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Amelia Island Plantation
by Karen Misuraca
Just across the St. Marys River from Georgia, the scenic barrier island of Amelia Island lies between Atlantic Coast beaches and the Intracoastal Waterway. Unlike most destination resorts in the state, the island is privately owned, secluded and protected by a gated entry. Lush, green marshlands and low marine forests cover the island, and one is never far from the sight and sound of the ocean. Condominiums, upscale two resort hotels and residential developments are scattered on narrow roads beneath a canopy of oaks, palms, pines and tropical vegetation, along several miles of beaches rolling with high dunes (http://www.aipfl.com).
Tom Fazio, Pete Dye and Bobby Weed laid the Long Point, Ocean Links and Oak Marsh courses within the maritime forest and the marshlands, and each is designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Wrapped like a green velvet shawl between the ocean and the waterway, Long Point is Tom Fazio's inspired design in a magnificent setting of tidal marshes, towering sand dunes and a dense pine and oak forest. Natural waste bunkers, grass basins and deep pot bunkers guard rolling fairways and large, elevated greens. Mounds and moguls along the fairways help prevent balls from flying into the impenetrable tree barrier and water hazards. Among several long carries, the second hole requires a 230-yard fly over wetlands to a wide zone that gradually narrows between savannah and the water to an almost blind putting surface surrounded by deep hollows. The Amelia River and the salt marshes are rich wildlife habitat, where Great egrets, wood storks, kingfishers killdeer and gulls are beautiful distractions. A private club except for resort guests, Long Point is set serenely apart, with its own clubhouse, restaurant, and the golf school.
Serpentine salt marshes and creeks come into play on many holes of Pete Dye-designed Oak Marsh, where accurate shot placement is called for on skinny fairways and small, bulkheaded greens bordered closely by hammock groves and moss-draped cypress and oak trees. Dye uttered an understatement about Oak Marsh: "...we've left the rough in its natural state. Only the areas of play are manicured."
A good short game and efficient approach shots are called for on Ocean Links, a Dye/Weed track just 6,108 yards from the back tees. Seven seaside holes are predictably breezy, while ten holes are menaced by marshy wetlands and lagoons, meandering through a unique coastal hammock. Greens are small and cleverly dipped, swaled and tilted. Golf for Women has named this one of the Top 50 Best Courses for Women.
 Royal Amelia Golf Links is a parkland layout designed around small lakes, a creek and a forest of palmettos, myrtles, Southern pine and oak, with no residential development to mar its pristine setting--fairways and greens are gigantic on this 6,850 yard track. A few surprises include a peninsula green on seventeen and a palm tree smack in the middle of the second hole. The clubhouse verandah is a good perch from which to contemplate the sunset over the tidal marsh and the waterway (http://www.royalamelia.com).
Director of the Amelia Island Plantation Golf School, Ron Philo, Sr. is the father of LPGA star Laura Diaz and has coached such luminaries as David Duval. Private lessons, clinics and schools are conducted in a lovely, oak-studded environment with private practice venues.
Within of the surrounding private community of Summer Beach, the Golf Club of Amelia Island, adjacent to the Ritz Carlton, is a Mark McCumber/Gene Littler design open to members and resort guests. Wide rolling fairways, marshlands and lakes, oaks, palms and acres of sand dunes comprise the story here.
Anne Cain Golf Academy at the Golf Club of Amelia Island features video analysis and instruction from renowned LPGA instructor Anne Cain, one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers (http://www.annecaingolf.com).
Family Time
From the Plantation's Nature Center, kids go on guided wildlife and birding tours through the mysterious Sunken Forest, and on shell, crab and shark tooth hunts. Segways are available to rent, and gas-powered Island Hoppers transport up to four adults around the island. Kids can take swimming lessons and get into the "Learn To Ride" program for beginning bikers. Teens have fun with XBoxes, Gamecube and video games, air hockey, billiards, foosball, and virtual PGA Tour golf and Daytona USA, and at the movie nights. Kids ages 3 to 10 have a grand time at Kids Camp in the daytime, and in the evenings at hayrides, beach bonfires, treasure hunts and pool parties--while parents play golf, browse shops and galleries in the quaint seaside village of Fernandina Beach, and enjoy quiet dinners.
Between the golf course and ocean beach, the Ritz has indoor and outdoor seaside pools and a separate kiddie pool. The Ritz Kids program for ages 5 through 12 keeps youngsters happy with swimming, sand castle building, volleyball, junior tennis on nine oceanfront courts, outdoor recreation and turtle education; Kids Night Out involves dinner, movies and games.
 After Golf
Nestled on the banks of Red Maple Lake in a picturesque marsh and garden setting, with private balconies overlooking the greenery, The Spa Amelia at Amelia Island Plantation is an idyllic retreat. Among unique treatments are the Watsu (water shiatsu) massage in a private, indoor, heated pool; the soothing cocoon hydra-aroma wrap; deep-tissue Sports Massage, and the Sun Lover's Facial to reverse the damaging effects of UV rays (http://www.spaamelia.com).
Racquet Park is a gorgeous tennis complex in the shade of ancient oak trees, with 23 Har-Tru clay courts where USPTR certified teaching pros conduct lessons and clinics. Tennis Magazine says it's one of the top 50 tennis resorts in the country--Navratilova, Hingis and Agassi have trained and competed here.
Kayaking, walking, horseback riding and biking (Segways, too) the paths alongside the waterway and throughout the island is the best way to enjoy the lush woodlands, wildflowers and tall grasses, and the birds of the marshes. And, don't miss the sunset from a spot on 15 miles of sandy shore or from the docks in Fernandina Beach.
The small, Victorian-quaint town of Fernandina Beach is the commercial center of the island. Sightseeing and shopping is fun in the 1880s fishing village on block after block of circa-1880s buildings, galleries and antiques shops, and waterfront cafes. Visit the Amelia Island Museum of History, Kingsley Plantation, and Fort Clinch State Park where 1880s military history is reenacted (http://www.fernandinabeach.com).
Where to Stay
4-diamond rated, Amelia Island Plantation offers 610 accommodation options, from hotel rooms (some with ocean view balconies, spacious sitting areas and large baths) to 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom villas. The sprawling resort has an elaborate kids program, a luxury spa and seven restaurants, from the gracious water-view Ocean Grill to the covered porch at Marché Burette and The Verandah overlooking Racquet Park (http://www.ameliaislandplantation.com).
The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island sits elegantly above a beautiful 1.5-mile beach lapped with calm waters; little kids splash in the warm lagoons here at low tide. Guests staying in the 444 ocean view rooms and suites enjoy priority tee times at the Golf Club of Amelia Island, the only PGA Tournament course on the island, and the Ritz concierge will arrange golf at the other island courses, too. A full-service spa, nine oceanside, lighted tennis courts, three restaurants, and indoor/outdoor pools complete the package (http://www.ritzcarlton.com).
Jacksonville International Airport is 30 minutes from the island, with hotel shuttle available. Private aircraft land at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, four miles north.
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