Even at golf-crazed Hilton Head and Sea Pines Resort, those venturing south from the icy climes of the Northeast and Midwest do not live by the game alone. Occasionally, say after a summer-afternoon round, visitors want a cold drink, a cool sea-salty breeze and, best of all, an expansive view of the Atlantic Ocean.
In planning the resort's $60 million renovation project, Sea Pines officials didn't forget that fact. The result came to fruition in May 2014 with the official opening of the Sea Pines Beach Club, where double bogeys hopefully will be just a distant, fuzzy memory for visitors.
Built not far from the resort's new Plantation Club, the Beach Club is a two-story structure right on the sand with three buildings encompassing 15,000 square feet of indoor space and another 10,500 square feet of outdoor space. That's enough to include five food venues ranging from a surfside fast-casual to a beachside restaurant to an oceanfront bar, a rooftop bar with a terrace, a beach retail shop and special events space - all connected by outdoor decks, terraces and covered verandas.
Imagine weary golfers stretched out on chaises, icy beverage in one hand and sunglasses in the other, listening contentedly to the crashing waves. Golf? That can wait until tomorrow.