{"id":89780,"date":"2024-02-14T07:01:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T12:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=89780"},"modified":"2024-02-14T07:01:58","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T12:01:58","slug":"hitting-the-green-pickleball-and-natures-beauty-across-georgias-golden-isles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=89780","title":{"rendered":"Hitting the Green, Pickleball, and Nature\u2019s Beauty Across Georgia\u2019s Golden Isles"},"content":{"rendered":"
Golf prodigy Tadd Fujikawa wasn\u2019t planning to leave his hometown of Honolulu and live in coastal Georgia, it just sort of happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cA 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,\u201d Fujikawa says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cAny chance I got, any free time I had, I was playing pickleball,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the fastest-growing sport in America and it\u2019s been really cool to see a sport flourish the way it has. It\u2019s something for all ages, something people can do with their families,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
While professional golf brought Fujikawa to the Golden Isles, his career in pickleball, combined with the area\u2019s mild weather, beach atmosphere, and natural beauty is what makes him stay.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an idyllic place to live,\u201d Fujikawa says. \u201cI appreciate the tight-knit community and coming from Hawaii, I do love being on the coast by the beach. It\u2019s a quiet, relaxing place to live and visit, but there are enough amenities and events going on to never get bored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Situated between marshlands and the Atlantic Ocean coast, the Golden Isles are the perfect backdrop for a relaxing vacation that centers around outdoor activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are miles of beaches, great restaurants, championship golf courses, rivers, and salt marshes for boating and watersports,\u201d says Fujikawa. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s how the area got its name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each area of the Golden Isles offers something different. Brunswick is called \u201cthe gateway to the Golden Isles.\u201d It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Fujikawa shared his tips for making the most of a trip to the Golden Isles.<\/p>\n
STAY<\/strong><\/p>\n
There are a variety of accommodations spread across the Golden Isles, from grand beachfront resorts to remote lodges, there\u2019s something for every vacation desire.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 265 guest rooms and suites offer sweeping views of the Black Banks River, the Atlantic Ocean, and the salt marsh.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of my favorite food in the Golden Isles is served at the Cloister,\u201d Fujikawa says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to stay, the history is really special, but the dining experiences really stand out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s historic Avenue of Oaks. These live oak trees are over 160 years old and iconic to the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201dThe Lodge is beautiful, it\u2019s more intimate and has a really great feel, like an English country manor hideaway. It\u2019s well situated, with three golf courses and right on the water, too,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re looking for a more remote experience, the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island is the place for you,\u201d he adds. .<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
EAT & DRINK<\/strong><\/p>\n
It\u2019s a must to try the area\u2019s quintessential low country cuisine. Typical menu highlights include fresh and local seafood such as oysters, wild Georgia shrimp, snapper, and grouper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 main dining room or Orangery, a glass-enclosed section of the restaurant that showcases American cuisine with a Southern flair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my favorite restaurants is Indigo Coastal Shanty in Brunswick. It\u2019s a casual spot that\u2019s a favorite with locals. I like to grab one of their outdoor tables and order the sesame-crusted catfish. But you can\u2019t go wrong with anything on the menu,\u201d Fujikawa says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you get tired of all the seafood, Colt & Alison is a newly renovated steakhouse at the Lodge at Sea Island. \u201cIt\u2019s near the Sea Island golf courses and makes for a nice, relaxing meal to end a day on the course,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for a good cocktail, one of the area\u2019s standout bars is Reid\u2019s Apothecary. \u201cThey have great craft cocktails and a speakeasy section called the Study,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
DO<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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,\u201d Fujikawa says. \u201cThere are 200 holes across the Golden Isles and my favorite course is the Seaside Course at Sea Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Seaside Course at Sea Island hosts the annual PGA Tour Event, the RSM Classic, which makes it uniquely special for golf enthusiasts. It\u2019s an oceanfront course with a dramatic layout and is frequently listed among the top 100 golf courses in the U.S.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
\u201cIn addition to great golf, the Seaside Course always has spectacular sunset views,\u201d Fujikawa says.<\/p>\n
If you would rather be by the water, Fujikawa says the beaches on the Golden Isles are not to be missed. \u201cThe beaches are all diverse. I love Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. It\u2019s not that crowded and my favorite place on the Golden Isles,\u201d says Fujikawa. Driftwood Beach is known for weathered trees and driftwood that line the sand and make it popular among photographers.<\/p>\n
For those who prefer hunting and fishing, Broadfield, Sea Island\u2019s 5,800-acre Sporting Club and Lodge is carved from one of the South\u2019s 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\u2019s extensive hunting grounds for quail, deer, wild turkeys, and doves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And, of course you have to pick up a paddle and try your hand at pickleball.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re done with the golf courses and beaches, come visit me on the pickleball court on Sea Island,\u201d Fujikawa says. \u201cI love teaching people about this sport and helping them improve their technique. It\u2019s such an inclusive sport, everyone can give it a try.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n