SCOTTSDALE
New at the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale, the Girlfriend Spa Concierge has the inside dope on every spa treatment, and also advises guests as to local restaurants, shopping and nightlife—she can make all the arrangements in advance, or every day, for a gang of ladies.
The branded spa at the Fairmont is one of the largest and most elaborate spas in the desert. The rooftop pool and private cabanas are places to hide away for hours, especially under the stars for a couple's massage. Separate men's and women's areas; cold plunge pools, eucalyptus inhalation and regular saunas and steam. Guys like the post-game facial treatments and "executive" hand and foot grooming, while women are into the Golf Performance massage and après-golf facials, jet lag recovery and desert-inspired wraps. Adjacent to TPC Scottsdale courses, the Fairmont is ground zero for the players and spectators at the PGA TOUR's FBR Open, the largest PGA event of the year.
 WASHINGTON
Just opened, the first destination spa in Washington state is the Glade Spring Spa at Suncadia Resort, the upscale residential/vacation development east of Seattle. The new spa is unique for its "mountain glades" with hot outdoor mineral baths of varying temperatures, meandering creeks, rustic saunas, outdoor treatment decks, walking paths, and fireside relaxation areas. The glades also feature a private women's garden, complete with a hot outdoor mineral bath and sauna. Among the choices on the extensive spa menu are Shiatsu, golfer's massage, Chinese-style cupping, "Vital Energy Japan Journey," craniosacral, and traditional therapies, plus myriad salon services.
Suncadia is famous for the Palmer-designed Prospector Course, Tom Doak's stunning Tumble Creek Golf Course, and the Peter Jacobsen/Jim Hardy designed Rope Rider Golf Course, currently in the works. Vacationers stay in elegantly outfitted condominiums at the Lodge at Suncadia, and at the intimate Inn at Suncadia in rooms with fireplaces, soaking tubs, and rocking chairs on the verandas.
 RANCHO MIRAGE
Emerging from a $35-million renovation, the 444-room Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa has spruced up its 20,000 square-foot spa in fresh blues and greens. I like this spa in particular because of the lovely, adults-only pool courtyard where you can enjoy healthy light meals from the Spa Cafe. Ask the Spa Experience Coordinator about the Desert Cool Stress Reliever, a two-and-a-half-hour soother combining the healing properties of desert cactus and the arnica flower in cooling and healing scrubs and wraps, mineral bath, massage and facial.
Also at the completely redone resort is the Yamaguchi Salon, a palmy 27-hole golf course, a 25-court tennis center, four pools, the bluEmber restaurant and R Bar lounge, a new lobby and the Splashtopia water play complex.
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 IRELAND
A grand, century-old Victorian hotel in Northern Ireland's County Down, the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa has completed a £15 million refurbishment and expansion, including an elegant new spa with a gorgeous, ocean-view indoor swimming pool, and fitness and Zen studios. A traditional and exotic spa menu offers everything from jet-lag massage to stimulating hip and thigh treatment, age-defying facials, and "golfing recovery." You can walk through the grounds of hotel to one of the world's top golf courses, Royal County Down. And, you can also play at the beautiful nearby links course, Ardglass Golf Club; ask about stay-and-play packages from £99.
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 SAN DIEGO
Near the beach in northern San Diego County, The Spa at La Costa is one of the prettiest and most fun places to hang out at La Costa Resort and Spa whether you're having treatments or not. In the summertime, the popular Spa Under the Stars is a restorative "happy hour" involving a discounted spa treatment and an evening of fine wines, healthy lifestyle cuisine and live music; it's in the spa courtyard on Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. (for a fee, you can also join the party without a spa treatment). The gorgeous, gardeny courtyard is a wonderful spot on most evenings, complete with a pool and Roman waterfalls, and cozy hideaway nooks. The Spa Café is a great place for an al fresco lunch (think about crab salad and passion iced tea) or a sunset glass of wine, and cheese and fruit platter.
The La Costa spa is one of the largest and most highly acclaimed spas in the western states. Among other top-notch treatments I've had there was the best Thai massage of my life. Besides a huge spa menu of traditional and exotic treatments, the spa specializes in Ayurvedic therapies; The Chopra Center for Well Being (that's Deepak Chopra) is based at the resort. The two world-famous PGA Championship golf courses have been completely renovated in recent years.
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 MAUI
Reopened in January, 2008, after a $180 million transformation of the entire resort, the 463-room Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua has also opened a new spa with 15 treatment rooms, outdoor couples' cabanas, Hawaiian-style whirlpool grottos, and both private and co-ed relaxation areas. Most of the treatment rooms open to private outdoor shower gardens. Also new at the Ritz are luxury poolside cabanas with personal attendants, flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations, refrigerators and ceiling fans, complimentary tropical fruit and non-alcoholic beverage service, electronic safes, outlets for cell phones, and more fabulous amenities. The interiors and the grounds are sumptuous, tropical environments, and the Bay and Plantation golf courses at Kapalua are world class.
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 FLORIDA
A new series of therapies designed especially for golfers have been launched at the PGA TOUR Spa Laterra at World Golf Village near St. Augustine. A comprehensive mind-body experience, "Mindful Golf" includes an evaluation and customized program designed by a golf specific personal trainer, a PGA TOUR teaching pro and a massage therapist. Other treatments for golfers are the Sunbrella, a deep-cleaning facial and application of sun protection; Tee Time, an express grooming facial for men, and golf-oriented massages such as the Warm-Up, which helps players stretch and loosen up before their round, and the 19th Hole, which soothes and relaxes muscles after golf.
The PGA TOUR Spa Laterra is the first branded PGA TOUR spa in the U.S. World Golf Village is the home of the World Golf Hall of Fame; the King & Bear course (the only one co-designed by Palmer and Nicklaus), and the Slammer & the Squire.
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