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Golf Luxury Hotels Tips
Preparing for a Luxury Golf Vacation
Sure, when you decide to take a luxury golf vacation, you want award-winning courses that challenge you. You want variety and a lot of play time without a lot of hassle. But when you’re off the course, you want to be pampered, too. Luxury golf resorts have sprung up in recent years, offering many choices for the discerning traveler. Fine dining, deluxe spas and gorgeous grounds are a priority. Classes, golf packages, intensive weekends are all on offer, in settings that might just distract you from your game!
Planning ahead is for a luxury golf vacation is key. One thing to think about is whether you want to rent clubs or bring your own. There are various companies that will take your clubs door-to-door so you don’t have to lug them to the airport.
Look into whether as a resort guest you get priority on the course. See how far in advance you need to book time. A great resource for golfers is golflink.com. There are loads of reviews and links to other helpful golf sites.
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Scotland Tops the Golf Leader Board
Scotland is the widely acclaimed birthplace of golf, arguably the world’s most popular game. Devised by the Scots in the 14th century, golf quickly became so popular that it was banned because it was seen as a threat to archery skills required for military defense. However, Scottish golfers persevered. By the 16th century, King James IV of Scotland took up the sport himself and the rest is history. Today, conservative estimates place the number of golfers worldwide at over 65 million. Naturally, Scotland remains one of the leading luxury golf travel destinations in the world.
Located just one hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow on 850 scenic acres, Gleneagles Hotel luxury golf resort has topped the leader board for dream golf vacations for over 83 years. Play the King’s Course, Queen’s Course or a quick round on the nine-hole Wee Course. Follow the footsteps of golf greats on the PGA Centenary Course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Plan ahead to attend for the 40th Ryder Cup match in 2014. Although Gleneagles is a golfing paradise, there’s more than great golf there. Outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy honing their skills at falconry, fishing, shooting, archery, hunting, tennis, biking, hiking, horseback riding and off-road driving. And, there’s no better way to sightsee around Scotland than by Gleneagles own chauffeured tours.
The historic and magnificent French chateau mansion houses luxurious bedrooms and suites with a dazzling array of modern amenities. Outdoors and indoors, service is impeccable and refreshingly unpretentious. The Spa at Gleneagles is an oasis of calm and serenity with full-service beauty and therapeutic treatments, including innovative ESPA holistic life enrichment and healing programs. And, Gleneagles Hotel is a founding member of Connoisseurs Scotland with fine dining at four on-site restaurants and an extensive wine cellar. It’s not surprising that Gleneagles Hotel consistently ranks high on Condé Nast’s Gold List and Travel & Leisure’s 500 World’s Best Hotels.
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Scotland Luxury Golf Hotel
The Gleneagles Golf Resort is set in 850 acres in Perthshire, Scotland. It has a jump on many of its competitors in the luxury department. It opened in 1924 and was described as a “Riviera in the Highlands” and the “eighth wonder of the world.” The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company, with its own railway station.
The accolades are many: It is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World; one of the Great Golf Resorts of the World; and a founder member of Connoisseurs Scotland, a world class grouping of properties which provide an authentic flavor of Scotland to discerning travelers. It also made the Travel + Leisure 500 2007 list. In 1986, Gleneagles was awarded the Automobile Association's supreme accolade of Five Red Stars, which it has retained every year. Since 1982, it has won more than 40 awards from the travel, catering and associated industries.
As for one of the courses, the PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, he said it was, “The finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with.”
Dining All the restaurants at the resort use fresh, local ingredients, from morning kippers or fresh eggs from a nearby farmhouse; scones and cream or Dundee cake for afternoon tea in The Bar to Angus beef, Scottish salmon, venison or Highland grouse for dinner. Scottish Chef of the year, Andrew Fairlie, creates signature dishes in his intimate, two Michelin-starred restaurant.
Spa A full-service spa offers everything from massage to holistic aromatherapy, or a reviving facial. Signature ESPA treatment include back treatment, wraps and detoxifying services.
Deluxe Touch Royalty, heads of state and celebrities have experienced the sheer luxury of the Royal Lochnagar Suite. A welcoming hallway opens on to a fabulously comfortable sitting room, guest bathroom and master bedroom, leading to a relaxation area, walk-in dressing room and master bathroom, complete with underfloor heating. Stunning views across the Gleneagles estate to the rolling skyline of the Ochil Hills.
With over 65 million golfers in the world, almost anywhere you travel there are luxury golf hotels and luxury golf packages competing for your business. Obviously, some golf travel destinations stand out from the crowd. Basking in over 300 days of sunshine and pleasant year-round temperatures, the Algarve Coast of southern Portugal is one of the premier luxury golf travel destinations in Europe. Gently rolling hillsides are blanketed with fig trees, fragrant blossoming orange and almond trees complemented by long stretches of golden sandy beach framed by rugged cliffs and secluded grottos. This secluded, yet easily accessible, paradise is one of the premier golfing destinations in Europe. Faro, the capital of the district, has daily flights from most major European cities and the U.S., connecting through Lisbon.
Savvy golfers and jetsetters have discovered an Algarve golf nirvana at the Hotel Quinta do Lago. This five-star golf resort, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, has been named Best Golf Resort Hotel in Europe by Hertz International and is a Golf Magazine Finest Golf Resorts in the World Silver Medal award winner. Set amid 1,680 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Ria Formosa Estuary, the four diverse golf courses set in undulating hills around Hotel Quinta do Lago are a feast for the eyes. High-risk tee shots, long drives, water and sand traps offer challenges for golfers of all levels. After a day on the links work out the kinks with a swim in the indoor or outdoor heated pools, at the gym, sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi or world-class spa. Watch the sunset paint a daily masterpiece across the lagoons. Later, savor a romantic dinner under the stars before retiring to a lavish guest room or sumptuous suite at Hotel Quinta do Lago for a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s game.
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Portugal Luxury Golf Hotel
The Hotel Quinta do Lago asserts it has more than 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a pretty sure bet you’ll have a nice day for golfing. There are four championship courses within Quinta do Lago itself, and eight more within easy reach -- a true paradise for golfers Golfers can play on courses that regularly host the Portuguese Open.
Dining Restaurant Ca' d'Oro (dinner only) specializes in Italian food, while Restaurant Brisa do Mar has a varied menu with both traditional Portuguese and International specialties.
Spa The Spa includes a heated indoor pool with counter-flow jets and massage jets, a steam bath and sauna (male and female), as well as six massage rooms. Other facilities include an outdoor Jacuzzi with an amazing view over the Ria Formosa, and a gym.
Deluxe Touch The Royal Suite is located on the top 6th floor with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. The suite has a private terrace with a heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Invite friends for dinner: there’s indoor and terrace dining rooms for 10 people, three bathrooms including one with Jacuzzi and a full, international open bar.
Details Almancil Algarve 8135-024 Portugal Tel: +351 289 350 350
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United States Luxury Golf Resort
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has five championship courses designed by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Clyde Johnston for you choose from. The Kiawah hosted on The Ocean Course the 2007 Senior PGA, the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, the 2001 UBS Cup and 2005 PGA Professional National Championship. Located along the shores of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, the luxurious oceanfront hotel is 30 minutes from downtown Charleston. The luxury golf resort received the AAA award of Five Diamonds.
Dining The Ocean Room, the resort’s signature specialty restaurant offers a menu of new American/eclectic dishes along with dramatic ocean views and exemplary service. The menu is seasonally inspired and consists of fish, vegetarian, shellfish, red meats, pork and game.
The wine list over gives more than 900 options and has 11,000 bottles in stock. The Ocean Room is one of two restaurants to be awarded the “Best of Award of Excellence 2006” by the Wine Spectator in South Carolina.
Spa The Spa at The Sanctuary was recognized by the Mobil Travel Guide with its distinguished Four Star rating for 2006. It is one of only 17 spas in North America, and the only spa in South Carolina, to hold this highly coveted award. Travel + Leisure ranked The Spa at The Sanctuary as one of the Best Hotel Spas in the country.
Deluxe Touch Club level accommodations include a private concierge to assist with dining, spa, transportation, tour or any other arrangements you may need during your stay. Guests have continental breakfast, a mid-day snack, cocktails and hors d oeuvres, vening cordials and chocolates available to them.
Details One Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island , SC 29455 Tel: 800-654-2924
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Mexico Luxury Golf Hotel
The courses at, and nearby, the Hilton Los Cabos are outstanding. Try the Cabo Real Golf Club , designed by Robert Trent Jones II. It is a picturesque course that flows through diverse terrain from mountains and valleys to breathtaking beachfront holes. The Palmilla , the Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole course was his first Latin America creation and is recognized as the Grand Dame of Los Cabos golf. Cabo Del Sol , another Jack Nicklaus signature design.
Dining Fenicia offers Mediterranean cuisine, great service and boldly flavored dishes from Sicily, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Spain and Morocco. Listen to live classical and jazz piano renditions seated inside or out on the terrace by the infinity pool with candlelight.
Spa Spa Ixchel is named for Ixchel, who represents the Mayan Goddess of the Moon. Try the Temaztac package, a deep hydrating experience which includes exfoliation with papaya crystals, a wrap which originated from the Mayans, and a 50 minute Swedish massage.
Deluxe Touch The Presidential Suite measures 4,460 square feet and has a stunning ocean front view of the Sea of Cortéz. There’s a very large bedroom with one king size bed, dressing room and bathroom with an indoor whirlpool and an outdoor Jacuzzi that fits four people. There’s also a private terrace for social events.
Details Carretera Transpeninsular (Km. 19.5) Los Cabos, Mexico
