Badlands Golf Club in Las Vegas is, for the most part, target golf at its finest. It’s a course that will reward you for good shots and punish those errant shots. Make sure to check your ego at the front desk -- along with your driver on some holes. It’s a fun course if you think your way around, Bill Bowman writes from Sin City.
Recently reopened as a semi-private course, Stallion Mountain Golf Club has Las Vegas golfers buzzing. With a challenging layout, just enough water, sand and trees to add to the test, rolling fairways and beautiful landscaping, this classic par-72 track has been brought back to life in a big way. Forget bells and whistles, this is just good, solid golf on an outstanding course.
The 27-hole layout at The Phoenician, located in Scottsdale, Ariz., hardly feels like desert golf at times. The three nine-hole courses also feature many ponds, manicured fairways and mountain views, depending on which layout you’re playing. Jason Scott Deegan has more on The Phoenician.
Water appears to splash everywhere at The Golf Lodge at The Quarry in Naples which opened in 2007. But rest assured this private club plays gentle and forgiving as long as players chose their clubs and angles of attack wisely, Jason Scott Deegan writes.
Bill Gates was married on the 12th tee box at The Challenge at Manele in 1994, essentially renting out the entire island of Lanai. While Gates may have went to the extreme, playing this golf course makes you feel like you have the island to yourself. In fact, the most challenging aspect may be keeping your eyes on the fairways and greens, Wes Gilbertson writes.
A lot of destinations call themselves the ‘Golf capital of the world.’ But few can stack up with the abundance per capita of Collier County, anchored by the hotbed of Naples.
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay opened in 2001, but the six-story castle-like resort feels like an escape to another time -- with all the modern conveniences. The two golf courses are spectacular, and the resort is luxurious and about as good as it gets, Mike Bailey writes from northern California.
For desert guests: Prepping for a Coachella Valley golf getaway is akin to an American historian taking a trip to Philadelphia, a foodie traveling to New York or a gambler rolling into Las Vegas. Palm Springs is the proverbial kid in a confectionery for golfers, and the options for diverse play are limitless. As are the choices for accommodation to complement your rounds. From Indian Wells to La Quinta Resort, here are four top options for area resorts with exceptional ‘play and stay’ facilities that are certain to ensure your travel meets high expectations.
Orlando has long been a magnet for professional golfers and aspiring PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and LPGA Tour players who are drawn by the superb inventory of championship-level layouts and year-round temperate climate that affords tee times every day of the year. If you want to see where your game really stands, head to Orlando.
Looking to get away from it all? Look no further than The Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club. The Inn at Bay Harbor feels like olden days America with modern amenities, while the 27 golf holes designed by Arthur Hills (especially the Links/Quarry combination) are reminiscent of formidable Irish seaside courses, David R. Holland writes.
Few regions on the planet offer such a collective celebrity designer gauntlet as Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley region. Judd Spicer highlights four of the best.
There’s only one thing wrong with planning a Scottsdale golf vacation: It’s hard to find enough time to play all of the city’s great courses. Phoenix may be the capital city, but there’s no question Scottsdale -- north Scottsdale in particular -- is the golfing nexus in Arizona.
The Orlando area has more topographical diversity than any other part of the Sunshine State. Utilizing acres of former orange groves and farmland, wetlands and sometimes wildly undulating terrain, designers have fashioned an excellent lineup of courses in the theme park capital of the world. Ed Schmidt breaks down the best Orlando has to offer.
Looking for a diverse mix of the best golf in the Tampa area? Brandon Tucker played 36 holes a day for four days in the Tampa area. What did he find out? Whether you play a world-class venue or a tiny municipal, you can find a great bargain in Tampa compared to other destinations.
Saddlebrook Resort is a golf resort that is more known for its tennis, but it’s making itself famous as a top golf academy and resort. With two championship courses and the golf academy, Saddlebrook is a great way to get in some serious golf lessons while being away from the traffic of Orlando and Tampa, but it still lets the golfer and family stay close to the big cities.
Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Vaaler Creek isn’t the closest course to San Antonio or Austin. But those who want a pleasant escape from either city will enjoy a day at Vaaler Creek, which has a pleasant blend of hole variety and playability, Brandon Tucker writes.
The western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains are rugged, rocky and unforgiving and can be a harsh environment. But golf course architect Dick Bailey tamed the land -- somewhat -- when he designed The Preserve Golf Club at SaddleBrooke. The par-72, 7,006-yard course, sitting at 3,200 feet in elevation, may be one of the finest Tucson golf courses you’ve never heard of. Golf course reviewers haven’t exactly rushed to the site, but you should.
The Monterey Peninsula offers some of the best golf, weather, things to do, dining and scenery that you’ll ever experience. If budget isn’t a concern, there’s no limit to the delights. But you might be surprised to find out that even on limited funds, this California golf vacation can be affordable, and you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime, Mike Bailey writes.
A trip to Augustine Golf Club in Virginia is like seeing an old friend who suddenly looks robust after a long illness. After closing in 2010, Augustine re-opened with little fanfare in April 2012. Irrigation and drainage work was extensive, roughly 1,000 trees were removed, and greens and bunkers were redone. The once-great course isn’t quite what it used to be, but it’s definitely recovered and poised to regain its original stature.
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines and Wolfdancer Golf Club hangs its 10-gallon hat on displaying the best of what makes the state unique, from numerous dining venues that celebrate Texas cuisine to offering outdoor fun of all sorts. Activities are especially family-friendly, with petting zoos, horseback riding and a large pool area and a water park large enough to accommodate 495 occupied guest rooms on a summer day.
Each year, 1.2 million cruise ship passengers visit Puerto Rico. And with more flights and high-end properties coming, such as Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Royal Isabela, golf here has never been hotter.
Brandon Tucker recently spent two days at Turnberry Resort and moments from the 2009 Open kept racing through his mind, from Tom Watson’s demise on the 72nd hole, to Tiger Woods’ meltdown and missed cut. Tucker shares more on his first visit to Turnberry Resort since 2006 -- three years before the Open and the resort’s extensive renovations.
Golf in the Florida Panhandle may not be as well-known as Orlando, Naples or Jacksonville, but areas like Destin, Panama City and Pensacola are chock full of great layouts from the best names in design.
When it comes to sports, the West Valley area of Phoenix is known for being the home of NFL and NHL teams. But there are also several golf courses in the area. They’re not as bunched together as those in north Scottsdale, but they’re also not as expensive. In fact, given the quality of the layouts -- from Wigwam Resort to Quintero G.C. -- and the lower-priced tee times, they’re some of the best bargains in Arizona.
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