[Scott_Burroughs]

Found this while getting that Nicklaus article, Golf Digest Index magazine, or at least one special issue of Golf Digest.  It seems almost like if Cigar Afficianado had a special golf issue.

http://www.golfdigestindex.com/

Including a slideshow of pages of the magzine:

http://www.golfdigestindex.com/slideshow.html

and the rankings of the 50 Greatest Golf Retreats (and from these 50, the top 10 accomodations, meals, wine & spirits, caddies, and service):

http://www.golfdigestindex.com/pdf/gdindex_50retreats.pdf

non-PDF version:
http://www.golfdigestindex.com/50retreats2.html

[Gary Slatter]

Thanks, sure beats watching American Idol!  
My favorite "retreat" was listed #50, I really enjoyed staying in the locker room accomodations and playing 45 holes a day at Firestone a few years ago.
Thank goodness for carts!

[Scott_Burroughs]

Is that the 15th hole at Boston GC on the cover?



Other pics from the issue (featuring the Retreat courses ranked):

Flint Hills National:


2nd floor library at Augusta National:


Pine Valley:


View from Pine Valley clubhouse of 5th hole:


Inside Crump Cottage at PV:


Clubhouse view at Mayacama:


10th hole at Valley Club of Montecito:


PV halfway house:


Par 3 4th at Caves Valley:



Link to all photos in essay:

http://www.golfdigestindex.com/#

[Scott_Burroughs]

For the lazy:

[John Kavanaugh]

Scott,

Why is it always the Golfweek raters that fish for Digest bashers?  You might want to note that urban clubs were excluded from the list.  The Digest guys must not have been on the private jet to Canyata..I'm shocked it didn't make the top 50...but then again I never saw the bedrooms.

[Scott_Burroughs]

I don't know if that GW writer and whoever else was with him at Canyata were raters or not.  And I don't know how that has anything to do with GD bashing.  This is just a list I noticed hadn't been posted before as an FYI for all....I found it while looking at the Nicklaus article linked by someone else.

I don't remember if that article mentioned any overnight housing.  I didn't think there was a membership there, anyways.

The fact that these are non-urban retreats is stated in the article I linked above.  

[John Kavanaugh]

Scott,

What do you think of the list?  You must be pleased that Kingsley got a nod.

[Scott_Burroughs]

I've never played Kingsley, let alone stayed there, so I have no say.  I've only played 4 on the list, and stayed at 1.

What about you?  Your club's on there.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm familiar with most every club on the list with the exception of Whispering Pines..I don't get this half your dues goes to charity deal either.  I will admit that I was impressed by some of the pics and wonder if Victoria National is not one of the most understated of the clubs.  I have never felt that anything is fancy smancy with the exception of single carry only caddies, which I love.

My favorite thing about the list is the newly named Mayfield Sand Ridge C.  I have always felt that a club should be rated based on every course that comes with a membership and not just the "Championship" course.

I would also question how The Alotian has the second best caddies with such a short period of experience.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

I am really not getting this list. What makes some fo these courses 'Golf Retreats'?

Locust Valley, NY a Golf Retreat? come on now--grew up on Long Island not seeing this as a Golf Retreat--nor Sleepy Hollow.

Understand Augusta-Secession-Sand Hills.

Am I the only one here?

[Seth Berliner]

Is it just me or should a golf retreat be considered a place any golfer can visit, not just a member and his guests?

"Retreat" in this context could easily be substituted for "Golf vacation with some buddies at one of the four clubs where I am a member".

[JMEvensky]

I can't speak for the accuracy of the entire list,but Spring Creek Ranch(T27)has neither pool tables nor special shower heads in the suites and cabins.Primarily because there aren't any suites or cabins.The clubhouse is still under construction.

Kinda makes you wonder about the fact-checking.

[Tom Huckaby]

I don't recall exactly how they defined "golf retreat" but I believe it just meant any course/club that also had on-site lodging.

And if that's true about Spring Creek Ranch, whoa... that is obviously some seriously poor fact-checking.

But I'd guess this is for entertainment purposes only... I doubt GD prepared for this to be audited.  

Not sure also how they arrived at the rankings... I do know however that they did ask us rank and file course rating panelists for our input.  I have to believe it's just thanks to me that Sand Hills snuck into the top 10 for Wines & Spirits.  When I asked for Springbank and they had the 10, 12 and 21 year old right there on hand, well... that's all it took for me.

[Scott Szabo]

I find it hard to believe Sand Hills did not make the Top 10 in the service category.  I've never had that kind of service at any other club, and I am not even a member of the club.

[Kalen Braley]

Forget the wines....

Do they have any good micros on tap or in a bottle?  

[Tom Huckaby]

Forget the wines....

Do they have any good micros on tap or in a bottle?  

Kalen you youngster... Springbank is a scotch.  
But yes, they did also have a fine selection of beer, which is way more my speed anyway.  I just was impressed though that the one "stretch" scotch I tend to try to find from time to time was right there at the ready.

And Scott, re service, I am right with you.  It certainly wasn't my fault it didn't make the top 10.  But then again, odds are some want more "Ritz Carlton"-type attention rather than the understated perfection one gets at Sand Hills.

[John Kavanaugh]

Does anyone have a picture of the Kingsley clubhouse?

[Scott Szabo]

 the understated perfection one gets at Sand Hills.

Couldn't have stated it better myself.

[Kalen Braley]

Forget the wines....

Do they have any good micros on tap or in a bottle?  

Kalen you youngster... Springbank is a scotch.  
But yes, they did also have a fine selection of beer, which is way more my speed anyway.  I just was impressed though that the one "stretch" scotch I tend to try to find from time to time was right there at the ready.

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not a scotch man, and have duly proved so by my ignorance.  I'm more of a tequilla, jagermeister with red bull, vodka, 151 kind of guy...

[Tom Huckaby]

And Kalen, that is to be admired.

 

Interesting also, I too wasn't a scotch man until recent years, although my mother tends to enjoy it every night and has for as long as I can remember.  Trips to Ireland and Scotland won me over.  Of course I found a lot of fine beer over there also....

But this is a world-class digression.

Back to the GD list.  

[Kalen Braley]

Agreed it is off topic, back to retreats.

I was a little disappointed at first when I went to the list of retreats hoping to see the ones that are available to the public.  But I'm just as intrigued and interested about the private ones as well.  Thanks for the pics Scott.

I guess Cypress didn't qualify as it doesn't have any accomadations, or at least none that I'm aware of?  In the aerials it doesn't appear that there is a range either.

[John Kirk]

Does anyone have a picture of the Kingsley clubhouse?

Kingsley's clubhouse has an "understated" feel.  The cottages are first class, with cereal boxes at the ready each morning.

[Tom Huckaby]

Hmmm....

Cypress may well have some small rooms one could stay in - I'm not sure.  Perhaps not.  In any case even if it does I'd guess they are nearly never used.  It does have a range - right of 1 fairway.

As for public "retreats", wouldn't it be hard to separate those from golf resorts?  I think that was the intent here.. but who knows.

[Kalen Braley]

You're right Tom about the range.  Thats got to be the smallest range I've ever seen.  Not including the ones where you hit into the net.  Looks like they can stack em about 5 across there?  But at Cypress Point, I guess thats all thats needed.

You're right about public retreats, they are really resorts.  But then again for 99% of golfers a public resort is thier "retreat."

[Jerry Kluger]

I stayed in the dorms at Pine Valley - reminded me of my college days - I never really viewed them as being a plus. Now the rest of the experience was right up there with the best - but the dorms?

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