Top 25 Golf Resorts

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I was telephoned today by a London publisher for some advice.  They're considering a coffee-table book (mostly pictures) on 25 of the world's top golf resorts.  Their sales are principally in the USA, but also in the UK and Japan.  And what they mean by 'top' is the last word in luxury, fabulous eating, a wine list to die for, umpteen other available activities (ballooning, big game hunting, sea fishing, a grouse moor or two....), gorgeous scenery, and what the wealthy perceive as something special in the way of a golf course or two.  Politics come into it - nowhere in Bali or the Middle East, for instance.  It's not a book about golf architecture as such.  Which 25 resorts would you suggest to them?

[THuckaby2]

Mark - books of this type exist already - I have one on my coffee table at home!  Can't recall the editor or publisher as I sit here in my office, but it is a fun read and seemingly right on.

Golf Magazine also does an annual ranking of such things, giving gold and silver medals, and all criteria you list are considered.

In any case what I am saying is they could do some internet research and in about 5 minutes have a very cogent list, with no ommissions.  It would then be up to them how they present it.. they would have to surpass what's out there already to make it viable, but I'm sure that could be done.

TH

[Brian_Gracely]

They'd be better of selling a book on the Top 25 most exclusive clubs worldwide, and charge $1M for the book so the details would only be available to those that could afford to join....not that they'd necessarily be invited to join.

...and then maybe somebody would publish the pictures on GCA.com

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Yes, I am aware of such books and have one or two myself, but I'm not going to tell a publisher that I'm not interested in a small fee for a little advice!

[Dan Kelly]

For a very small fee, we'll all be willing to help you!  

[THuckaby2]

Mark:

OK, so then your task is to go beyond what's out there already?

Well then I wish you good luck.  If a resort exists that hasn't already been identified in this area, it is a well-kept secret indeed.

But as a way of getting the ball rolling, I'd suggest Punta Mita, north of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.  This one may or may not make most lists.  In terms of extravagance, it should from what I hear.  Nice course with a unique extra hole on the ocean, as well.  A few regulars here have been there.

TH

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I'm sorry - I have misled you.  I'm not trying to get you to do my work for me!  What I want is the different perspective that people living outside the UK bring to it.  In other words, because we Brits don't go in numbers to Mexico I'd probably neglect it.  Tom's post makes that very point.  We do, however, travel in huge numbers to Southern Spain and Portugal and few Americans or Canadians do.  As golf in these countries has become too expensive for many Cyprus and North Africa have entered the frame, but not for many Americans, I suspect.  On the whole I imagine most North Americans travelling to the British Isles would head for Scotland or Ireland, not England.  However, as far as resorts rather than simply courses are concerned in Scotland and Ireland they're nearly all inland - Gleneagles, K-Club, Carton House etc.  But that's only what I imagine.  I don't know, so in this way I'm doing a bit of market research.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Reynolds plantation has Ballooning, unfortunatly 2 windy days called off a fun ride for my wife and I.  A great hotel and spa.  The food was very good, as was the pool, and pool side food.
As for the golf, I played at Cuscowilla...with good wind for 2 days.
Cheers

[Ted Kramer]

The island of Lanai is super luxurious.
It is the small island close to Maui.
Two golf courses, both pretty good -
one in the mountians and one on the ocean.

2 beautiful resorts (Manele Bay & Lodge at Koele), again, one in the mountains and one on the ocean.

-Great food, truly first class.
-Incredible big game fishing, marlin, mahi, etc.
-Serious hiking
-Skeet shooting
-Horseback riding
-Great spa

My wife and I just got married there in August.
It was just perfect. . .quiet, secluded, romantic, and luxurious.

-Ted

[JakaB]

Does a course need to be Public to be considered a Resort...Sand Hills seems like a great place to me..

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Mark, I hvae read and heard good things about the new resort in Costa Rica called Papagayo, they have a website, see what you think.

My dad just returned from Brazil and said there is an intersting golf resort that has just opened at the Iguazu Falls..I think intersting means that the golf course is so/so at best.
But the accomodation and usual luxury items were all present and correct.

My personal favourite is Mt Kenya Safari Club..awesome spot..in fact you can bury my ashes there..again not much of a golf course..but everything else is beyonf words.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

John,

I think a resort has to be accessible to any member of the public who can afford to stay and play there.

[JakaB]

Mark,

That dissapoints me on a couple of levels...and I doubt if it has always been the case.   Do you know of any resorts golf or not that don't take just every schmoe with a credit card...

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

Talk about a fat pitch over the plate!  Kiawah Island Golf Resort with 5 fantastic courses including Pete Dye's Ocean Course (site of the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches, the 1997 and 2003 World Cup, the 2001 UBS Warburg Cup, the 2005 Club Pro Championship and the 2007 Senior PGA Championship (see Ran's write-up here: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/kiawah1.html), Nicklaus' Turtle Point (site of the 1990 PGA Cup), Fazio's Osprey Point, Player's Cougar Point and Johnston's Oak Point (as well as two private courses - Watson's Cassique and Fazio's River Course).  Tennis magazine ranks us as the No. 1 tennis resort in the U.S.  The Travel Channel ranks our beach as one of the top 10 in the U.S.  All this, just 21 miles from Charleston, South Carolina, rated one of the top 5 tourist destinations in the U.S. for the last 10 years (also rated American's "most polite" city for 11 years in a row!)...

Oh, yes!  Let's not forget The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, our new $125 million ultra-luxury oceanfront hotel and spa adjacent to Turtle Point's three ocean-side holes... (see link below for web site)

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

Do you know of any resorts golf or not that don't take just every schmoe with a credit card...

That's Mr. Schmoe, to you!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

John,

Of course it disappoints, but that means that there are lots of hidden gems left for the rest of us to enjoy.

Mark.

[Dan_Callahan]

A few great resorts that don't appear in many of the books:

I wouldn't rate the course in top 25 in the world, but the resort experience of Wequassett Inn on Cape Cod is pretty exceptional. Cape Cod National, a private Brian Silva course, is open to guests of Wequassett.

Another good one in the Northeast is Wentworth by the Sea. Guests of the hotel can play the private course of the same name that has some very cool ocean holes.

The best attributes of both these resorts is in the luxurious accomodations, food, location, etc. The fact that great golf is also available is a bonus.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Mark, Pebble, Bandon, Greenbrier, Pinehurst should be in the mix on a world class discussion.