PGA Tour: 10 Great Things About The RSM Classic

As the RSM Classic winds down, what is it that makes this tournament and its host area so popular among fans and players alike.

Every tournament has a personality.

The Zurich Classic has the ambiance and epicurean delights of New Orleans, and, to borrow a phrase, all that jazz.

The Tournament of Champions is reveals the spectacular island living on Maui, complete with sweeping views of the Pacific.

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At the Shriners Hospitals for Children, you can practically hear the jingle of the slot machines.

The Waste Management Open in Scottsdale, as golf fans know by now is Arizona State north, with students coming out by the tens of thousands to gather around the boisterous 16th hole.

The RSM is none of that, though.

In fact, if hustle and bustle is necessary to your existence, the RSM might not be an event for you. But if you like a laid-back family atmosphere, extreme natural beauty and a golfy setting, it’s hard to beat it. Here’s why.

1. It’s posh:

Leave the car, bring the jet. But only the mid-size. Jets like the Citation X and Gulfstream 150 and smaller can land. Disembark and take a shuttle to the golf course or a limo to the Lodge. No worries about the aircraft noise though, St. Simons will never be like living in the flightpath of JFK or LAX. There are more migrating birds than airplanes.

2. The golf is superb:

The Sea Island Golf Club features The Plantation Course, originally designed by Dick Wilson and renovated by Rees Jones and the Seaside Course, originally designed by Harry Colt and his partners and renovated by Tom Fazio. Both are now used in the RSM Classic. There’s also the Retreat Course which has had touches added by Davis Love III.

3. Fantastic seaside vistas:

The Seaside Course is aptly named, and while watching golf it’s also possible to see monster cargo ships heading into or out of the Port of Brunswick as well as other smaller vessels and pleasure craft. There are marsh and sea views from the 4th, 5th 12th, 13th and 14th holes and the 6th and 15th tees.

4. Seafood paradise:

Any restaurant in the area that says fresh catch probably isn’t kidding. It’s an island surrounded by salt water. How much fresher can you get? Finny and shelled things are abundant and available at many local restaurants like Barbara Jeans which specializes in crab cakes. Word is that their key lime tarts are made by hand.

5. Unique Shops:

St. Simons Island features with fun and distinctive local shops, usually surrounded by a restaurant or two. Davis and Robin Love, for instance, own Paddle & Board in the Redfern Village shopping area. It is devoted to all things paddle boarding. At St. Simons’ Pier Village, there’s the Savannah Bee Company, which is all about honey and honey-based products.

6. Bicycles Allowed:

Residents of St. Simons or those lucky enough to be staying on the island can ride a bike to the tournament. There’s a special rack at the entrance, and it’s almost the easiest way to get to the course.

7. Easy, peasy car parking and tons of buses:

Coming in from the mainland or elsewhere on the island by car is a snap, and parking is at Sea Island airport. While the airport is no more than a couple of par 4s from the golf course, most skip the walk and take one of the cavalcade of large buses that transport almost directly to the 1st hole of each course. You will NOT find a better set up at any tournament.

8. Stunning natural scenery:

From the drive over the Torras Causeway from Brunswick, Georgia, to St. Simons Island, vast coastal marshlands stretch as far as the eye can see, like wheat fields in Kansas or Nebraska. The ocean tides flow in and out of the marshes, and when the tide is high, they glimmer when the sun strikes the water between the reeds.

From the Sea Island Golf Club entry road, there are golf holes as far as you can see until the island is out of land. It’s a broad vista of greens and fairways, dotted here and there with trees and pine straw and golfers. Whether it’s the oxygen pumped out by all the greenery or just the seemingly tranquil setting, it’s a great way to arrive and depart.

9. The Oaks and Spanish Moss:

Live oaks and Spanish moss are as much a trademark of St. Simons as they are at Hilton Head and many southeastern U.S cities. But at St. Simons Island, a lady named Anne Page King planted rows of life oaks on each side of the entrance to the Sea Island Golf Club where the RSM Classic is held. So today, after the Civil War, the Spanish American War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and other named and unnamed long-term skirmishes, they still stand. Gnarled, beautiful, yet foreboding. Walking or driving through them is an Ichabod Crane, Legend of Sleepy Hollow moment.

10. Davis Love III:

This World Golf Hall of Famer-to-be, PGA champ and recently victorious Ryder Cup captain is the ever-gracious tournament host. It’s hard to beat that.

Next: Davis Love III: Ryder Cup Trophy More Popular Than Captain

What makes your favorite tour event so special? Let us know in the comments below!

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