 |
They say it pays to plan ahead. If you’re thinking of going away for the holidays, these golf resorts are so good you’ll want to visit them all. By Joe Lancaster.
REUNION RESORT AND CLUB, ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Agree to take the kids to Florida for Christmas and they’ll behave all year. Perfectly placed just minutes drive from theme parks like Universal Studios and Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Reunion also provides a tranquil getaway from the action when you need a little peace. The resort is enormous yet is renowned for its quiet, homely atmosphere.
The most luxurious one- and two-bedroom condominiums are found in the central, 11-storey Reunion Grande, which towers above the property. The building features fine dining in the Forte restaurant, while Eleven – the rooftop bar and tapas restaurant, complete with swimming pool – offers an ideal spot to watch the nightly Disney fireworks display.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom villas and townhouses are perfect for groups or families. Extremely spacious, they feature private patios or pools and the palatial furnishings you would expect. All accommodations enjoy access to superb facilities including the excellent water park (featuring a 33-metre slide) tennis courts, a spa and fitness centre.
Three outstanding 18-hole courses designed by Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer scratch the golfing itch, providing a surprising variety in style and difficulty. The facilities surrounding the courses are first rate, the highlight being The Annika Academy, where one of the most successful golfers of all time – Annika Sorenstam – fine-tuned her game. Lessons with her coach, Henri Reis, are available if you want to spend your holiday improving your swing under his unique, expert tutelage.
reunionresort.com
CASA DE CAMPO, LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
While some resorts boast that you don’t have to leave their gates during a holiday, at Casa de Campo on the Dominican Republic’s south east coast it’s absolutely true, not only because there’s so much to do there but because you actually might not find your way out.
The sprawling 6,000-hectare community features everything you’d expect like restaurants (20 in fact), a few things you might not expect (a marina), and some things you definitely wouldn’t expect, like a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village and a 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheatre which has hosted performances by Frank Sinatra, Santana, Sting and Il Divo.
There are already four Pete Dye-designed golf courses on site with a fifth currently under construction. The Teeth Of The Dog is the pick of the bunch, with seven holes skirting the Caribbean Sea. Generally regarded as one of the top 100 courses in the world, it is a typical Dye design: beautiful yet extremely challenging.
Classic villas range in size from three to five bedrooms and all have a pool, fully equipped kitchen, and living and dining areas. A four-seat touring cart comes with the rental cost, making it easy to get around the resort. If you really want to push the boat out though, the unique and exclusive oceanfront villas are extra special, with luxurious furnishings and features that can include whirlpools, kids’ playgrounds or billiard tables.
casadecampo.com.do
ROYAL WESTMORELAND, BARBADOS
Whether you’re looking for a romantic holiday for two or somewhere to take the family, Barbados has got it all, as does Royal Westmoreland. One of the most exclusive resorts on the tiny island, it is a stone’s throw from the idyllic Mullins Beach and provides a second home to a galaxy of celebrities.
The golf course is a Robert Trent Jones II design and is considered the most difficult on the island. However, from the forward tees it is still an enjoyable round for the average player and you know you’re somewhere special when the clubhouse has a diamond shop. But don’t worry, there’s still a great bar and restaurant overlooking the 18th.
A second 18-hole course is on the way, this time to be designed by Jones’ brother, Rees. Other amenities in the resort include the Sanctuary leisure facilities, kids’ club, tennis courts and several dining options, though you may prefer to hire a chef to cook in your accommodation.
royalwestmoreland.com
SAMANAH COUNTRY CLUB, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Morocco is currently one of the coolest places to visit and it is little wonder. The agreeable climate (with no humidity), delicious food and beaches all come at good value.
Samanah Country Club is just a 10-minute drive from Marrakech airport and only 15 minutes from the bustling, cultural kaleidoscope of the city. This brand new resort features shops and restaurants, a spa, leisure facilities and a kids’ club.
If you want to get out and explore, the Atlas Mountains, which dominate the view, are only 45 minutes’ drive away and offer skiing, horse riding, biking and walking, depending on the time of year.
The stunning villas, designed and decorated in traditional earthy styles and colours, line the 18-hole golf course. Guests get free access to the Jack Nicklaus-designed track, an interesting layout that is kept in lush condition with an ecologically sound watering system. There’s also a David Leadbetter academy on site, should you find you’re losing too many balls in the desert.
samanah.com
K CLUB, COUNTY KILDARE, IRELAND
If you’re lucky with the notoriously fickle Irish weather, you’re in for a real treat at the K Club. Opened in 1991, the luxurious resort has some wonderful homes, originally built for the 2006 Ryder Cup, that are now available for holiday rental.
A four-night stay in a two-bedroom villa starts at AU$2,683 with prices rising for three- and four-bedroom properties. The resort is also running a two-night ultimate golf experience, including two nights accommodation in a Superior Room, full Irish breakfast, a round on The Palmer Ryder Cup Course, plus a round on the Smurfit European Open course. It also includes full access to the K Health and Fitness facilities, including the swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub. Non-golfers can choose from either a one-hour K Spa Massage or K Spa Facial. Prices start from $400 per person.
Other activities include clay pigeon shooting, cycling and fishing on the River Liffey. The cosmopolitan city of Dublin is only a 30-minute drive away.
kclub.ie
POLARIS WORLD LA TORRE GOLF RESORT, MURCIA, SPAIN
With six huge sites in Spain’s Murcia region, it’s pretty difficult to choose a Polaris World Resort to visit. La Torre is situated just a few kilometres drive from the stunning beaches of the Mar Menor and the surrounding area boasts 2,600-year-old history and culture, such as the Roman theatre of Cartagena and the ancient city of Murcia.
Built in the style of a typical Mediterranean town rather than a resort, La Torre encourages outdoor living with its centre on the shores of a large lake, with shops, bars and restaurants for every occasion. Next to the town centre is the majestic five-star InterContinental La Torre Golf Resort Murcia Hotel with 133 luxury rooms and a variety of dining options. The leisure activities are complemented by the events and shows that are held there throughout the year.
As with every Polaris World resort, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course is the centrepiece of the sporting activities on offer, built to the Golden Bear’s usual impeccable standards and maintained to a first-class condition.
La Torre is a par-68 course with four sets of tees, three lakes, wide fairways and large bunkers. At 5,400-metres, it is a course where accuracy and strategy are fundamental. Green fees start at Ä65 for 18 holes and Ä45 for nine.
polarisworld.com
JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES, DUBAI
Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. It might sound like a 1970s disco group but this is actually one of the most exclusive golf developments in the world. Found in the desert of Dubai where wonders never cease, this incredible place comprises four distinct neighbourhoods with two world-class courses already built and two more in the pipeline.
With dense vegetation and water features providing an oasis in the desert, the Earth estate was inspired by the verdant parklands of Europe and North America. The architecture of the homes is based on that of southern Italy and a comprehensive range of services and amenities is always on hand.
The Fire estate is one of Dubai’s most desirable addresses and residents of the seven communities that make up the neighbourhood have the right to feel special as they relax in palatial villas inspired by the rustic architecture and warmth of Tuscany.
The Earth course, designed by Greg Norman, is the venue for the European Tour’s climax, the Dubai World Championship. The Fire course, also built by the Shark, is another typical example of his architectural philosophy: make it hard. Really hard. Tough bunkering is just one of the aspects that makes this as stern a test of golf as they come.
Villas in the Fire estate are available with sizes up to six bedrooms, including two balconies, synthetic putting green, outdoor kitchen, pool with integrated spa, outdoor fire pit, golf course views and a personalised golf cart.
jumeirahgolfestates.com
KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
No doubt you’ve heard of Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course. Designed by Pete Dye for the infamous ‘War on the Shore’ Ryder Cup matches of 1991, it is one of the USA’s most captivating tracks with more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.
But you might be surprised to learn that it is the jewel in the crown of five courses within the resort, with another two on the island for members of the Kiawah Island Club.
The resort is actually a residential community, much like a mini-America tucked away in tranquillity. Careful preservation of the immaculate 16-kilometre beach, tidal marshes, maritime forests and freshwater ponds has ensured the great outdoors are always on your doorstep, although so are the luxury amenities expected at such an exclusive spot, including a spa, sports facilities and restaurants. If you fancy a trip into town, Charleston is just a 33-kilometre drive away.
Private villas and homes provide ample space, with a fully equipped kitchen, dining room and living room. Golf packages include accommodation in a one- to four-bedroom villa or home and a round per day (a surcharge applies for rounds on the Ocean Course). Prices start at US$189 per person, per night based on four golfers staying in a two-bedroom West Beach Scenic View Resort Villa. A minimum stay of two nights and two rounds is required. Rate is available until November 27.
kiawahresort.com
ATLANTIC BEACH GOLF ESTATE, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
From the moment you drive through the secure gates of Atlantic Beach Golf Estate on the Western Cape, you’ll feel right at home. The resort-like community is modelled on a philosophy of relaxed, comfortable coastal living from the architecture of the homes right down to the smallest details like the cobbles and kerbstones, specifically designed to blend in with the sand dunes.
At the centre of the estate is the 18-hole, links-style golf course. A calm day allows you to play the ball high, but the regular ocean breezes off the Atlantic often require more creative shot making, so practice your punch.
The estate is nearby to shopping centres and restaurants, but don’t forget that Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is just 30 kilometres away. Trips to Table Mountain, Cape Point and the area’s historic vineyards will remind you why it is the country’s most popular tourist destination. A 20-room luxury hotel, The Lodge, is on site for holiday visits. A night in a deluxe room costs AU$158.
Designed by Mark Muller in traditional links style with an ocean breeze changing the state of play on a daily basis, Atlantic Beach is an 18-hole championship course with a par of 72. Winding its way through the undulating dunes and peppered with islands of fynbos, the challenging yet fair course has been designed to be as enjoyable for the expert as it is for the weekend golfer.
Available until December 2, the resort is offering two nights accommodation at the Lodge, 18 holes (one round per person per stay), a golfing gift pack, continental breakfast daily plus use of clubhouse amenities and the leisure centre. Rates start at 695 rand for a Deluxe Room based on single occupancy.
atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za
COSTA NAVARINO, MESSINA, GREECE
One of Europe’s most exciting golf developments in recent years, Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese has set a new benchmark for five-star
golf vacations.
For the last 25 years, Achilles Constantakopoulos and his father, Vasilis, have worked towards making their dream of a socially and environmentally responsible resort come true. In May last year, it became a reality when two luxury hotels and The Dunes, a beachfront golf course designed by Bernhard Langer, welcomed guests for the first time.
But that was just the beginning. The second course – The Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones II – is now open for play as Costa Navarino continues to grow.
Careful conservation of the environment is ensured at every stage of the development to the 1,000-hectare site and the next phase will be the construction of spacious villas, each with a private swimming pool and large plot of land. These unique freehold properties will have access to the hotel facilities and golf courses and will offer a home in an unrivalled Mediterranean setting.
costanavarino.com
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
