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Favorite Golf Resorts

JB

JB

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THP Travel on the home page has a question for everybody. Or a series of questions. What are your favorite golf resorts and what makes them that? Check out the brief article and jump in the conversation with the answers to the question posed.

http://bit.ly/17Vo4vk
 
For our crew it's Pinehurst. Staying at the Carolina, access to 4 world class courses (2-4-7-8) with several more in close proximity (Pine Needles/The National) coupled with one of the most serene, days gone by settings in the U.S. just creates pure relaxation and peace of mind. We've done the American Club, Pebble, Scotland, Kiawah, Hilton Head and others but are best trips, most relaxing trips, best memories are all in Pinehurst.
 
Pinehurst is at the top of my list, too. Such an amazing venue that is almost completely focused on golf and adds an impeccable level of service.

Kiawah is a very close second, but it's more of a sentimental pick for me. World class golf, incredible service and accommodations, and an unbeatable setting.
 
Omni Amelia Island. Has a few great courses and is away from the big city.
 
I'm a sucker for PGA National. Five courses, a great central bar, and nice ammeneties.
 
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Hawk said:
I'm a sucker for PGA National. Five courses, a great central bar, and nice ammeneties.
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It definitely makes my top 5 without a doubt. Absolutely love that facility.
 
Hawk said:
I'm a sucker for PGA National. Five courses, a great central bar, and nice ammeneties.
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I was just there. $200 to play the Fazio course... with sandy greens.

Nice resort though, practice areas were top notch.
 
JB said:
It definitely makes my top 5 without a doubt. Absolutely love that facility.
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There are places where I've enjoyed individual courses more, but it's there for me as far as total package goes.

mrvandelay said:
I was just there. $200 to play the Fazio course... with sandy greens.

Nice resort though, practice areas were top notch.
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Yikes. We got good deals at the outings that were there. Out of season of course.
 
Fairmont Turnberry in Aventura is excellent. Two amazing courses and the conditions are superb year round. Great practice facilities too.

PGA National is great as well, and plenty of good deals and packages to be had. Excellent practice facility and amenities. Having five courses at your disposal is unmatched anywhere and the Champions course is a barn burner. My wife and I had a blast there over this past summer.
 
PGA National will always be a special one to me for sentimental reasons. But outside of that there are some great courses there, the spa I'm told is great(from the wife), the food choices there are good and the rooms had the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in.

I think Grand Cypress is pretty incredible too. If you are looking in an area that has pretty much everything surrounding the resort, I think GC is the place for you.

Locally Turning Stone is fantastic. 5 courses, a huge casino, a place that regularly gets good acts to come in for shows. Downside is you have to make a good drive to get to an outside area if that's what you are interested in. However there is so much to offer on location that you really don't need to leave.
 
Bandon Dunes is my favorite. The natural architecture, scenery and authentic links golf create an experience that is unique, if not exclusive, to Bandon. I appreciate that four world class courses are on one property, and that at least three of them provide such different golf experiences. On a more personal note, a surprise trip here rekindled my love for the game after having been away for a decade.
 
Pinehurst...a bit surprised that PGA National is so well liked, but i guess i take it for granted since it's just up 95
 
True Blue/Caledonia tops my list. Not just for those two courses which I love to play, but, for the seemingly unlimited number of fine golf courses, great restaurants and just about anything you would want to do at night, all without breaking the bank.

The finest resort that I've done so far is Sea Island, with it's golf and the Cloisters. Very pricey, but, I've done Pebble and Pinehurst and rank Sea Island above them as Resorts, not strictly golf courses. Another that comes to mind is Silverado, IMO the best of NoCal. One of the few left on my bucket list is Bandon, because it didn't exist when I started the list. My guess is that the "Resort" won't stand up to the others, while the golf certainly will.

In Florida, Grand Cypress was my favorite.
 
Sentimental reasons: Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head. My parents have had a place there since the mid 90s, my family has spent a bunch of time there.

I've also loved Kiawah any time I've had a chance to get there. Also in South Carolina, Palmetto Bluff only has 1 course, but the resort itself in terms of the accomodations are second to none. On the west coast, Pelican Hill just south of LA is a fantastic resort from top to bottom with 2 Fazio courses. Speaking of the west coast, I want to make it out to Bandon someday.
 
My reasoning for some of my picks

Quality has to be superior
Each has something unique about it, either location, layout, etc
I love resorts, having everything you need all in 1 place is fun
 
I’m spoiled living in Orlando where golf resorts are plentiful. They all have great golf, great food and great night life. What more could one want and then add in the family element with all the theme parks. Reunion and Grand Cypress are my two favs. Pine hurst is always going to attar a great many but can be pricy. True Blue is perfect!
 
American Club in Kohler Wisconsin. The golf is amazing. The whole town is just so unique. Fantastic stay.
 
dhartmann34 said:
American Club in Kohler Wisconsin. The golf is amazing. The whole town is just so unique. Fantastic stay.
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My Dad and I went there a few years ago and loved it. Couldn't ask for better courses. I remember the food being pretty amazing too.
 
Sadly, I've only been to a couple golf resorts. Kind of a bummer when I think about it compared to some of the places others have been. But, its been with THP'ers, so that's always awesome.
 
I've only really spent time at Grand Cypress, Mission Inn, and Reunion as far as big resorts go, and of those I'd pick Grand Cypress, but I spent a weekend at the Hilton/Waldorf for work once and that place is amazing! Only one course, but it's a good one, and the hotel(s) are top notch with a super nice pool area and right by Disney.
 
Only just now getting into visiting golf resorts to stay and play (wife finally coming around ha). Have played at some resort courses in the area but have not stayed in their accomodations. Hammock Beach is fantastic, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Sawgrass, Amelia Island... all great tracks.

I have stayed at the Villas of Grand Cypress and it was great. Amazing rooms, extremely friendly and helpful staff, good food, great golf facility. We'll certainly be back again.

Pinehurst is on my bucket list, for sure, as is Bandon Dunes.
 
There are so many good resorts out there it's hard to narrow them down to a top few. PGA national was a beautiful resort I was a fan of, as was Grand Cypress.
 
I went a LONG time ago but if I were to return to only one resort it would be Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic.

Fantastic Pete Dye golf, wonderful food, magnificent beaches, spectacular views and lots to do besides golf.
 
Haven't been to a ton but Grand Cypress has been my favorite. Lodging setup on the course and then the courses are just fantastic.
 
Honestly I've never really been to a true "Golf Resort" before, mostly because I'm cheap - I've played some nice courses on vacations before, but I've always ended up staying in a low cost room somewhere else. However, I know which resorts call to me above the others based on what I've seen and heard - hopefully my opinion will help!

1) Bandon Dunes - 4 full length courses and a short course, all with minimal earth moving and environmental impact, all true links/heath designs, and all true to the game's roots. The resort itself is fairly small and not crowded. Walking only. Placed on the beautiful Oregon coast. All of this together makes for a true escape from the modern golf world that seems like it would be incredibly refreshing.
2) Coeur d'Alene - Opposite end of the spectrum - ultimate luxury in a beautiful mountain setting. A fairly friendly course with carts and forecaddies and massages on the driving range so you feel like a king even on the course, and awesome restaurants and spa services for when you're off the course.
 
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