Mark Williams serves as Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA), overseeing the management and operation of Georgia’s most unique barrier island. The JIA manages the island’s natural, cultural and recreational resources while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Before joining JIA in 2023, Williams was Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for thirteen years, where he guided statewide conservation and management efforts. A former Georgia State Representative, he has held numerous leadership roles across state and community organizations. A Valdosta native and US Army National Guard veteran, Williams holds a biology degree from Georgia College and State University.
The Williams Story
The Great Dunes course has always captured the spirit of Jekyll Island—its natural beauty, its history, and its long connection to the origins of the game of golf. When we set out to update it, our goal wasn’t to reinvent it, but to preserve its character, while introducing new challenges and advancements for modern golfers. Every choice we made was about keeping that balance between old and new.
What makes Great Dunes so special is how it plays with the land and the elements. The course sits right on the ocean, offering sweeping views and that distinct feel of wind, salt air, and natural dunes you won’t find anywhere else in Georgia.
For first-time visitors, Great Dunes is more than just golf — it’s an experience that connects you to Jekyll Island’s past and present. It’s a walk-through living history and the beautiful landscapes of the island. And most importantly, it captures what makes Jekyll Island such a rare and timeless place.
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What was the genesis for the updating of the Great Dunes course?
The process started with the Golf Improvement Plan in 2022, which evaluated all of Jekyll Island’s courses to identify opportunities for improvement and long-term sustainability.
That plan led us first to the renovation of Pine Lakes, which set a new standard for course quality and guest experience on Jekyll.
Building on that success, it was a natural next step to focus on Great Dunes, both to preserve its historic significance and to continue enhancing the overall golf experience on the island.
What prompted the hiring of Brian Ross and Jeff Stein to do the design work?
As a state park, we’re required to go through a formal RFP process for projects like this. Brian and Jeff’s proposal immediately stood out because of their genuine interest in preserving the history of Great Dunes and their clear vision for how to bring it forward.
They understood that this wasn’t just about rebuilding a golf course, it was about restoring a piece of Jekyll Island’s heritage.
They clearly understood what makes this course so special and approached the project with real respect for its history. Their plan struck the right balance between honoring the past and creating a great playing experience for today’s golfers.
The total budget for the updating nine holes of the Great Dunes and nine on the Oleander Course was what?
Approximately $13 million.
How many rounds are you projecting for a full golf season in 2026?
We’re anticipating a strong first full season once Great Dunes reopens. The course will be closed on Tuesdays for maintenance, but every other day we plan to run tee times roughly every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Based on that schedule, we’d project around 25,000 to 30,000 rounds at Great Dunes during its first full season in 2026.
How was the greens fee amount to be charged determined?
Because Jekyll Island Golf Club is a public facility, affordability is always top of mind. Our other two courses are already among the most accessible in this area, and we wanted to keep that same spirit with Great Dunes while recognizing the investment and experience that come with its restoration.
The greens fees were set after benchmarking comparable coastal and resort-style public courses across the Southeast.
Great Dunes was originally Bermuda grass but it was decided to use paspalum throughout. Why was that choice settled upon?
Paspalum was the clear choice for Great Dunes because it’s so well-suited to our coastal environment. It’s highly tolerant of saltwater and performs better under the conditions we face here with wind and salt-spray.
It also requires less fertilizer and fewer chemicals, which supports our environmental goals as a state park. Beyond that, it gives golfers a smooth, consistent playing surface year-round.
Is other design work being contemplated for the other two courses on property?
Following the restoration of Great Dunes and the renovation work at Pine Lakes, we’re entering a pause period.
This gives us time to evaluate data, listen to feedback from our golfers, and take a close look at how the improvements are performing.
From there, we’ll decide on the best path forward for the remaining courses to ensure any future plans make sense operationally and continue to serve our players well.
Besides Georgia – what are the key markets you will be cultivating for visits to the island?
Our focus is on nearby drive markets, especially Florida and the Carolinas, where there’s already a strong golf culture and desire for coastal courses.
In addition, we see strong potential in group travel, particularly through the nearby Jekyll Island Convention Center, where we can offer golf as part of meetings, events, and corporate outings.
The biggest challenges short and long term for golf on Jekyll Island are what?
In the short term, our biggest challenge is managing the realities of operating in a coastal environment, like weather, salt exposure, and ongoing maintenance.
Long term, it’s about maintaining that balance between keeping golf affordable and accessible while also managing rising operational costs and preserving the island’s natural resources.
What strategic responses are you contemplating implementing with each situation in mind?
With a strong focus on conservation, we have implemented more sustainable irrigation systems and modern technology that can better address the ever-changing coastal environment and keep our courses in great shape for years to come.
This will allow us to continue to offer a superior golf experience and lower our overall maintenance expenses overtime in order to maintain reasonable rates for municipal golf on the east coast.
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For more info go to:
Jekyll Island Golf Courses | Jekyll Island Club Resort
Pictures courtesy of Austin Kaseman
Related: Grade “A” Architecture – Jekyll Island Golf Club
