When invited to visit the famed Cloister o Sea Island, Georgia, I jumped at the chance. We had an opportunity to see the McGladrey Tournament, part of the PGA Fall Classic Series. As a golfer (not a good one) and married to a 5 handicapper, I was anxious to see the professionals play on this course that I had played so many years ago when I lived in Atlanta.
Living in Florida, there are golf courses around every corner. But in Georgia it was always a treat to come south to play this world renowned club that rivals Pebble Beach on the West Coast.
We had been here before having stayed in this stately old hotel that was created in 1928 to host friends and family alike to play the golf course created by Mr.Howard Coffin, owner of the Hudson Motor Car Company.
For 75 years, the resort stayed the same....with its chintz curtains and bedspreads, and even the same people serving in the Georgian Room, a stately old restaurant where coat and tie were required morning, noon and night. Families that had been born and raised in Atlanta came every summer to eat great seafood and stay in this resort for the "well heeled". Many of the servers knew these families by name as they returned year after year with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was an old Georgia institution. Every president of the United States has staid in the Cloister during its history and many foreign heads of state as well. Even the G8 Summit was held here .
75 years is a long time for anything, and in 2003, the Cloister got a face lift. Not just a refurbishment....but a complete rework from the ground up. The staid old buildings were demolished but certain special pieces such as fireplaces, paintings and chandeliers,were lovingly kept in storage until the new Cloister was built.
In 2006, with much ado and 1/2 billion dollars in investment by the Sea Island Company,
the resort was reopened to much acclaim and several Mobil awards for fine service and great dining.
Needless to say, I was delighted and very happily surprised to visit the new Cloister. The decor alone is stupendous, much of it done by Ralph Loren designers. The lobby and many of the public areas suggest the Spanish influence felt by this area of Southern Georgia and Florida. Standard rooms are over 700 sq ft and also share wonderful river views as do the many suites that are in the main Cloister building. There is also the Lodge at Sea Island with its great clubby atmosphere and the Beach Club Villas(a super place for kids ad families) and the Ocean Villas that are large enough to live in on a permanent basis.
Best of all, gone are the de rigour coat and tie requirements for breakfast,lunch and dinner.
There are several restaurants on property but the much acclaimed Georgian Room is the only place where coats (but no ties) are requested. If you forget yours at home, they even have "loaners" so you won't be embarrassed.
Golf is the main sport here, but there are bikes to ride, skeet shooting, horses to ride, both on trails or in a ring. There are Hobie cats and day sailors and many more water sports and fishing experiences that you can enjoy as well.
In old Atlanta, we used to say that if you could afford the Cloister, that you style of life was above ordinary. Today at the new Cloister, rates range from a low season $279.00 to the most luxurious suite that is I am sure much more. But prices are very affordable.
So I am totally dumbfounded by the excellence and affordability of the new Cloister Resort on Sea Island. What is not to enjoy?
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