Hole 1 at Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside)

Par 4 • 400 Yards • Saint Simons Island, Georgia

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Challenging

The opening hole at Sea Island's historic Seaside Course sets the tone for a layout that has captivated legends like Bobby Jones, who called it "one of the very best" after playing here during his Grand Slam year. This classic Walter Travis design immediately showcases the course's timeless character and strategic demands.

Tees:

400y392y376y366y343y

Green:28y × 33y

Fairway @250y:60y wide

3 BunkersWater dogleg

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Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside)

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 400 yds
Green: 5166 sq ft
Bunkers: 3
Water: Yes
Course Slope: 139
Course Rating: 72.6

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Hole 2

Par 4 • 398y

Back to Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside)View Full Scorecard

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Strategy Tips

hazard warning

This hole presents an extremely challenging tee shot with no fairway at 200 yards - you're essentially hitting into a bottleneck that requires precise distance control to find the 60-yard-wide landing area at 250 yards.

tee shot

Long hitters should aim for the 250-yard mark where the fairway opens to 60 yards wide, but beware of the bunker at 263.7 yards that guards the optimal landing zone - consider a 3-wood or hybrid to stay short of trouble.

approach

From a good drive, you'll have approximately 150 yards into a generous green measuring 5,166 square feet (28x33 yards) - this gives you room to be aggressive with your approach shot.

hazard warning

A greenside bunker at 385.6 yards from the tee protects the putting surface - factor this into your approach club selection and aim for the center of the large green rather than attacking pins near this hazard.

tee shot

Conservative players should consider laying up short of the 200-yard trouble area with a mid-iron, accepting a longer approach shot to this 400-yard par 4 rather than risking the narrow corridor ahead.

train this shot at home

This 400-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

When water is in play, commit to a conservative target. A bogey beats a big number every time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 400-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 1?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: water in play.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 1?

Key hazards include: 1 greenside bunker; water at 40.5 yards. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 1?

The green is medium-sized with moderate targets. Pay attention to pin placement when selecting your approach club.

Which side of the fairway is safer on hole 1?

Aim for the left side of the fairway when possible. Missing right (water) brings more trouble into play.

What's a good score on hole 1?

This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.

Can I practice hole 1 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside). You can play this exact 400-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →