Top 18 Golf Resorts

By Karen Misuraca

go BEST GOLF RESORTS

Sure, you’ll want to spend a day or two teeing off on your next golfing getaway. But the luxurious resorts on this golf coursesized list offer activities and amenities for the entire family that go far beyond the fairways.

1 MIAMI

Ninety holes of championship golf are part of the watery scene of lakes, ponds and island greens on Greg Norman’s Great White, as well as the Silver, Gold and Red courses and the legendary Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort and Spa (www.doralresort.com; 800-713-6725). Tiger Woods has been known to tangle with the Monster, winning six World Golf-CA Championships here. Nongolfers love the Blue Lagoon water park and the Spa at Doral, named “Best Spa of 2007” by the

Miami Herald. Kids can check in for fun at Camp Doral and the water park’s 125-foot waterslide.

2 SAN DIEGO

Mediterranean-inspired arches, frescoes and fountains create a gracious ambience at The Grand Del Mar (www.granddelmar.com; 858-314-2000), a recently opened 249-room luxury resort. A Renaissance-inspired spa has a fireplace and swimming pool. Tom Fazio’s Grand Golf Club meanders through Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve with elevated tees and wide fairways between forested hillsides and ridges. Streams and an 18-foot waterfall are among recent additions, plus an expanded clubhouse with an award-winning restaurant, the Clubhouse Grill. You can also venture out to the Del Mar Race Track, Old Town San Diego and some of Southern California’s best beaches.

3 NEWPORT BEACH, CA
(44 MILES FROM LOS ANGELES)

The courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club—two seaside stunners designed by Fazio—reopened after a face-lift that added broader vistas of the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. Terraced in Mediterranean-style splendor above the fairways, The Resort at Pelican Hill (www.pelicanhill.com; 877-735-4226) opens this fall, complete with two- to four-bedroom villas, a glamorous spa and a Coliseum-style circular pool terrace decorated with a million glass mosaic tiles. The Pelican Grill in the clubhouse is a trendy gathering spot in which to dine on California cuisine and take pleasure in miles of ocean views. Or, hit the boutiques of nearby Fashion Island while the kids play on the beach at Crystal Cove State Park.

4 DESTIN, FL
(47 MILES FROM PENSACOLA)

Kids 12 and under play free Sunday through Thursday at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s (www.. sandestin.com; 800-470-7389) Baytowne Golf Club. The resort’s rambling collection of vacation villages stretches along 7.5 miles of white-sand beaches. The Baytowne, Raven and Burnt Pine golf clubs and The Links Course, plus junior golf programs at the Hank Johnson School of Golf and the elaborate Dunes “mini-golf” putting course, make this a grand golf destination for all ages. Other attractions include a marina, 17 swimming pools, 15 tennis courts, a pirate ship playground, and shopping and dining at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

5 GULFPORT/BILOXI, MS

As shiny as a new poker chip after a $550 million, post-Katrina re-do, the 1,740-room Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (www.beaurivage.com; 888-567-6667) offers guests the chance to play one of the most photogenic and challenging tracks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Fazio’s Fallen Oak Golf Club, a 510-acre golfapalooza that romps through swamps and piney woods like Bigfoot. Centuries-old live oaks, a rushing stream and the seductive scent of magnolias add to the Southern charm. When you’re not on the links, try your luck at the gaming tables; sit down at Olives for some Mediterranean fare by celeb chef Todd English; or enjoy shows by such headliners as Liza Minnelli, Jay Leno and Engelbert Humperdinck..

6 PALM COAST, fl
(35 MILES FROM DAYTONA BEACH)

PGA player-architects on unspoiled Florida coastline equals glorious golf at Ginn Hammock Beach Resort (www.hammockbeach.com; 866-502-6228) on the Atlantic Ocean. Six holes of the dune-y Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course lie along a golden sandy strand, and the fearsome four-hole finish has earned its title as “The Bear Claw.” Amid creeks, lakes and a waterfall, Tom Watson laid The Conservatory in a loblolly pine forest; at 140 acres, its challenges mainly lie within the 140 sand traps, including three sod-faced bunkers that recall Watson’s love of Scottish links golf. Guests ages 4 to 12 can have their own fun at Kids Crew, which offers scavenger hunts, beach and pool games, and more.

7 WILLIAMSBURG, VA

The pre-Revolutionary village of Colonial Williamsburg is a grand golf destination when dogwood and cherry trees bloom on the 45 fairways of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (www.goldenhorseshoegolf.com; 757-220-7696). The Gold Course rolls along a lakeshore, while the Green Course is marked by ridges and gullies, with narrow chutes surrounded by towering pine, cedar and oak trees. Beginners are happy on the Spotswood Course, a nine-hole version of the Gold Course. A variety of hotels are within walking distance of golf, restaurants and taverns, as well as the living history village of Colonial Williamsburg. Some good bets are the English Regency-style Williamsburg Inn; Providence Hall, tucked into a woodland; or Colonial Houses historic lodging. And in a Georgian-Revival style building, the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg interprets the healing practices of European, African and Native American cultures. For more info on these accommodations, visit www.history.org.

8 HILTON HEAD, SC

The golf, beach and tennis resort of Palmetto Dunes (www.palmettodunes.com; 866-292-4148) on Hilton Head Island is a complete vacation destination, with 3 miles of beaches, a tennis center, an 11-mile saltwater lagoon awaiting kayakers and canoers, and 25 miles of bike paths. And as far as golf goes, there is the Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course, in addition to Arthur Hills- and Fazio-designed courses. Families can settle into multiroom homes and villas at Palmetto Dunes and enjoy dolphin-watching tours, surfing lessons, boating and the beach.

9 MILWAUKEE

Pete Dye’s four courses at Destination Kohler (www.. destinationkohler.com; 800-344-2838)— Meadow Valleys and the River at Blackwolf Run, and the Irish Course and Straits Course at Whistling Straits—have all been showered with awards. Overlooking Lake Michigan, the somewhat intimidating Whistling Straits tracks are modeled on traditional Irish links, complete with howling winds and grassy dunes, while the River rolls along the shores of the Sheboygan, and Meadow Valleys has gracefully elevated tees and greens. Accommodations are luxurious at the American Club, and the world-famous Kohler Waters Spa is rated one of the top in the country. Lush gardens, Th e Shops at Woodlake, hiking and horseback riding on woodland trails, canoeing, and the Sports Core Health and Racquet Club will keep children and nongolfers happy.

10 HALF MOON BAY, CA
(31 MILES FROM SAN FRANCISCO)

Over the hills from the City by the Bay, with spectacular Pacific Ocean views from every hole, the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links (www.halfmoonbaygolf.com; 650-726-1800) is a traditional Scottish links layout. Sea winds call for the irons, but for a gentler round, try the Monterey pine-and cypress-lined Old Course. Rest your head at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay (www.. ritzcarlton.com/hmb; 650-712-7000), a rambling, Shingle-style manor on high cliffs above roaring surf. Take tea in the Conservatory Lounge; watch whales perform offshore; indulge the senses in the Roman mineral baths of the spa; and browse the boutiques and galleries in the historic village of Half Moon Bay.

11 SARASOTA

Fazio has done it again with his stunning new design for the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, which is also open to guests at The Ritz Carlton, Sarasota (www.. ritzcarlton.com; 941-309-2000). Six sets of tees and savvy caddies make playable the daunting 315 acres graced by mature oaks, hundreds of palms and 12 lakes. The new practice center features one of the country’s largest two-tier driving ranges. Resort guests can relish the Members Beach Club on the white sand beaches of Lido Key, the Gulf of Mexico-front pool, and The Beach Club Grill and Tiki Bar; kids have their own pool and play zone.

12 WESTON, FL
(18 MILES FROM FT. LAUDERDALE)

Reopened with new greens, bunkers, cart paths and lush landscaping, the East Course at Bonaventure Country Club (www.. golfbonaventure.com; 954-389-2100) is a classic Plantation-style layout with a famous waterfall. The slightly easier West Course is also a tropical paradise for wild parrots, blue herons and snowy egrets. Book a stay-and-play package at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center and Spa (www.. bonaventure.hyatt.com; 954-616-1234); golfers can hit the fairways, while family members take boat tours, hang out at the Red Door Spa and shop along the beach-front promenade.

13 PINE MOUNTAIN, GA
(78 MILES FROM ATLANTA)

The historic resort of Callaway Gardens (www.callawaygardens. com; 800-225-5292) is beloved by families, garden-lovers and golfers. Th e horticultural displays are world famous, and the fairways are decorated by elaborate landscaping, piney woods and a dozen lakes. Requiring near-perfect accuracy, the tight, tree-lined fairways of the Mountain View course amble through pine forests and rolling hills. Azaleas, dogwoods and seasonal flowers are a spectacular backdrop for the Lake View course. Guests at the lodge, inn, cottages and villas can wander 14,000 acres of gardens and wildlife displays, swim, water ski, boat, or bask on the world’s largest man-made white-sand beach. Spa Prunifolia will lure the ladies and the tuckered golfers.

14 MYRTLE BEACH, SC
(97 MILES FROM CHARLESTON, SC)

Of the more than 100 courses in the sprawling golf mecca of Myrtle Beach, five are on Golf Digest’s 2008 “Greatest Public Courses” list. Famous for buddy trips and stay-and-play packages, the “Grand Strand” courses host 4 million rounds of golf annually. Guests at Barefoot Resort (www.barefootgolfresort.com; 800-293-3981) get easy access to on-site Fazio, Dye, Norman and Davis Love III championship tracks. Accommodations are in high-rise towers and one- to four-bedroom villas along the fairways. Beyond the greens, take a jet ski out on the Intracoastal Waterway; spend a lively evening at the House of Blues, one of the top music venues in the state; or check out shops and playgrounds at Barefoot Landing.

15 PHOENIX

A 20th anniversary restoration of the two Tom Weiskopf-designed Troon North Golf Club (www.. troonnorthgolf.com; 480-585-7700) courses has reconfigured the tracks for an even closer marriage of fairways with the spectacular desert landscape, flora and monumental granite boulders. Weiskopf oversaw the Pinnacle and Monument rerouting to improve playability, making for a more walkable Pinnacle course with a links-style feel. The Monument was named Arizona’s “No. 1 Daily Fee” course by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. A major renovation—$17.5 million’s worth, to be exact—also took place at The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale; 480-515-5700).

Casita rooms and suites, and the new restaurant, Talavera, boasts sweeping views of the spectacular Sonoran Desert.

16 KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
(26 MILES FROM CHARLESTON)

In the past 12 years, the Cougar Point, Osprey Point, Turtle Point and Ocean courses at Kiawah Island Golf Resort (www.kiawahresort.com; 800-654-2924) were upgraded; massive new clubhouses and the $125 million beachfront Sanctuary Hotel were built. Recently, the Scottish-American-style Oak Point course reopened after a $2 million upgrade and lengthening. Bordering Haulover Creek and the Kiawah River, fairways are menaced by salt marsh and a dense live oak forest. A PGA and Senior PGA tournament site, with a 144 slope and 77.2 rating, The Ocean Course is notorious for Dye’s forced carries and the strong, unpredictable winds on 10 seaside holes. The resort’s rental villas and homes are popular with families, as are 10 miles of private beach lapped by calm, warm surf, an award-winning tennis complex, nature activities and day trips to historic Charleston.

17 ORLANDO

Of the 81 holes of golf on five courses at Walt Disney World Resort (www.disneyworld.com; 407-939-6244), the walkable, nine-hole Oak Trail Golf Course is favored by beginners; juniors can play for as little as $10 in the summertime, and it’s free to rent junior clubs in the Magic Kingdom. Oak Trail is across the street from Disney’s Polynesian Resort, a perfect family headquarters for easy access to the theme parks, water parks, the tropical Palm Golf Course and the Magnolia Golf Course, where the annual Children’s Miracle Network Classic tournament is played. A PGA teaching staff conducts Walt Disney World Junior Golf Camps on the three courses, if the kids are in the mood to improve their game.

18 BEAVER CREEK, CO
(109 MILES FROM DENVER)

An all-suite, AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel in Vail Valley, Beaver Creek Lodge (www.beavercreeklodge.net; 800-525-7280) offers a golf package that entitles guests to play at Vail Valley golf courses including Red Sky Ranch Golf Club (www.. redskygolfclub.com; 866-875-3759), where a 700-acre Fazio- and Norman-designed course and a David Leadbetter Golf Academy await. The fairways, lined with sage-blanketed hills, craggy rock outcroppings, rugged gulches, wildflower-filled meadows and aspen forests, are dazzling through the fall. Mountain chic décor distinguishes the lodge suites and two- to three-bedroom condos. Recreation in Rocky Mountains splendor includes Jeep tours, fly-fishing, hiking and whitewater rafting.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Florida is full of golfing options, but these sites go above and beyond, featuring between them a historical center, hall of fame and the state’s largest golf shop.

ST. AUGUSTINE, fl
(40 MILES FROM JACKSONVILLE)

Golfers gather at the mecca of their sport, World Golf Village (www.wgv.com; 800-948-4653), to see the World Golf Hall of Fame, a treasure trove of interactive exhibits and video “scrapbooks” of famous players (recent inductees were Se Ri Pak and Curtis Strange). Only at WGV can you play a course co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus—King & Bear—as well as the Slammer & Squire course, named for the legendary Sam “The Slammer” Snead and Gene “The Squire” Sarazen. Top attractions around the village include an 18-hole putting course, the PGA Tour Golf Academy and the mother-of-all-golf-stores, PGA Tour Stop. The floating cabana at the PGA TOUR Laterra Spa is the place to hang out while golfers play. Kids love the private Serenata Beach Club at Ponte Vedra Beach. And, at the end of the day, everyone gathers at Murray Brothers Caddyshack eatery and watering hole.

PORT ST. LUCIE, fl
(49 MILES FROM WEST PALM BEACH)

One of the top public golf complexes on the planet, PGA Golf Club at PGA Village (www.pgavillage.com; 800-800-GOLF) has 54 Tom Fazio- and Pete Dye-designed holes as well as the PGA Learning Center (with 100 practice stations and digital play analysis). The complex’s PGA Historical Center houses periodicals dating back to the 1500s, golf-related art and trophies. The club’s 10th anniversary—and the PGA’s 90th—was marked by the renovation of the Ryder and Wanamaker courses and the expansion of the clubhouse. Book a room at the Castle Pines or Pine Valley Golf Villas at PGA Village.