Golf prodigy Tadd Fujikawa wasn’t planning to leave his hometown of Honolulu and live in coastal Georgia, it just sort of happened.
At age 15, he was the youngest person to play in the U.S. Open in 2006. He quickly hit another golf record when, at age 16, he was the youngest in a half-century to make a PGA Tour cut.
“A lot of opportunities presented themselves quickly. So, my mom and I packed up and moved after high school, leaving Hawaii for St. Simons Island, Georgia, to be close to top golf instructors,” Fujikawa says.
Located on the southeastern coast of Georgia, St. Simons Island is one of four barrier islands, plus the city of Brunswick, that make up the Golden Isles. Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island are the other three islands protecting mainland Georgia from the Atlantic Ocean.
After a few years living in the Golden Isles and playing golf professionally, Fujikawa was looking for an outlet off the putting green. So, he picked up a paddle. He started playing tennis and then moved to Pickleball. “Any chance I got, any free time I had, I was playing pickleball,” Fujikawa says.
All that time on the court paid off. Fujikawa transitioned out of professional golf and into pickleball. Now he is one of two pickleball pros teaching and practicing in The Golden Isles.
“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America and it’s been really cool to see a sport flourish the way it has. It’s something for all ages, something people can do with their families,” Fujikawa says.
While professional golf brought Fujikawa to the Golden Isles, his career in pickleball, combined with the area’s mild weather, beach atmosphere, and natural beauty is what makes him stay.
“It’s an idyllic place to live,” Fujikawa says. “I appreciate the tight-knit community and coming from Hawaii, I do love being on the coast by the beach. It’s a quiet, relaxing place to live and visit, but there are enough amenities and events going on to never get bored.”
Situated between marshlands and the Atlantic Ocean coast, the Golden Isles are the perfect backdrop for a relaxing vacation that centers around outdoor activities.
“There are miles of beaches, great restaurants, championship golf courses, rivers, and salt marshes for boating and watersports,” says Fujikawa. “It’s a great place year round, but spring and fall are my favorite seasons. The temperatures are moderate and in fall, the marsh grass turns golden. That’s how the area got its name.”
Each area of the Golden Isles offers something different. Brunswick is called “the gateway to the Golden Isles.” It’s a historic port city with a downtown known for Victorian architecture. St. Simons Island is the largest and most diverse of the isles; Sea Island is known for its luxury resorts and world class golf courses; Jekyll Island is more laidback and known for wide secluded beaches; and Little St. Simons Island is the most underdeveloped, accessible only by boat.
Fujikawa shared his tips for making the most of a trip to the Golden Isles.
STAY
There are a variety of accommodations spread across the Golden Isles, from grand beachfront resorts to remote lodges, there’s something for every vacation desire.
Perhaps the most well-known resort in the area is the Cloister at Sea Island. The Spanish Mediterranean-style property is set on 50 acres and was designed by renowned Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner in 1928. In 2003, the original property was razed and a new structure was built closely following and preserving the original architecture. The Cloister’s 265 guest rooms and suites offer sweeping views of the Black Banks River, the Atlantic Ocean, and the salt marsh.
“Some of my favorite food in the Golden Isles is served at the Cloister,” Fujikawa says. “It’s a great place to stay, the history is really special, but the dining experiences really stand out.”
For those looking for a more intimate accommodation, the Lodge at Sea Island is a 58-room hotel and golf clubhouse located at the end of St. Simons Island’s historic Avenue of Oaks. These live oak trees are over 160 years old and iconic to the area.
”The Lodge is beautiful, it’s more intimate and has a really great feel, like an English country manor hideaway. It’s well situated, with three golf courses and right on the water, too,” Fujikawa says.
“If you’re looking for a more remote experience, the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island is the place for you,” he adds. .
Accessible only by boat, the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island is the ideal accommodation for the naturalist who wants to get away from it all. The lodge accommodates 32 guests who get to enjoy the island’s 11,000 acres and 7 miles of private beaches. The island provides a great atmosphere for outdoor activity and exploration with centuries-old moss-covered live oaks dotting the land, salt marshes, bike trails, and tidal creeks.
EAT & DRINK
It’s a must to try the area’s quintessential low country cuisine. Typical menu highlights include fresh and local seafood such as oysters, wild Georgia shrimp, snapper, and grouper.
“The Georgian Rooms at the Cloister is a must-do, but one of the more difficult reservations to get. The space is beautiful and the food is delicious,” Fujikawa says.
The restaurant has three dining areas, including a more casual lounge where visitors can dine without a reservation. The lounge menu features sushi and Asian bites. Those who prefer a more fine-dining experience can indulge in the Georgian Rooms’ main dining room or Orangery, a glass-enclosed section of the restaurant that showcases American cuisine with a Southern flair.
“One of my favorite restaurants is Indigo Coastal Shanty in Brunswick. It’s a casual spot that’s a favorite with locals. I like to grab one of their outdoor tables and order the sesame-crusted catfish. But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu,” Fujikawa says.
If you get tired of all the seafood, Colt & Alison is a newly renovated steakhouse at the Lodge at Sea Island. “It’s near the Sea Island golf courses and makes for a nice, relaxing meal to end a day on the course,” Fujikawa says.
If you’re looking for a good cocktail, one of the area’s standout bars is Reid’s Apothecary. “They have great craft cocktails and a speakeasy section called the Study,” Fujikawa says.
DO
“There’s so much to do outdoors, you should lean into all the activities: golfing and checking out the beaches are the top two things I recommend,” Fujikawa says. “There are 200 holes across the Golden Isles and my favorite course is the Seaside Course at Sea Island.”
The Seaside Course at Sea Island hosts the annual PGA Tour Event, the RSM Classic, which makes it uniquely special for golf enthusiasts. It’s an oceanfront course with a dramatic layout and is frequently listed among the top 100 golf courses in the U.S.
“In addition to great golf, the Seaside Course always has spectacular sunset views,” Fujikawa says.
If you would rather be by the water, Fujikawa says the beaches on the Golden Isles are not to be missed. “The beaches are all diverse. I love Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. It’s not that crowded and my favorite place on the Golden Isles,” says Fujikawa. Driftwood Beach is known for weathered trees and driftwood that line the sand and make it popular among photographers.
For those who prefer hunting and fishing, Broadfield, Sea Island’s 5,800-acre Sporting Club and Lodge is carved from one of the South’s earliest hunting clubs. Surrounded by expansive live oaks, guests can enjoy a wide array of activities including a rifle and pistol range, freshwater fishing, and the lodge’s extensive hunting grounds for quail, deer, wild turkeys, and doves.
And, of course you have to pick up a paddle and try your hand at pickleball.
“When you’re done with the golf courses and beaches, come visit me on the pickleball court on Sea Island,” Fujikawa says. “I love teaching people about this sport and helping them improve their technique. It’s such an inclusive sport, everyone can give it a try.”
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