The Golf Club of Amelia Island

The Golf Club of Amelia Island is a private facility designed by Mark McCumber and opened in the late 1980s on Florida's northeastern barrier island. McCumber, a PGA Tour player who won ten times during his career and later transitioned to course design, created a layout that works with the island's coastal topography and natural vegetation. The course occupies land characterized by live oaks, palmettos, and native grasses typical of the Sea Island region along the Georgia-Florida border. The routing incorporates both wooded corridors and more open stretches, with water features appearing throughout the design in the form of lakes, ponds, and tidal marshes that reflect the island's low-lying coastal environment. McCumber's design philosophy emphasizes strategic options rather than forced carries, allowing players to choose aggressive or conservative lines based on their skill level and risk tolerance. The layout requires thoughtful club selection and course management, particularly when wind off the Atlantic influences play. Amelia Island itself has a long history dating to Spanish colonial times and maintains a reputation as a quieter, more residential alternative to Florida's busier resort destinations. The club serves a membership drawn from both year-round island residents and seasonal visitors. The facility operates as a golf-focused private club within a community setting, typical of many developments built along Florida's coast during the 1980s expansion of residential golf communities.