Economy, lack of marketing hangs albatross around Daufuskie Island Resort

The 16th at Jack Nicklaus' design for the Melrose course at Daufuskie Island Resort with Hilton Head Island beyond.  The resort and the course closed just two weeks ago.

 

     For some reason, the Daufuskie Island Resort in South Carolina always kept its light under a bushel.  Now, the light has gone out with the announcement 10 days ago that the resort had laid off the remaining members of its staff and closed its doors.  Owners of property inside the gates of the resort are understandably beside themselves, according to local reports.
    Home to two excellent golf courses, one by Tom Weiskopf and Jay

Moorish, the other an example of an early Jack Nicklaus design, Daufuskie Island did little in the way of marketing, apparently believing that its remote location would appeal to a niche clientele that would learn about it from their friends.  But in my 25 years in New England, I can say that I have never met anyone, on a local golf course or anywhere else for that matter, who had been to Daufuskie, and precious few who had ever heard of it.  Sometimes if you build it they don't necessarily come, especially when they have to fly to Hilton Head and get on a ferry (no cars are permitted on the island).  Sacrifices must be made for a stay in paradise.
    I never quite understood why the resort and the owners of Haig Point, a beautiful and private community on the other side of the small island, had never organized a combined ferry service.  It is expensive to run the boats back and forth all day long, and the community and resort might have saved themselves a little money with some sort of mutual accommodation.
    I played Nicklaus' Melrose course a few years ago and it was wonderful, not the best of Jack's layouts but an interesting curiosity because he designed it early in his career, shortly after his tutelage under Pete Dye ended.  Present were the ubiquitous Nicklaus trees in the fairway and strongly protected greens that compelled Jack-type shots, meaning high fades.  The views on the finishing holes of the Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head beyond, including the lighthouse behind #18 at Harbour Town, added an extra bit of panache.
    Here's hoping someone is quick about picking up the pieces...and doing a much better job of marketing than the prior owners.

    If you would like to read a local article on the resort's demise, click here.