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GOLF RESORT NEWS |
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Southern California Sunshine
Pelican Hill Golf Club has re-opened after a two-year re-perfection by the original course architect, Tom Fazio. Laid along the spectacular Newport Coast of Southern California, the Ocean North and Ocean South tracks are better than ever, with returfed fairways and tees, much improved drainage, 125 reconfigured bunkers, new cart paths, and a driving range with practice bunker, fairway and green. On the Web site are striking photos and an extensive interview with Fazio filmed against the backdrop of the ocean holes; fortunately, besides describing the details of the transformation, he offers tips for surviving the signature holes. Number 17 was named by Golf Magazine as one of the Best Holes in the World, and the club is stacking up more titles and awards, such as one of "18 Great Country Clubs for a Day" and a Four Star award from Golf Digest.
The climate-controlled terrace at The Grill at Pelican Hill in the luxurious clubhouse is a place to linger over California cuisine and miles of ocean views. Warmed by the fireplaces and Chef Thomas Ryan's creations as they emerge from a wood-burning oven and an open kitchen, diners cozy up in deep banquettes and booths, enjoying the sight of the golf course and the sea through the tall, Palladian-style windows. 10 minutes from Orange County's John Wayne Airport and 45 minutes form LAX, The golf club is part of The Resort at Pelican Hill, a 500-acre property that will soon comprise luxury bungalow rooms and suites; 2-4 bedroom villas, a 20,000-square-foot spa, several dining venues, and ocean-view swimming pools, including a sprawling, Coliseum-style circular pool terrace decorated with a million glass mosaic tiles.
Through Spring 2008, the Island Hotel Newport Beach offers the Play Mate package, which includes luxury accommodations, a round of golf at Pelican Hill and/or 2 spa treatments.
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On the Beach in Maui
In the heart of the sprawling Ka'anapali Beach Resort, one of only two golf courses in Hawaii designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the famed North Course, was recently closed for months for a major face-lift, and renamed the Royal Ka'anapali Course. Starting alongside sugar-white Kaanapali Beach with a dogleg par 5 bordered tee to green by water, the updated layout rambles up into the West Maui Mountain foothills before dropping back to the ocean for three stunning finishing holes. Brushed by prevailing northeast trade winds, the 18th plays along a lagoon the entire length of the fairway and green. Nicklaus and Watson will defend their title at the Wendy's Champions Skins Game here in February. The Royal Ka'anapali re-do is part of a two-year, $13 million enhancement of Ka'anapali's courses and golf facilities that included a re-design of the South Course in 2005. Eleven nearby luxury resorts offer stay-and-play packages for Kaanapali.
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Gleneagles Gets Ready
Slated to be the Ryder Cup venue in 2014, the PGA Centenary at Gleneagles is the longest inland course in Scotland. A recent redesign by the designer of Bandon Dunes and the Castle Course at St Andrews, David McLay Kidd recently tweaked the original Nicklaus design for the Centenary, reworking holes 4, 6, 7 and 8 to strengthen an already stiff test, and to begin preparations for the Cup. Gracing 850 acres of parkland in Perthshire, celebrating an 80th anniversary in 2004, the 5-Red-Star Gleneagles has invested in a $6.8 million upgrade, opening ten Spirit Suites on the top floor of the hotel, the new Deseo dining venue, a children's playroom and zone for teens, and a new hair salon, with an ESPA spa to open in 2008.
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Troon Transformation
$14 million is the price tag on the massive renovation of the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Casita guest rooms and suites were done over, as well as the lobby, lobby lounge, and the Acacia restaurant, which now has a new fire feature, even wider views of the spectacular Sonoran Desert, and a private wine tasting room. Desert-hued furnishings and fabrics, WiFi, flatscreen TVs and more high-tech amenities were added.
The other big news is the multi-faceted transformation of Troon North Golf Club, known for nearly 20 years as the crown jewel of the Scottsdale/Phoenix golf mecca. The original designer of the Pinnacle and co-designer of the Monument, Tom Weiskopf oversaw rerouting and changes in hole sequence on both courses, creating an entirely new playing experience with improved playability. The two stunning desert layouts feature shorter distances between the front and back nines and between greens and tees, making for a more walkable Pinnacle course, now with a more links-style feel. The greens are new, and bunkers were reconfigured or removed on both tracks. The new 17th on the Monument course (named Arizona's #1 Daily Fee course by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine) was shortened by 20 yards and is now a 495-yard par four.
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The Legend Lives
Built in 1925, the legendary Donald Ross course at the Biltmore Hotel has been entirely restored and updated, a $5 million project that included rebuilt greens, tees and bunkers, and significant enhancements to the clubhouse and restaurant. The John Pallot Golf Academy and one of the largest practice venues in the Southeast make this a popular golf destination. An icon among American resorts, with the largest hotel swimming pool in the country, the 276-room Biltmore is a tropical oasis in the midst of Miami. The beautiful people come to see and be seen at the elegant Palme d'Or--voted the Best Restaurant in South Florida, the chic 1200 Courtyard Grill, and the glam Biltmore Bar. Guests hit the fuzzy ball on 10 tennis courts, and hide away at the spa and in poolside cabanas, which are complete with teakwood chaises and loveseats, banana leaf ceiling fans, WiFi, TV and butler service.
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Gems of the Desert
As part of a $7.5 million improvement of all of the championship courses at La Quinta Resort and Club, Pete Dye is embarking on a 3-year plan to improve his Mountain and Dunes courses, and the world-famous Stadium Golf Course at PGA West. The redesign will improve conditions overall and make the courses more playable for all abilities. The Mountain Course has reopened after extensive renovation of the tee boxes, greens and cart paths; Dye and son Perry consulted on reconfiguration of some greens and tee areas--the course now sports a 74.1/140 rating and slope.
Recently celebrating an 80th anniversary, La Quinta has 90 holes of championship golf created by such luminaries as Dye, Nicklaus, Palmer, Norman and Weiskopf. The resort is a blockbuster, with the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta--one of the largest in the West--41 swimming pools, 23 tennis courts; 7 restaurants, and 800 rooms and Spanish-style casitas, plus two stories of shops and restaurants surrounded by flowers, waterfalls and winding paths.
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