History of Great Dunes
Originally designed by legendary golf course architect, Walter “Old Man” Travis, Great Dunes is one of the earliest examples of oceanfront golf along the Georgia coast—and notably, Travis’ final design. He passed away before the course officially opened in 1928, never seeing his vision fully complete.
Commissioned during Jekyll Island’s Club Era by the nation’s wealthiest and most prominent families, Travis created the best course money could buy, with sweeping dunes, ocean views, and challenging bunkers. Today, Great Dunes remains especially significant as one of the few Travis-designed courses open to the public, offering rare access to the work of one of golf’s early innovators.
Great Dunes also played a role in shaping the game itself. In the 1920s, the U.S. Golf Association conducted equipment testing on the island, including early trials of steel-shafted clubs and standardized golf balls. These innovations would ultimately redefine how the game is played.
Restored & Reopened
Now fully restored and reimagined as a unified 18-hole course, Great Dunes honors Travis’ original vision while delivering a modern coastal golf experience.
Led by architects Brian Ross (Ross Golf Design) and Jeffrey Stein (Stein Golf Design), the course thoughtfully restores remaining Travis-designed holes and integrates land from the former Oleander Course. The result is a cohesive layout that feels both historic and entirely new.
Set within a dynamic coastal landscape, Great Dunes takes golfers on a one-of-a-kind journey through the dunes, out to the ocean and back, in a wide-open, natural environment surrounded by a conservation-sensitive maritime forest.
Sustainability is central to the course’s success. Great Dunes is the only golf course in Georgia to utilize a brackish-water irrigation system, reducing reliance on freshwater while supporting healthy, resilient turf suited to the coastal climate.
Reopened in Fall 2025, Great Dunes offers a rare opportunity to play a course rooted in history, shaped by nature, and designed for the future of golf.
Learn more about the history and restoration of Great Dunes »
Course Map
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