SPRING ISLAND, S.C. -- Spring Island's Old Tabby Links in Okatie, SC has been ranked the 25th best residential golf course in the United States by Golfweek magazine for 2009.

Golfweek's volunteer team of 500 course raters tracked the country's 15,500 golf courses in search of the top 100 residential golf courses for 2009. The team used a 10-point standard of evaluation based on many factors, ranging from overall routing or sequence of holes to the strategic variety and "fun factor" of the holes.

Golfweek is not the only group to notice Spring Island. In 2007, Spring Island was named one of Golf Connoisseur magazine's Top 40 Golf Communities in America, ranked #23 on Travel + Leisure Golf's Top 100 Golf Communities, and was one of the Links Top 100 Premiere Properties.

Spring Island has also earned the Urban Land Institute's Sensitive Development Award with an Official Statement of Special Award reading: "Spring Island is a purist's recreational community that focuses on protecting its environmental heritage. Its no- and low-impact land and habitat management philosophy emphasizes economic viability, community livability, and environmental sensitivity in preserving an authentic piece of South Carolina's Lowcountry for future generations."

Spring Island is a 3,000-acre island community created by Chaffin/Light Associates in the South Carolina Lowcountry 25 minutes from Hilton Head and Beaufort, and 30 minutes by boat from Port Royal Sound and the open Atlantic Ocean. Spring Island is limited to no more than 410 families on the 3,000 acres with 1,200 acres protected as nature preserve. Spring Island offers the finest amenities man and nature can offer to include: golf, fresh- and salt-water fishing, equestrian, tennis, quail hunting, nature center, fine and casual dining options, and a wide variety of educational pursuits. www.springisland.com

Chaffin/Light Associates (CLA) has created internationally recognized, conservation-based communities that feature superb recreational facilities, including some of the best golf courses in the United States, while building and supporting non-profit organizations which provide arts, conservation and educational programs. CLA communities include: Spring Island, Chechessee Creek Club and Callawassie Island, South Carolina; Balsam Mountain Preserve, North Carolina; Roaring Fork Club, Idarado Legacy, Park East and Snowmass Village, Colorado; Semiahmoo Resort, Washington; and The Dunes Club, Amelia Island, Florida. www.chaffinlight.com