Golf
If you’re ready for a much-needed break from reality, why not gather some guy (or girl) friends together and tee it up on Amelia Island? With 99 challenging, yet picturesque golf holes, Amelia Island is a true golfer’s paradise for players of every skill level. Throw in some mouth-watering cuisine and a handful of quaint watering holes and this will be a trip you’ll be making year after year.
Check into the Courtyard by Marriott or SpringHill Suites by Marriott, your home away from home for the next three days. These centrally-located hotels are housed under one roof and just a short drive from all the island golf courses. Not to mention steps away from delicious restaurants and the beautiful Atlantic ocean. Looking for a luxury getaway? Book a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island or Omni Amelia Island Resort where golf is right outside your door.
Get fueled up for a day of golf at The River Bar & Grill located at Amelia River Golf Club. The casual cafe offers indoor/outdoor seating and has a menu friendly to those with a hearty appetite or those that want lighter fare. Whether you dine on a healthy salad with sweet iced tea or an All-American burger with a cold beer, your taste buds will be happy and ready to hit the links.
Now that your stomach is happy, let’s play a round of golf! Amelia River Golf Club is renowned as one of the best conditioned courses in the area. Smooth TifEagle greens, sculpted around a forest of majestic live oaks, sabal palms, southern pines and wax myrtles make it as beautiful to play as it is challenging. The course was designed by Tom Jackson and consists of 18 holes where ball control and accuracy are key to a great round. Lakes and ponds are featured on several holes including the signature island hole, the par three 17th. The round concludes on the 18th hole with a stunning view of the Amelia River. The Cape Cod-style clubhouse is warm and inviting and houses the golf shop featuring the latest in golf attire logo items and top-of-the-line golf equipment.
After a day on the links, relax and unwind at Sandbar Amelia Island where you can dine inside or on a large covered outdoor patio with an unobstructed view of the beach and ocean. Yep, your first day on the island is ending pretty well. If you’re lucky, it’ll be a night with live entertainment for that island vibe you were hoping for. With an eclectic menu, Sandbar Amelia has something to satisfy most taste buds including shrimp & grits, wood-fired crispy pizza, or buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. This is the perfect place to talk about your day’s game over a cocktail or two and strategize day two.
INSIDER TIP: Try the Crispy Mahi Sandwich, breaded in panko on a brioche bun.
For a delicious start to your day, head to Coast at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Their breakfast buffet is just what you need before a day on the links and offers up plenty of traditional morning dishes along with a great omelet station. Dine indoors or on the covered outdoor patio… all overlooking the ocean. Not a bad way to kick start day two.
If you want to enhance your golf skills, taking a golf lesson is an excellent and speedy way to do so. Whether you’re a seasoned player in need of a quick tune-up or a complete beginner, you can rely on the expertise of the golf staff at Amelia River Golf Club to tackle any golf-related challenges. At the Amelia River Performance Center, you can opt for private or group lessons, and they also offer golf fittings to ensure that you and your clubs are a perfect match.
Put those lessons to the test by playing a round at The Golf Club Of Amelia Island, rich in natural wonders and pure golfing pleasure. Designed by PGA-TOUR Veterans Mark McCumber and Gene Littler, this 18-hole course exemplifies the essence of the game of golf. With challenges to put you to the test, it remains forgiving enough to remind you that golf is, after all, supposed to be fun. Nestled along the shores of the ocean, the course winds its way through palm, pine and oak trees, offering spectacular views of Amelia Island’s many natural treasures. It is simply an unforgettable golfing experience.
After your round ends, walk next door to The Lobby Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island for a signature old-fashioned from one of the island’s best bartenders and some made-to-order sushi. Celebrate all your birdies!
The Boat House, a seafood and steak house in the heart of downtown, is what’s for dinner. Sit outside on their massive patio and listen to live music while dining on a dozen oysters and sipping a specialty cocktail. Try the 8oz filet served with whipped potatoes, asparagus and herbed butter. It’s a meal fit for a King and guaranteed that you won’t leave hungry. If you’re not that hungry? Try one of several salads and throw on some shrimp to make it interesting. Everything’s good at The Boat House.
INSIDER TIP: The BBQ Salmon with red mule jalapeno cheddar grits is worth a taste.
Start your final day with breakfast at the Sunrise Café, Omni Amelia Island Resort’s most indulgent breakfast with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Dine on fresh fruit, made-to-order omelets, waffles, french toast, and a variety of eggs benedict. Or, try the Morning Table for a buffet with a little bit of everything including maple-blueberry organic sausage, herb roasted potatoes, smoked salmon and more.
INSIDER TIP: Ask to sit on their outdoor terrace so you can soak it all in.
Not that we’re saving the best for last, but today you’re playing Oak Marsh at Omni Amelia Island Resort — selected by Travel & Leisure Golf as one of ”Florida’s 50 Finest Courses.” and always included in Golf Digest’s prestigious list of the “Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S”. Oak Marsh is a classic Pete Dye course with tight fairways, bulkheaded, and seemingly tiny greens following serpentine salt marsh creeks and under moss-laden live oak trees. It certainly lives up to its name with stunning beauty all around. Take a moment when going to hole #9 and look at the trees while the marsh comes into view. Stunning.
Later in the afternoon, pick up your favorite beverage and head to the downtown docks for an Adult BYOB River Cruise. Viewing the island by water is highly recommended and Amelia River Cruises makes everything better with a storytelling captain and live local musicians on board. Try to spot the wild horses on Cumberland Island and ride by Fort Clinch State Park for a peak at the Civil War fort from the water. Make sure you take lots of selfies and tag us with #LoveAmelia.
It’s your last night and what better way to say “see you next time” than dinner at Ciao Italian Eatery in downtown Fernandina. Ciao’s casual yet elegant dining room is warm and inviting (Owner, Luca will greet you with a big smile) incorporating traditional and contemporary Italian fare, always with the freshest and finest ingredients. Just promise me that someone in your party will order the Seafood Lasagna. It’s delizioso!
INSIDER TIP: Known for more than just their outstanding food, try their hand crafted Upper West Side Manhattan made with Luxardo, buffalo trace bourbon, orange bitters, and sweet vermouth.
These suggestions are just a sneak peek of all Amelia Island has to offer as you plan your Golfer’s Getaway. You only have three days so you’ll need to come back to play the other amazing courses on and around our island. Discover more and plan you perfect trip on AmeliaIsland.com for a complete list of places to stay, eat and play.