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PRIVATE GOLF COMMUNITIES AND MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The 200-yard 8th overlooks the sound.

HAIG POINT CLUBDaufuskie Island, S.C. 29915

800.686.3441HaigPoint.com

FALL 2011

livingLINKS

hen people talk about

“getting away from it all,”

they’re typically referring

to leaving behind the hus-

tle and bustle of everyday

life—the traffic, the noise, the crowds. And nowhere

else do people get away from it all quite like they do

at Haig Point.

Located on 1,050 wooded acres on historic

Daufuskie Island just north of Savannah, Georgia,

Haig Point is an enchanting sea island community

where everyone gets around by golf cart (boy, do kids

have fun here riding their bikes everywhere with no

parental worries about cars). One of its many charms

is that it’s accessible only by a scenic, 30-minute pri-

vate ferry ride from Hilton Head Island.

“You get on that ferry after doing all your errands

and there’s just this wonderful feeling of relief,” says

Karen Opderbeck, who has lived at Haig with her

husband, Holger, for eight years. “You just can’t wait

to get back over to this beautiful place.”

But just because residents are able to leave the has-

sles of modern society behind doesn’t mean they leave

Haig Point ClubThere are no cars or crowds at this charming islandcommunity right across the Calibogue Sound fromHilton Head Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry,just terrific amenities, close friends, and good times

ABOVE: Haig has miles ofsand and marsh.BELOW: One of the 265showcase homesW

modern luxuries behind, too. Haig Point has one of

Rees Jones’ best layouts, which he built in 1986 and

updated in 2007. There’s also a very active tennis cen-

ter with six Har-Tru courts, two of which are lighted

for evening play, a fitness center with adults-only lap

pool, equestrian center, championship croquet field,

and beach club with both a large family pool and a

toddlers’ pool. Also on the beach, the new Calibogue

Club, just opened in 2009, is a casually elegant restau-

rant set right on the sound looking at Harbour Town

and its iconic candy-striped lighthouse, which is

reachable by an eight-minute water taxi.

“What’s not to like?” asks Pat Dempsey, who

moved to Haig Point from Southern California six

years ago with her husband, Jack. “It’s such a unique

lifestyle. You can do as much or as little as you want. I

love getting around in a golf cart and enjoying nature,

like watching the osprey family that nests right next

to our house. It’s just so peaceful and serene.”

One of the best things about Haig are the views of

Calibogue Sound and the cooling breezes it provides.

Residents love to stroll, jog, and bike along the gravel

beach road that runs along the sound and the miles of

empty beach “The serenity and the sea life are inspir-

ing,” says Frank Mackay, who first bought property

on Haig Point in 1992. Also adding to the serenity is

ABOVE: The lack of carsand maritime forest make

for an idyllic retreat.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOPLEFT: The private ferry,

private beach, tenniscenter, and Lowcountry-

style home.

FALL 20112 LINKSliving

the solid financial footing of the club with virtually

no debt and all amenities fully completed.

As good as the facilities and locale are, it’s the

inclusive social life that really makes Haig special.

Between the extensive club events and dinner parties

inside the graceful Lowcountry-style homes with their

first- and second-story porches, the social calendar is

very full. More than a few spouses

have said to the other, “Can’t we just

stay home tonight?”

No man (or woman) is an island on

this island. There’s just a special con-

nection, an esprit de corps, among resi-

dents that doesn’t exist nearly as much

on mainland communities. “If you’re

going to live on an island with no

bridge, you’ll probably have a lot in

common with the other people here,”

says Rick Cohen, who’s been a mem-

ber since 1994 and full-time resident

since 2003. “The sense of belonging

happens almost immediately. The boat

ride is such an asset because you get to know everyone.”

Of course, the immaculately maintained golf

course—a challenging routing through moss-draped

oaks and over salt marsh—is a pretty great place to

make friends, too, particularly after its recent $5

million renovation that made it better than ever. In addi-

tion to restoring all the green contours, Jones made the

layout more neo-classic by removing a lot of the mound-

ing and turning the oval bunkers that were in vogue in

the ’80s into much more dramatic, sculpted ones.

What makes the course unique are the alternate par

3s on the 8th and 17th holes, which members play ei-

ther for variety’s sake or if they don’t want to take on

the forced carries over the marsh of

the regular holes, which are perched

right on the sound. It’s hard to think

of two more challenging or beautiful

par 3s anywhere. (There’s also the

nine-hole Osprey course Jones de-

signed that is used by members,

guests, and family looking for differ-

ent views of Haig Point and a less-

challenging layout.)

Residents never get tired of playing

the course, just like they never get

tired of living at Haig Point. After a

career running a huge company, an

executive constantly on the go, friends

told Cohen that there was no way he’d be able to re-

tire, especially in a place as low-key as Haig. “I can tell

you this, which is credit to where we live,” he says. “I

haven’t been bored for 30 seconds since we moved

here. There’s just so much going on. The only reason

I leave the island is to get a haircut.”

livingLINKS

ABOVE: The tee shot of the 196-yard 17th isall carry over saltmarsh usually into astiff Calibogue breeze.

Haig Point ClubDaufuskie Island, S.C. 29915

800.686.3441HaigPoint.com

PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 7,380YEAR FOUNDED: 1986ARCHITECT: Rees Jones

OSPreyPAR: 36 YARDAGE: 3,575

YEAR FOUNDED: 1987ARCHITECT: Rees Jones

FALL 2011 LINKSliving 3