The Getaway Paradox?

[Matt_Ward]

What always fascinates me when traveling is the desire by destinations be the special "getaway from it all" location but for some reason they fail to realize that many males -- some females too -- want to know if the golf aspect is really so unique and compelling.

Too many of the "getaway from it all" locations simply dumb down the creative juices of the design and you often get a pro forma design lacking any juice. My wife is often interested in all the other amenities (i.e. spa, hiking trails, food offerings, shops, etc, etc) but I have to wonder if the people creating these ultimate "getaway from it all" really understand how pivotal it is that the golf offer an experience that is truly a "must" play layout.

Can really first rate golf design occur at places where the golf is seen as just a "part" of the total offerings? I have my doubts but wanted to see what others have found from their travels to "getaway from it all" locations. Thanks ...  

[A_Clay_Man]

matt- Is that different from what I know as "resort golf"? or is it more of a playability dumbing down?

[Matt_Ward]

Adam:

What makes me wonder is that so much time and $$ go into putting together a destination that will prompt you to go because it is soooooooo special. The problem? The golf aspect is thought of as being just another feature -- sometimes the hospitality gurus don't just get how pivotal a first rate design can be in maxing out the male desire to visit such places.

I guess it comes down to whether or not people have the passion to understand that a significant number of people who are true g-o-l-f-e-r-s will indeed make the time and effort to visit if something of compelling design is offered.

Look -- I just visited Lubbock and there is NOW a reason for going there besides visiting Texas Tech and Bob Knight.

Makes you wonder if people really understand the impact of golf and those who are passionate about it.

[RJ_Daley]

Matt, my attitude about the allure of such get-away places, is also the allure of the get-away place that the wife, or women in general don't really as a general rule want to get-away to, and we men do.  Trying to tap dance around the concept of male chauvinism, because I don't think that is really what I am expressing, but the easy tag some people would label me as saying.  That is why I love Sand Hills and this new place I visited, Sutton Bay are so appealing.  Of course, I'm sure the managements of both places wouldn't ever discourge females from participating.  But, the huntin, and shootin, and fishin, and being out on the lone prairie, golfin of all things, aren't generally where or what the ladies like.  And, it is a perfect male get-away, without being labeled as one who just joins a men's only CC back home.  Of course, you have the Kohler set of courses that also in no way dumbed down any aspect of their golf design, and offer the ammenities of a fine resort that would also appeal to the ladies. So, there are those that do focus on the priority of a great golf design, and then you have the other "spa" and golf resorts that are pure fluff...

[Tom_Doak]

Matt --

You wouldn't have hit a shot over the border into Mexico lately, would you?

I noticed the same phenomenon years ago with TPC courses.  They set out to build a tournament venue, and in the end, if the Tour didn't own them, very few of those courses are the sort which would be chosen for a tournament venue based on the merits of the design.

[Steve Lang]

 

Yeah, and I bet Matt discovered no cellular service down there either...

I don't think its a paradox.. more likely a paradigm of whether the facilities' or areas's uniqueness brings you back to replay or catch things you weren't able to do first time.  Elsewise its more like adios, been there, done that!