Do you know what insurance coverage your golf resort actually needs, or are you just guessing?
And how confident are you that your current policies would hold up if your course faced a flood, lawsuit, or a PGA-level event?
This article will walk you through the must-know insurance insights for golf resorts in Georgia’s Golden Isles, whether you operate a public course or an ultra-luxury destination.
You’ll discover:
- The three tiers of golf resorts and how each affects your insurance needs
- Core coverages every facility should have (and why)
- Specialized protection for high-end, coastal, or tournament-hosting courses
- What most owners forget and why it can cost them millions
Let’s break it down.
The Golden Isles Golf Spectrum: One Region, Three Very Different Risk Profiles
Georgia’s Golden Isles is a magnet for golf tourism, home to courses that serve weekend warriors, discerning members, and international VIPs. But this diversity creates vastly different insurance needs.
| Tier | Key Traits | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Open access, high foot traffic, rental equipment | Jekyll Island GC, Sea Palms GC, King and Prince GC |
| Semi-Private | Membership core with some public play, hybrid operations | Heritage Oaks Golf Club |
| Private and Ultra-Luxury | Exclusive, asset-heavy, often host major events | Sea Island GC, Ocean Forest GC |
Each tier faces unique exposures. A one-size-fits-all policy is not enough.
Universal Essentials: The Core Insurance Every Course Needs
Regardless of tier, every golf resort must start with a strong foundation. These core coverages form the safety net for everyday risks.
- General Liability Insurance: Covers bodily injury or property damage claims. High-traffic areas make slips, trips, and errant golf balls a common issue.
- Property Insurance: Protects clubhouses, pro shops, and maintenance buildings from fire, storms, or theft.
- Equipment Coverage: Includes mowers, carts, and other essential tools, often overlooked until they break or are stolen.
- Business Interruption Insurance: Keeps revenue flowing when disasters force temporary closures.
If you only have these basics, your course is still underinsured. Risk varies dramatically by tier.
Tier-Specific Coverage: Tailoring Policies to Course Type
1. Public Courses: High Volume, High Exposure
Public courses like those on Jekyll Island must prioritize:
- Public Liability: Increased visitor traffic means more accidents and more claims.
- Revenue Protection: A rainy weekend can wipe out green fee revenue. Coverage should reflect daily cash flow realities.
- Rental Equipment Liability: Golf carts and clubs rented to the public create their own risks.
Common Mistake: Many public courses underinsure rental gear or forget it entirely.
2. Semi-Private Courses: Dual Models, Dual Risks
Heritage Oaks and others walk a fine line, serving both members and the public.
Specialized programs like the PGA TOUR-endorsed Eagle 3℠ offer protection for:
- Greens, tees, and fairways
- Ornamental trees and plants
- Pesticide and herbicide applications
Watch Out: Hybrid models require clarity on liability. Who is responsible during member versus guest play?
3. Ultra-Luxury Resorts: More Than a Golf Course
Private resorts like Sea Island or Ocean Forest are destinations, not just clubs. Their insurance needs are deep and complex:
| Coverage Area | What’s Required |
|---|---|
| Property Value | Blanket coverage for high-value, historic, or custom structures |
| Liability Limits | Umbrella or excess policies often reaching $145 million |
| Specialty Amenities | Protection for spas, fine dining, marinas, and other premium services |
| Fine Art and Valuables | Inland marine insurance for trophies, collectibles, and artwork |
| Member Property | Coverage for personal items stored on-site |
Surprising Fact: Some Sea Island policies include coverage for polo fields, yacht fleets, and custom wine cellars. This shows how far coverage must stretch for top-tier resorts.
Hosting Tournaments? Your Insurance Needs Just Multiplied
Courses hosting PGA events like the RSM Classic at Sea Island face a temporary but intense shift in risk:
- Increased Liability: Thousands of spectators require higher liability limits.
- Temporary Structures: Tents, media towers, and grandstands need their own protection.
- Vendor Management: You are responsible for third-party coverage. One vendor mistake can cost millions.
- Reputation Risk: With cameras everywhere, even a small incident can become a public relations crisis.
Checklist for Event Insurance:
- Confirm your property policy covers temporary installations.
- Require Certificates of Insurance from all vendors.
- Add reputational risk and crisis communication riders.
Coastal Threats: The Golden Isles’ Unavoidable Risk
All this sits along a hurricane-prone coastline. Hurricane Matthew caused $1.5 billion in damages in the region in 2016. Standard property policies will not help unless you have added coastal-specific endorsements.
- Flood Insurance: Separate and essential.
- Windstorm Coverage: Critical and often carries its own deductible.
- Tee-to-Green Coverage: Protects actual playing surfaces, such as fairways and greens, from storm and flood damage.
Counterintuitive Insight: Courses near marshes may suffer less flood damage due to natural water absorption. Insurers consider this when pricing policies.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Step to Smarter Coverage
Insuring a golf resort in the Golden Isles is not about checking boxes. It is about understanding the unique fingerprint of your property and operation.
From basic liability to fine art protection, from public player volume to PGA-level media scrutiny, you must match your policy to your property’s tier, terrain, and future goals.
Now that you have seen what true golf resort insurance looks like, your next step is to assess your current coverage line by line with an expert who understands this industry inside and out.
Ready to protect your course’s future? Get a tailored quote today.
