Several of the people we work with arrived in Sea Pines in time to know founder Charles Fraser personally, and a few had the privilege of working with him directly. As a result, we take full advantage of reviewing and referring to those key factors for Sea Pines’ success that Charles put in place from the beginning. Envisioning The Shops at Sea Pines Center and putting us in the middle of the Miracle Mile, halfway from the Lighthouse to South Beach, was one of those success factors, certainly, and of course there were many others.
Yet, it might be said with equal certainty that the most recent 15 years of life in Sea Pines have been a true golden age, maybe the best time ever to enjoy life in the fulfillment of the founder’s dream. Since 2005, the investment and confidence of the Goodwin family in the Sea Pines Resort has been called a rebirth, by no less an authority than Golf Magazine. A friend who’s done a lot of work with resorts and golf courses says, “You can always tell the difference that private investment makes. It shows in the details.”
Still, you don’t have to look closely to notice all the improvements and modernization measures that have been put in place in the 15 years that the Sea Pines Resort has been in the Goodwins’ hands. From the clubhouse to the conference center, from the golf courses to the Beach Club, a dedication to offering the highest levels of amenities and service is evident. We couldn’t have asked for finer neighbors.
The Clubhouse – a Shining Example
The insight for knowing what to restore, what to renew, and what to begin again is seen in the decisions that gave the resort its new Harbour Town Clubhouse. Elegant and inviting, the clubhouse includes broad impressions, such as the sweeping grace of its monumental staircase, as well as details such as custom millwork and a floor of reclaimed white oak. Decisions like this come not from a spreadsheet, but from being invested personally.
The way the clubhouse relates to the gorgeous space around it, and the landscaping that adorns our approach to it, testifies that someone cared a great deal about our enjoyment. The talent for knowing how to achieve this is magnetized by the taste and appreciation of the leaders who set the task. Even when we don’t take time to think it through, the effects of design like this bear an impact on our outlook and how we feel. The impact of good taste might be subtle, but it is no less powerful.
In own domain, here among The Shops at Sea Pines Center, we strive continually to hold up our end of this historic bargain. A resort inspired by a genius, brought to life with talent and dedication, and reborn continually thanks to people who understand – this is what we inherited here in Sea Pines, and what we work to achieve again every day.
