Aiming for Excellence

As the mid-morning sun shines over Sea Island, the rhythmic crack of clay targets breaking midair echoes across the Shooting School’s grounds. It’s a sound that’s been part of the fabric of Sea Island for nearly a century and continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.

Fred Missildine (left) in the dark jacket at the original Sea Island Gun Club.

Since 1929, when the Sea Island Gun Club first opened its doors just a year after The Cloister, shooting sports have held a prominent place in the Sea Island story. Under the guidance of Fred Missildine, a decorated World Skeet champion and National Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame inductee, the Club built a reputation for excellence. For 60 years, Missildine’s leadership shaped the experience for generations of members and guests. When he retired in 1996, the Club was reimagined as the Sea Island Shooting School, a name change that signaled a new chapter focused on accessibility and instruction.

“The word ‘school’ made the place more inviting to beginners,” explains Jon Kent, Director of Outdoor Pursuits and Tournament Director for the Sea Island Seminole Cup. “That shift really opened the door for more people to try the sport.”

CARRYING TRADITION

The Shooting School sees as many as 10,000 guests each year. Whether it’s a first-time shooter learning to shoulder a shotgun or a seasoned competitor refining their technique, the emphasis is on making the sport approachable. Guests can choose from a variety of shooting experiences. Sporting clays simulates diverse hunting scenarios across multiple stations. Five-stand offers a compact, fast-paced rotation through varied target presentations. Skeet features crossing targets launched from high and low houses around a semicircle, and trap focuses on outgoing targets thrown away from the shooter at changing angles.

“We probably introduce more beginning shooters to the clay target sports than any other school in the country,” Kent notes. “Beginners are definitely our specialty.”

That welcoming spirit is a hallmark of the school, whose students include a mix of members and guests of all ages and skill levels. It’s the chance to step into a tradition that dates back almost a century and carry it through the next generation.

“We’ve had kids come through the Shooting School when they were 10 or 12 years old, and now they’re adults with families of their own, still coming back to shoot,” Kent adds. “That’s what makes this place special. It’s not just about the sport; it’s about the relationships and the memories that stick.”

A FAMILY LEGACY

Kent knows the journey firsthand. As a fifth-generation resident on St. Simons Island, his own introduction to clay target shooting began at Sea Island, where he worked as a concierge at the private Ocean Forest Golf Club. A lifelong bird hunter, he began stopping by the Shooting School before work each day, eventually earning his instructor certification and diving into competitive shooting. Nearly three decades later, he now oversees shooting, fishing, falconry, nature programming and the annual Sea Island Seminole Cup tournament.

For Kent, the sport isn’t just a profession; it’s a family tradition. Both he and his wife, Jessica, are members of the Georgia Sporting Clays Association Hall of Fame, a distinction that speaks to their shared passion and dedication. Their children are also active participants, often joining them at Broadfield, the 5,800-acre Sea Island Sporting Club and Lodge, for the Sea Island Seminole Cup. Watching his family compete and enjoy the event that he helped sew into the fabric of Sea Island sporting clay history is the ultimate reward.

A CELEBRATION OF SPORTS

Jon Kent, Director of Outdoor Pursuits

The Sea Island Seminole Cup is a nationally recognized tournament that was originally founded over 30 years ago by Kent’s father-in-law. Each spring since 2015, this prestigious tournament has been hosted at Broadfield, located approximately 45 minutes south of the resort.

“Broadfield is a beautiful setting,” Kent says. “It’s not your average gun club. It’s not open to the public, so no competitor has a home-field advantage. Shooters only get to compete here once a year, which makes it special.”

The tournament has flourished under Kent’s direction. From February 25 to March 1, 2026, the Sea Island Seminole Cup will mark its 12th year at Broadfield, a testament to its enduring appeal and the resort’s role in shaping its future.

Sea Island Seminole Cup at Broadfield

Spanning 400 acres, the Sea Island Seminole Cup features more than just competition. Vendors set up along sandy lanes, sponsors mingle and the aromas from food purveyors drift over the grounds. Spectators wander between stations, swapping forecasts for the shoot-off finale, while competitors plot their lines and chase perfect breaks. By Saturday night, the energy peaks in a dramatic showdown where top shooters step up to the stand and the crowd watches for every target and tally.

“We have given it a permanent home and we’re continuing that tradition,” Kent says. “It’s one of the longest-standing sporting clays shoots in the country. I don’t think many shoots can say they’ve been operating for 33 years.

“It’s not just a shoot,” Kent adds. “It’s an experience.”

After the excitement of the Sea Island Seminole Cup, members and guests of Sea Island can step onto Broadfield’s storied grounds to experience its sporting traditions firsthand. From April through October, The Broadfield Experience invites guests for a one-day immersion at Broadfield, featuring a Lodge and Garden tour, working-dog training, falconry demonstrations, a five-stand shooting lesson and a Southern-style buffet lunch.

Whether one is taking a beginner’s class or competing on the world stage at the Sea Island Seminole Cup, the Shooting School and Broadfield offer more than just sport. They provide a place where skill, tradition and community make every shot part of a larger legacy.