Oak Marsh’s second nine finishes with three gorgeous holes along the marshy Intracoastal Waterway.
Compared to Ocean Links, Amelia Island Plantation’s other resort course, Oak Marsh is more solid and less interesting.
The holes follow a more standard real estate development configuration, playing on the inland side of Highway A1A along the Amelia River and Intracoastal Waterway and flowing in two basic counterclockwise and clockwise rotations on either side of the clubhouse. While starting slow, each nine builds toward nice climactic finishes out on the marsh.
The par 3 16th is the show-stopper at Oak Marsh.
This is classic, Lowcountry golf, with narrow oak-framed holes calling for point-to-point precision. The round lazes through five typical holes, then tightens up with three holes hugging water hazard built up with vintage-era Pete Dye bulkhead supports. There are several good short and medium-length par fours that tempt you into being more aggressive off the tee than is wise, and three demanding postcard holes to finish it off capped by the par five 18th where the green is separated from the fairway by a swampy inlet of Walker Creek. (85)
Amelia Island Plantation—Oak Marsh
Fernandina Beach/Jacksonville
Architect: Pete Dye/renovated by Bobby Weed in 1998
Year: 1973
