King and Prince Golf Course

The Hampton course at King and Prince Golf Course occupies a coastal setting on St. Simons Island, one of Georgia's barrier islands along the Atlantic seaboard. Designed by Joe Lee and opened in the 1980s, the layout reflects Lee's characteristic approach to resort golf in the Southeast, where playability for varied skill levels takes precedence while incorporating natural features of the Lowcountry landscape. The course sits amid maritime forests of live oaks draped with Spanish moss, with routing that works through relatively flat terrain typical of the Georgia coast. Lee, who designed numerous courses throughout Florida and the Southeast during his prolific career, typically emphasized strategic bunkering and water hazards rather than dramatic elevation changes. At The Hampton, marshland and tidal creeks come into play on several holes, requiring golfers to navigate the wetland ecosystems common to this region. The coastal environment means wind can be a factor, particularly on holes with more open exposure beyond the tree canopy. St. Simons Island serves as a popular resort destination with a mix of seasonal visitors and year-round residents, and the course caters primarily to this recreational market. The King and Prince property takes its name from the historic King and Prince Beach Resort nearby, connecting the golf experience to the island's broader hospitality tradition. The course provides accessible golf in a setting where natural beauty—the interplay of forest, marsh, and coastal light—defines the experience more than architectural severity or championship length.