Amelia Island — Oak Marsh

Oak Marsh has lived several lives. Pete Dye designed the original layout in 1972, making it one of his earlier Florida projects and a course that predates his more famous work at TPC Sawgrass by eight years. Over five decades of play, the course evolved in the way that aging layouts tend to: trees matured and narrowed corridors, infrastructure aged, and the agronomic standards drifted from contemporary expectations. In 2025, Beau Welling completed a comprehensive renovation that addressed all of it while preserving Dye's original routing.

The renovation replaced greens with TifEagle Bermuda and fairways with Bimini Bermuda, modernized drainage and irrigation, and rebuilt bunkers to current construction standards. The intent was restoration rather than reinvention: Dye's routing through the Amelia Island landscape remains intact, and the holes play along the same corridors and toward the same green sites that Dye originally designed. What changed is the quality of the playing surfaces and the infrastructure that supports them.

At 6,580 yards from the tips with a course rating of 71.7 and a slope of 130, Oak Marsh is the most accessible of the six courses in the Sawgrass destination. The yardage is moderate, the slope is manageable, and the layout accommodates a range of skill levels without sacrificing interest for better players. The key statistic is that water comes into play on 14 of the 18 holes. Dye integrated the island's natural water features into nearly every hole, and the hazards are positioned to influence shot selection even when they do not directly threaten the golfer who stays in the fairway.

The character of Oak Marsh differs from Dye's later, more severe work. This is an earlier Dye, less inclined toward the psychological warfare that defines TPC Sawgrass and Kiawah's Ocean Course. The hazards are visible, the penalties are proportional, and the course plays at a pace that allows enjoyment rather than endurance. For the golfer who finds Dye's reputation intimidating, Oak Marsh provides an introduction to his design principles in a setting that does not punish learning.

The resort setting at the Omni Amelia Island contributes to the experience. The course is open to both resort guests and the public, and the Omni's broader amenities, including 23 tennis courts, eight restaurants, and the largest pool deck in Northeast Florida, create a context where golf is one element of a multi-activity stay. For couples or groups where not everyone plays golf, the Omni base with Oak Marsh as the golf component produces a balanced trip.

Walking is permitted, and the flat coastal terrain makes it a comfortable walk. The course is bookable through GolfNow or directly through the Omni resort, and availability is generally good outside of peak holiday periods.

Green fees of $100 to $155 make Oak Marsh the most affordable resort course in the destination. Paired with Long Point across the Omni property, the two courses create a compelling two-day golf program at Amelia Island: Fazio's premium design on one day, Dye's accessible layout on the other, at a combined cost that remains below a single round on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. For groups splitting time between Ponte Vedra and Amelia Island, Oak Marsh is the round that makes the northern detour feel complete.