Mrs. RCS and I make it a habit to steal away for a couple of long weekends each year, for quick kid-free vacations. We usually do one with some dear friends of ours, and another that’s just the two of us. Can’t express accurately how much these quick respites away from the hustle and bustle of our overfilled days fill our cups. Fill us.
Yall know that we are big fans of Sea Island, but maybe even more so we love St. Simons. So when it aligned with school calendars, camp schedules and our collective work commitments, we finally booked a trip together to The Lodge. Most of our group had all been to the property to experience the nightly Bagpiper’s ballad, but we’d all always stayed in Cottages or the Cloister or locally (actually, usually the Beach Club because… kids)… never within the actual Lodge property. It’s really special.
The Lodge is essentially Sea Island’s golf HQ, but with a TON of non-golf amenities. While golf is the focus, the Lodge is much more than that. First off, there aren’t that many kids around. The facilities aren’t set up like the Cloister or Beach Club with restaurants, pools, activities etc etc, all catered to families. Second, there is a GREAT pool and surrounding grounds that encourage relaxation. Third, the onsite dining options rival those across the causeway, and all just a walk down the staircase away. For this trip, we reserved a room with an incredible view:
The rooms at the Lodge are seriously nice and perfectly sized for an intimate but comfortable long weekend for any couple. The pictures really don’t do fair justice to how light filled and airy the spaces are.
Our drive down from Atlanta was super easy, and since we arrived too early to check in, we stashed our luggage and hit the pool to kick off our long weekend. An hour later, our room was ready and we settled in quickly. We had 2 couples from Atlanta joining and connected with another couple that lives on the island for pre-dinner cocktails on the veranda, taking in all the views.
After drinks, we made our way over to a group reservation at Colt & Alison (sorry no pics – no phones allowed) and dinner was incredible. We had a private table in the wine room surrounded by the restaurant’s collection. Steaks are definitely the focus, rounded out with an abundance of local seasonal veg. I had the New York Strip, and Mrs. RCS had the Catch of the Day. It turned into a very long dinner, as we were all blowing off some serious steam from our trip(s) down, catching up on everything and realizing that none of us had kids to put to bed. It was a GREAT night.
We got up on Saturday morning and took a lazy drive up to Darien. Our friends own property on the marsh, and we went to go check it out. Darien is a seriously cool little town. It’s experiencing an initial wave of outside investment, which seem to be the current theme of quiet coastal towns. We stopped for lunch at local’s favorite Mudcat Charlie’s, then high-tailed it back to the Lodge for a long afternoon at the pool.
A long, lazy afternoon at the pool catching up with friends was just what the doctor ordered. It’s a full service resort pool situated right on the water behind the halfway house. Very convenient to the Lodge itself, as well as the putting green and the grounds. If I could recommend anything: the frozen pina coladas are delicious. Add a floater and they are even better…trust me. I tested it for you.
We finished the afternoon with a putting contest over on ‘The Speedway’. We had a BLAST. Our group were the only folks out there, which was fun and doesn’t often happen.
After dominating on the putting course, we all headed in to get cleaned up for dinner. Our crew headed over to Redfern Village where we walked and ate…super casual. The old SSI feel that we all remember from our college days. It’s such a good spot.
The next morning we all got up and did our own thing. The guys did a shooting lesson/5-stand competition at the Shooting School. We had an absolute blast (no pun). They run an incredible operation over there. The staff is wonderful (Mr. Phil!), and the dogs are as friendly as you’d expect. A true sportsman’s paradise. They are well connected with Broadfield, where I’m working on a quail hunt this Fall.
After shooting, we headed back to the Lodge to change clothes, grab a quick bite in the Locker Room, and teed off on Seaside. We were blessed with the weather: it was low 80s, sunny, and very low humidity. Add in the soft breeze, and it couldn’t have been better. The course was set up for the Women’s Amateur event, so it was tough. Especially the greens. We had a fantastic time – I love that course.
The pro shop at Sea Island is well stocked. Lots of great options to commemorate the trip (I’ll cover my haul a little later). Having the pro shop downstairs from our room was dangerous. There were many urges that needed to be fought…
The ladies took the opportunity to head over to the Cloister to visit the spa, do some shopping, and have a late lunch at the Beach Club. The Spa at the Clositer is NOT to be missed, ladies… it’s one of Mrs.RCS’s favorites and is a must do for anyone, and Day Passes are available for those staying off property that want to enjoy this special place. As typical, arrive early for a nice steam in the Sauna before treatment, and don’t miss the Mineral Soaking Pool after any massage. There are several areas within the Spa’s property offering tranquil sounds and meditative vistas.
After our adventures, we all met back at the Lodge pool for a quick dip. It was nice to relax for an hour…we all needed it. That night we had dinner reservations at Tavola, which is always a crowd favorite. We headed up to the room to get ready, and met down at the Oak Room bar for martinis and bagpipes, another experience not to be missed!
We headed over to Tavola, and it turned into one of those three hour dinners. LOTS of wine, great pastas, and even better company. Pro Tip: Tavola will split any pasta into a half order… so you don’t have to settle on just one, enjoy a half portion of two. Also: the patio areas between Tavola and the marsh offer the best and most memorable sunsets on the island.
This was a fantatic romantic weekend to unplug. The Lodge absolutely hit the spot. Very friendly vibe. There is no other place quite like The Lodge, whether it’s your first visit or you are a returning guest you will find that the staff is attentive and friendly, the atmosphere is more relaxing than refined and the experiences here truly create vacations that will be long remembered…
High-level Takeaways:
- The Lodge is much more than a golf stop. It is a great spot for a long, romantic, kid-free weekend. The amenities and the vibe are five star.
- All of the restaurants are good. Plan on arriving early for a cocktail and staying through dessert. The Lodge’s options are perfect for the long, lingering dinner. Remember to tip accordingly.
- The staff and servers are some of the best in the world. Not only to they cater to every need, but they are genuinely interesting people. Mrs. RCS and I always enjoy getting to know the team, who subsequently remember us the next time we are down.
- The morning coffee is out of this world.
- Bring down that fun sport coat. Leave your socks at home. In all seriousness, there is a dress code but it’s not the old blue blazers and pleated chinos anymore. Look like you read Red Clay Soul.
- The mattresses and bedding are some of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in. It was tough to get up.
- The activities available at Sea Island are plentiful. Take advantage – they are all world class. Obviously golf, but the Spa, the Shooting School, etc. are all worth visiting.
- Add a floater to your frozen Pina Colada.
EXTRA CREDIT: By comparison, my merch haul was somewhat subdued. To be honest, I have a lot of Sea Island stuff. I did get couple of cotton B.Draddy polos, a t-shirt from Shooting School and a golf glove, then some hats, polos and sun shirts for the boys, and Mrs. RCS got a Christmas Ornament.
Is there a dress code for the putting green behind the main lodge?
Good post. I wish St. Simon’s wasn’t a 7.5 hour drive (plus time change) from BHM.
Drool worthy post and pics. Thanks for sharing!