If golf is your game, here’s where to stay and play across the United States. If there’s anyone who can appreciate the benefits of a top-notch destination resort, it’s golfers. After a long day on the links, they can stroll back to the hotel and swap stories about the day’s round at the lobby bar, slip into the spa for a massage or soothing soak in the whirlpool, relax over a nice steak dinner and bottle of wine, and then do it all over again the next day. For anyone who thinks that sounds like the ideal vacation, here are some notable hotels combining championship golf and championship accommodations.
From the moment you step into The Phoenician’s lobby and gaze at the scenic Sonoran Desert laid out before you, it’s clear that the setting is king here. The sprawling retreat sits on 250 acres at the base of Camelback Mountain and includes nine pools, 11 tennis courts, eight restaurants, a full-service spa, a top-notch art collection and even a cactus garden. Over on the greens, you’ll find some of the most beautiful holes in all of the Southwest.
Most Popular Golf Hole: One of Director of Golf Kevin Betts’ top picks is hole No.8 on the Desert Course. “It features views directly south, from the city skyline to the Tempe Butte.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: Lunch or happy hour at Relish Burger Bistro, located atop the clubhouse. It’s home to the largest tequila collection in the state, including The Phoenician’s own private label.
What’s New: Glow parties at the pool complex, family yoga, stargazing.
Having opened in 2007, the Grand Del Mar is one of the newer properties in the bunch, but it has the look and feel of a classic Mediterranean estate. Its five-star accommodations feature luxurious touches like marble bathrooms with huge soaking tubs and pillow-top beds with goose-down pillows. Your stay here can include horseback riding lessons at the equestrian center, deluxe treatments at the spa or 18 holes on the Tom Fazio-designed Grand Golf Club, which Golf Director Shawn Cox says “captures the essence of Southern California’s coastal beauty.”
Most Scenic Golf Hole: “Hole No.4,” according to Cox. “Its second shot gives the impression of an infinity pool with canyons dropping off behind and around the hole.”
Coolest Gift Shop Golf Item: Belts from 59 engraved with the hotel’s star signet logo, including pink ones for female golfers.
Seasonal Must: The resort’s second annual “Summer Concerts at the Grand” series takes place every Sunday from July 14 through Sept. 1.
"I really cannot think of anything negative to say about the Broadmoor,” a delighted Andrew Harper traveler says of their stay at this 95-year-old resort. “It truly was one of my best vacations.” Built on the site of a former dairy farm in the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain, the Broadmoor was once revered as a place to go to get relief from various bronchial afflictions. Visitors today still make a point to get out and enjoy the fresh mountain air, be it fly-fishing on the Platte River, rock-climbing in the Garden of the Gods or playing a round on one of the Broadmoor’s three golf courses.
Best Course Feature: “We are fortunate to have an absolutely majestic setting that serves as a nature preserve in many ways,” says Head Golf Pro Mark Kelbel. “All kinds of birds, deer, foxes and coyotes live here, and occasional bear sightings are possible.”
What’s New: A restaurant called PLAY with a game room and six lanes of bowling. Try one of the adult milkshakes.
Fun Fact: Noted writer Joan Didion used to ice skate at the Broadmoor as a child.
Aiken may be a renowned horse town (some of the top thoroughbreds in the world train there), but it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from Augusta National, site of the prestigious Masters golf tournament, as well as several other notable courses. That makes it equally appealing to golf lovers, as well. When not out swinging the clubs, discerning Aiken visitors stay at The Wilcox, a delightful inn dating back to 1897.
Fun Fact: The nearby Aiken Golf Course was the first course in the country to have ladies’ tees.
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: A deep-tissue massage at the hotel spa. “Deep pressure is used to relieve tired and sore muscles,” says General Manager Tina McCarthy.
Best Gift Shop Golf Items: Willcox signature piqué cotton golf shirt, plus Dermalogica Daily Defense SPF 15, to avoid getting burned out on the course.
This 216-acre resort is located within the exclusive residential community of Fisher Island, which is reachable only by private yacht or auto-ferry. Guests at Fisher Island Club navigate the property on personal golf carts, zipping from the secluded beach to the world-class tennis center to the nine-hole Links at Fisher Island, which is the handiwork of P.B. Dye, the youngest son of renowned course designer Pete Dye.
Most Popular Golf Hole: “The seventh hole,” says Director of Golf Jim Curran. “It offers beautiful views of downtown Miami and Miami Beach.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: Cocktails in one of the airy seaside pavilions at the green overlooking Biscayne Bay.
Noteworthy Feature: On property is the historic 1920s-era Vanderbilt Mansion, the former estate of William K. Vanderbilt, which has been newly restored to its former glory.
Guests of this 332-room retreat often rave about its over-the-top amenities and stunning Palladian architecture, with details like the travertine flooring and Italian-limestone fireplaces. They’ll also compliment the staff of The Resort at Pelican Hill, who they’ll note as wonderfully attentive yet not overly stuffy. And there’s no way they’re not going to mention the spectacular Pelican Hill Golf Club, whose 36 holes were designed by Tom Fazio to take full advantage of the waterfront setting.
Most Scenic Golf Hole: “The best is hole No.13 on the Ocean South Course, with its 180-degree panoramic view from three directions,” says VP of Golf Steve Friedlander. “Lots of photos are taken here, and when the surf is up, the sound of the waves roaring is incredible.”
Noteworthy Feature: Pelican Hill was voted one of the country’s greenest golf resorts. Its water-quality management system allows them to recycle more than 50 million gallons of water a year.
What’s New: The Fazio Unlimited Golf Package, which is available throughout 2013 and includes select bungalow or villa accommodations, unlimited golf, complimentary forecaddie, and more.
This oceanfront resort just 30 minutes outside of Charleston is situated in the heart of the laid-back deep South, but it is ideally suited to an active crowd, who enjoys activities like kayaking, fishing, birding and biking. Guests also can take advantage of the hotel’s award-winning tennis center, six pools and five championship golf courses, including the Ocean Course, site of the 1991 Ryder Cup tournament nicknamed the “War at the Shore.”
Most Challenging Golf Hole: Almost any hole on the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course, which Golf Digest once named America’s toughest resort course.
Cool Perk: Guests of The Sanctuary can cruise around in one of the hotel’s Mercedes-Benz convertibles.
Noteworthy Feature: The resort sits on one of the top 10 beaches in the country according to Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach.”
At this esteemed Waldorf Astoria property just outside Scottsdale, guests retreat to adobe casitas and villas that meld into the desert landscape. Each features a private balcony or patio perfect for enjoying the unspoiled views. When you’re done relaxing, you can choose from a number of activities, including swimming, tennis, rock-climbing, horseback riding, and, of course, golf, on either of the two Jay Moorish courses, each dotted with ancient saguaros and postcard-worthy rock formations.
Most Scenic Golf Hole: Hole No.5 on the South Course. It was literally carved from the desert and is characterized by a dramatic rock outcropping that shelters the green. From there, you have unmatched vistas of the resort and the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
Best Gift Shop Golf Item: New organic soaps designed exclusively for the hotel, shaped to resemble the resort’s namesake boulders.
Noteworthy Feature: Guests can stargaze with a professional astronomer on regular moonlight hikes.
Welcome to paradise. The tropical island of Maui is home to this well-appointed Ritz-Carlton, providing guests with an authentic Hawaiian experience, not just through the hotel’s design and features, but with activities like lei-making classes and interpretive walking tours. Loosely translated, the name Kapalua means “arms embracing the sea,” and visitors can easily appreciate the resort’s breathtaking setting on either of the two 18-hole golf courses on the 23,000-acre property.
Most Scenic Golf Hole: On the Plantation Course, Dustin Irwin, sales and marketing manager of Kapalua Golf, narrowed it down to hole No.17. “It’s the highest point on the course, and it feels like you’re on top of the world,” he says. On the Bay Course, Irwin’s vote was for hole No.5, where you’ll spy “turtles in the bay, whales jumping, and Moloka’i.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: For the gentlemen, watching sports on the flat-screen TV as you soak in the grotto on the men’s side of the spa.
Noteworthy Feature: The Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program, which offers everything from whale-watching excursions to cooking classes.
An Andrew Harper guest summed up their stay here this way: “The Lodge is a beautiful, elegantly casual hotel that was perfect for a long, relaxing weekend. The staff also had a laid-back graciousness about them, and was very attentive to our requests. And, of course, you can’t beat the location.” That location includes proximity to the celebrated Torrey Pines Golf Course, home of the annual Farmers Insurance Open PGA Tour event, where guests of the hotel can get preferred tee times.
What’s New: The North course at Torrey Pines will be undergoing a $7 million redesign led by longtime pro Phil Mickelson. The work is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: Dan Fullen, general manager of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, suggests making reservations for the weekly Artisan Table, a four-course wine and food pairing served family style on the terrace of the hotel’s signature restaurant, A.R. Valentien.
Best Gift Shop Golf Item: Pictures and postcards of Tiger Woods playing Torrey Pines.
The Wampanoag Indians were the first to enjoy the secluded Cape Cod inlet overlooking Pleasant Bay that now houses the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, made up of charming guestrooms and clapboard cottages. Modern guests love lounging poolside, attending clambakes, renting sailboats and playing rounds of 18 at the nearby Cape Cod National Golf Club, a championship course serving as a qualifying site for the U.S. Amateur Championship later this year.
Most Popular Golf Hole: “All of them,” insists Mark Novota, the resort’s managing partner. “The breezy, well-groomed course takes full advantage of the Cape’s unique topography and natural beauty.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: Cocktails at LiBAYtion, the resort’s alfresco waterfront bar, or at Thoreau’s, an intimate tavern.
Seasonal Must: On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in July and August, guests can head to the Garden Terrace and listen to live music out under the stars as part of the annual Cape Cod Jazz Festival.
Of this timeless Auberge Resort along the banks of the May River, an Andrew Harper guest exclaimed, “The Inn at Palmetto Bluff was essentially a perfect vacation venue,” singling out the hotel’s “superb” service, “haute cuisine,” “wonderful” kayak and boat tours, and the “nicest lap pool I have ever seen.” Others are quick to add to that list of achievements the inviting May River Golf Course, a meandering 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course where caddies are mandatory. Explains Head Pro Greg Wrobel: “We encourage players to walk the course so they can best appreciate the beautiful landscape.”
Most Scenic Golf Hole: Wrobel gravitates to No.14. “Based on the time and tides, the scenery changes, and dolphins can even be seen frolicking in the waters.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: A spa treatment called the 20th Hole, which includes a deep-tissue massage, private steam, and Vichy treatment in the green.
What’s New: The furnishings and electronics were recently upgraded in all of the cottages. The rooms now feature iPads, allowing guests to request bell services, order room service and schedule spa treatments and tee times.
Looking for a romantic getaway, where one of you can be out playing golf on one of three top-ranked courses while the other enjoys a day of pampering at a world-class spa? Look no further than The Lodge at Sea Island, part of the vast Sea Island resort complex that has been drawing generations of visitors to Georgia’s idyllic Golden Isles since 1928. Rooms at the Lodge offer views of the Atlantic and the surrounding fairways and greens of the Sea Island Golf Club.
Most Scenic Golf Hole: Hole no.14 on the links-style Seaside Course. Says Director of golf Brannen Veal: “Its entire length is bordered by the Atlantic and Lowcountry marsh. From here one can see the green as it stretches south toward Jekyll Island and north toward the St. Simons Island causeway.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: A game of pool or poker in the 10,000-square-foot men’s locker room.
Cool Perk: A bagpiper serenades guests at sunset each day.
In the quaint village of Kohler, an hour north of Milwaukee, you’ll come across this charming Tudor-style property, the Midwest’s only AAA Five Diamond resort. The amenities include gorgeous rooms decked out with the finest Kohler bathroom fixtures, a spa and salon, upscale boutiques, gourmet dining rooms, and even a 500-acre wilderness preserve. But the golf is what people are really writing home about, given that all four of the resort’s courses are ranked in Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
Most Scenic Golf Hole: Hole No.5 on the River Course at Blackwolf Run, says Jim Richerson, group director and general manager of Kohler Golf. “The tee sits 40 feet above the fairway with a dramatic view of the Sheboygan River and the natural Wisconsin landscape.”
Favorite Post-Golf Activity: Having a cigar and a pint of Jigger Ale on the deck overlooking the 18th green at either Blackwolf Run or Whistling Straits. Jigger Ale is shipped to the resort directly from Scotland and is not served anywhere else in the country.
Fun Fact: When Whistling Straits hosts the green, it will be the first public course to hold the event since 1991.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
Open M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM CT
