The Gould Casino contained numerous amenities, including two bowling alleys, a rifle range, a private indoor tennis court, several outdoor tennis courts, and a greenhouse.
Jekyll Island Club Members and Guests George Gould, J. P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie all served as Vice-Presidents on an Olympic Committee formed to create interest in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, referred to as the Fifth Olympiad.
Jekyll Island Club Member Henry Francis Sears vacationed annually on Jekyll Island, staying at Moss Cottage with his wife, Jean Struthers Sears, and their family. His marksmanship earned him a spot at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. The 50-year-old participated in three Olympic shooting events. He made his strongest showing in the Free Pistol Team Event, earning the Americans a Gold Medal.
James “Stillman” Rockefeller enjoyed family getaways on Jekyll Island as a child. The grandson of Club Member William Rockefeller and future son-inlaw to island visitor Andrew Carnegie, he captained a crew at Yale and rowed with his team to victory in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. The “Yale 8” won by fifteen seconds and three boat lengths. The oars from the winning boat and his Gold Medal remained his most treasured possessions his entire life. When he died at 102 years old, Stillman Rockefeller was the oldest living Olympic Gold Medalist.
Dwight Filley Davis is famed as the founder of the Davis Cup. In 1904, he directed the St. Louis Olympics and participated in the tennis events, but was eliminated in the second round of the Men’s Singles and lost in the quarter finals of the Men’s Doubles. He then served on the American Olympic Committee for the 1906 Athens Olympics. As a younger brother of Jekyll Island Club Member John Tilden Davis, Dwight Davis spent time as a guest of the Jekyll Island Club. He served with many other tennis greats on a committee for Jekyll Island’s annual invitation tennis tournament that began on Washington’s Birthday and drew many star players to the island.
Watson Washburn played on the 1924 Olympic team in Paris along with Dick Williams, Hazel Wightman, and Helen Wills. In the Men’s Doubles, Washburn played with Dick Williams, his former Harvard teammate, but they lost in the quarter finals when the South African team came back to win after trailing by two sets to one. Washburn later travelled to Jekyll Island to win an invitation doubles tennis tournament in 1940. The manager of the 1924 Olympic tennis team was none other than Washburn’s brother-in-law, Jekyll Island Club Member Julian Southall Myrick. While serving as Olympic team manager, Myrick teamed up with Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman to play a mixed doubles match against Vincent Richards and Queen Victoria of Spain. Myrick and Wightman lost.
On February 12-28, 2010, athletes will be competing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the 21st Winter Olympics. Jekyll Island Club Members and Guests have been part of the Olympic tradition for over a century. This year become part of that tradition and watch the legacy unfold from Jekyll Island.

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The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is pleased to announce a new offering — the Hampton Inn and Suites located in the new Jekyll Ocean Oaks development on the south end of Jekyll Island. The beachfront Hampton Inn and Suites will be jointly owned by New Castle and Jekyll Ocean Oaks, LLC, the owner-operator of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
Located minutes away from Jekyll Island’s historic district, the Convention Center, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and world class golf courses, the new facility will offer 138 guest rooms, 88 of which are suites with balconies.
The property utilizes solar panels for water heating, and the hotel is a member of the “Green” Hotel Association, a group of environmentally-friendly properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste.
Surrounded by 14.5 acres of beachside and maritime forest, the Hampton Inn and Suites provide the ideal environment for a weekend getaway, family vacation or small corporate events.
Features & Amenities • The Cloud Nine Bed — the “better than home” bedding experience available in all 138 guest rooms which include the 88 suites • Suites with balconies and beachfront views • All rooms with 32” flat screen TV s, mini fridge, a microwave oven and a coffee maker • FREE high-speed internet access • FREE On the House™ Hot Breakfast Buffet • Lobby Bar • Outdoor swimming pool, an expansive pool deck, a kid’s pool, and a large hot tub. • Beach access • Whirlpool • Fitness room • Bicycle Rentals • 400 sq ft executive meeting facilities • Onsite Business Center
more | Call (203) 447-7070
online | www.jekyllislandhamptoninn.com.
location | 200 Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island
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Thanks for sharing Jake and Stone!