On The Right Trail

4 Nine top golf destinations and seven lodging properties along a short arc of Central Florida’s I-4 corridor joined together recently to offer a fast, easy way to secure tee times and rooms for the ultimate Orlando golf excursion. Orlando has long been a major destination for business and recreation and is second only to Myrtle Beach in terms of sheer numbers of places to play. The <a href="http://www.orlandogolftrail.com" class="external">Orlando Golf Trail’s</a> quality and ease of course access trump many other Southeast golf destinations. Add that to the extensive depth of off-course recreational opportunities, professional sports events, and international dining, and there’s just no comparison. Here in the house of the mouse, this means more time on the course and less time on the road. <a href="http://www.southerndunes.com" class="external">Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club</a> <cite>2888 Southern Dunes Blvd, Haines City, 800-632-6400</cite> The sculpted look of Southern Dunes started with the pure sand base and pre-existing elevation changes of up to 100 feet found on that massive sand ridge that runs through Central Florida. Carved from an old orange grove and wiped out by a hard frost in the 1980s, this unique property drew the attention of Architect Steve Smyers who said: “I thought we could do something pretty special there because it was going to be easy material to move around. We had a high sandy ridge with a lot of wind and were easily able to create mounds, hollows, and ridges.” Southern Dunes, a venue for many top Florida amateur events, presents a links-like feel with exposed windswept dunes, including a great abundance of bunkers—more than 180 chances to visit the beach. Tall native grasses and ornamental plantings frame most of the holes and form the borders with the rolling terrain. The course’s bold design calls for careful decisions and strategies—it’s been called a thinking as well as a gambling course. <a href="http://www.golfhunterscreek.com" class="external">Hunter’s Creek Golf Club</a> <cite>14401 Sports Club Way, Orlando, 407-240-4653</cite> The club opened in 1996 with a golf course design by Lloyd Clifton. A Florida native, Clifton has been in the golf business for more than 50 years, designing his first course in 1964, with more than 30 designs in Florida alone. Three rounds of hurricanes five years ago severely damaged the clubhouse, and Hunter’s Creek went through a dormant period leading to eventual recovery. The clubhouse was rebuilt, new management has come in, and the word is out that course conditioning and service is returning to its former higher level. With some of the most reasonable green fees around, Hunter’s Creek, a past PGA Tour and U.S. Open qualifying site, is ideal for the value conscious. <a href="http://www.falconsfire.com" class="external">Falcon's Fire Golf Club</a> <cite>3200 Seralago Blvd, Kissimmee, 877-878-3473</cite> Since 1993, Falcon’s Fire has been a very highly regarded Rees Jones Signature Design. Jones, the son of Robert Trent Jones Sr., is known for his role in course preparation for U.S. Opens since his restoration of The Country Club for the 1988 event and today has his name attached to more than 150 course designs in 29 states, Mexico, and China. Falcon’s Fire vies for best-in-class reputation among the top handful of public courses in all of Central Florida. The level of service and amenities is set very high. For those traveling without equipment, it’s worth noting club rentals at Falcon’s Fire range from seven different top club companies, so choosing a set that feels like your own is easy. “Falcon’s Fire is forgiving off the tee, the strength of our course is found in the green complexes,” says director of golf Kenny Winn. “Jones designed this course to be playable for a wide range of abilities, for golfer of all levels. We take great pride in our consistent, outstanding conditioning. Bunker Hill, our 13th hole, is probably the most talked about of any. This par 4 stretches from 296 to 394 yards with 15 pot bunkers and one sprawling green side trap along the outer left side with inside right all water, tee to green.” Falcon’s Fire closed for renovations in the summer of 2009 and re-opened October 1 with all new irrigation around new TifEagle Bermuda greens, most of the 128 bunkers restored, even reshaped in some cases. <a href="http://www.championsgategolf.com" class="external">Championsgate Golf Club</a> <cite>1400 Masters Blvd, ChampionsGate, 407-787-4650</cite> ChampionsGate lies southwest of Orlando, just a long par 5 from I-4. These two outstanding Greg Norman-designed championship courses have been drawing high praise since they opened together in 2000. The National Course is a parkland-style layout lined with citrus groves and pines. Its large, crowned greens are well protected by bunkers and tightly mown chipping areas. The International Course is a tribute to links-style golf: fully exposed, windswept, firm, and fast. At one time, the International carried the highest slope rating in Central Florida, 143 from the tips, due no doubt in large part to its 114 bunkers. ChampionsGate is known as one of the most challenging plays in the area, where “serious” players will go to test every part of their game. These two high-caliber courses on one site make for a magnificent and memorable day of golf. The World Headquarters of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy is also located here. <a href="http://www.metrowestgolf.com" class="external">MetroWest Golf Club</a> <cite>2100 South Hiawassee Road, Orlando, 407-299-1099</cite> The only Robert Trent Jones Sr. signature design in Orlando, MetroWest opened in 1987, the granddaddy of this group. MetroWest abundantly displays the grand-scale hallmarks of Jones’s work: expansive fairways and bunkers as well as large, well-contoured greens. Add to that the sense of meticulous attention to conditioning and reasonable green fees and you have what many consider to be the best value golf in Orlando. Jones is widely acknowledged (along with Donald Ross) as the best-known and most prolific course architect of the 20th century. In a career that spanned more than 60 years, he designed more than 450 courses in 42 states and 23 countries. According to director of golf Mike Pryor, “While the 14th hole is considered the most picturesque, our fourth hole is often considered one of the toughest in the Orlando area. It’s a long par-4 dogleg over water, but John Daly made it look easy when he drove his tee ball here 325 yards directly over water to the green. The course is forgiving off the tee, playable for all levels, but our green complexes demand precision. Water is in play on nine holes, and we have 75 bunkers.” <a href="http://www.celebrationgolf.com" class="external">Celebration Golf Club</a> <cite>701 Golfpark Dr, Kissimmee, 888-275-2918</cite> Precious few courses in the world can boast of the father and son architectural team of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. Their work at Celebration Golf Club on a virtually flat site with wetlands and pine forest resulted in a very fine parkland-style layout with two distinctly different nines. On the easier front nine, one plays through open spaces out to some of the wide boulevards of Celebration's period-style residences. The back nine heads out into a more heavily wooded area with more challenge and hole-to-hole separation. Water hazards have everything to do with strategy through the entire course, as they can come into play on 16 of the 18 holes. The most forward and fifth set of tees can also play as an 18-hole par-3 course of 2,250 yards. And you won’t want to miss on the two-sided lake of a driving range with what feels like tiny island target greens. <a href="http://www.ocngolf.com" class="external">Orange County National Golf Center</a> <cite>16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden, 888-PAR-3672</cite> Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden is hands down the most complete and extensive play and practice golf facility in Central Florida. Besides the two championship 18-hole golf courses, Panther Lake and Crooked Cat, there’s a nine-hole par-3 course known as The Tooth, and at 42 acres and 600 tees, the largest driving range in the country. There’s also a huge putting green of 25,000 square feet illuminated for night practice. Architect David Harman designed these courses with assistance from Isao Aoki and founder/owner Phil Ritson. Ritson opened his Golf Your Way Studio here in 1997. Panther Lake plays over rolling terrain with significant elevation changes. Native pine, wetlands, and 13 fresh water lakes give character and create lines of play. Large, elevated, and contoured greens are typically well protected. Crooked Cat opened the second year (1998) with a more open, links-like feel: few trees with mounds and knolls framing and defining wide fairways. Also of note, there is no real estate development on or around these golf courses. <a href="http://www.ridgewoodlakesgolf.com" class="external">Ridgewood Lakes Golf & Country Club</a> <cite>200 Eagle Ridge Dr, Davenport, 800-684-8800</cite> Opened in 1994, this Ted McAnlis design has become a mainstay in the Orlando area for excellent conditioning with supreme affordability. McAnlis, once a NASA civil engineer, learned golf course design by working for George and Tom Fazio. His 30-year career has produced more than 50 course designs in Ohio and Florida. Ridgewood Lakes is playable for all abilities with no blind shots and only one forced carry over water, but it’s not necessarily an easy course with water hazards on almost every hole. <a href="http://www.shinglecreekgolf.com" class="external">Shingle Creek Golf Club</a> <cite>9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, 866-996-9933</cite> The Shingle Creek Golf Club is among the newest additions to the Orlando area. This David Harman-designed championship course opened in December 2003 and features the historic Shingle Creek meandering through the property. With thick stands of native oak and pine, Shingle Creek is part of the headwaters of the Everglades 140 miles south. Shingle Creek Golf Club may be one of the more expensive plays, but guests can expect virtually immaculate PGA tournament-quality course conditions on a daily basis, a state-of-the-art practice facility, and very high levels of service. While the water hazards on 16 of the 18 holes can seem to be fairly benign, that all can change quickly with the wind up. Tighter than apparent, well-bunkered fairways and rolling greens will test players of all skill levels. Shingle Creek is one course that might just play harder than it looks, in contrast to many others. true

2009-12-28T15:47:47+00:00

true

2009-12-28T15:47:47+00:00

The Orlando Golf Trail offers a mix of quality design and ultra-convenient proximity.

Nine top golf destinations and seven lodging properties along a short arc of Central Florida’s I-4 corridor joined together recently to offer a fast, easy way to secure tee times and rooms for the ultimate Orlando golf excursion. Orlando has long been a major destination for business and recreation and is second only to Myrtle Beach in terms of sheer numbers of places to play. The Orlando Golf Trail’s quality and ease of course access trump many other Southeast golf destinations. Add that to the extensive depth of off-course recreational opportunities, professional sports events, and international dining, and there’s just no comparison. Here in the house of the mouse, this means more time on the course and less time on the road. Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club 2888 Southern Dunes Blvd, Haines City, 800-632-6400 The sculpted look of Southern Dunes started with the pure sand base and pre-existing elevation changes of up to 100 feet found on that massive sand ridge that runs through Central Florida. Carved from an old orange grove and wiped out by a hard frost in the 1980s, this unique property drew the attention of Architect Steve Smyers who said: “I thought we could do something pretty special there because it was going to be easy material to move around. We had a high sandy ridge with a lot of wind and were easily able to create mounds, hollows, and ridges.” Southern Dunes, a venue for many top Florida amateur events, presents a links-like feel with exposed windswept dunes, including a...

637

On The Right Trail

2010-01-11T20:11:04+00:00

4 Eagle Mountain Golf Club Some visiting golfers drive by this Scott Miller design on their way to other more highly acclaimed courses nearby, but it’s their loss. Located just off East Shea Boulevard in Fountain Hills, Ariz., the course at Eagle Mountain Golf Club is both picturesque and challenging. Opened in 1996, Eagle Mountain flows through canyons and ravines, with fairways often shaped to help funnel errant drives back toward safety en route to huge, undulating greens. Water comes into play rather dramatically on the par-4 closing holes to each nine, with those greens guarded down the left and right side respectively by the hazard. While there is plenty of grass on every hole, there are not many flat lies, so brush up on the proper way to play those tricky sidehill, downhill, and uphill shots. Still, it’s a fun layout and the conditioning is above average. “Eagle Mountain is very player friendly, so you won’t get beat up like you might at a target-style desert course,” says head golf professional Jeremy Hayman. “And the views throughout are incredible.” Those distractions include the downtown Phoenix skyline, the McDowell Mountains, and Red Mountain, which you’ll be facing on the 18th, a par 4 that drops 250 feet from tee to green. Stay The Inn at Eagle Mountain could not be better positioned: within a three-wood of the course, with some rooms offering glimpses of the 10th and 18th holes. Numerous themed suites are available, from a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired version to the Old Mexico style of the Hacienda Suite. Get one with a private balcony and take in the stunning sunsets only found in this Sonoran desert setting. Play <a href="http://www.eaglemtn.com" class="external">Eagle Mountain Golf Club</a>, 14915 E Eagle Mountain Pkwy, Fountain Hills, 866-863-1234 or 480-816-1234. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa’s Wildfire Golf Club Between them, Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo have won 13 majors and hundreds of other tournaments. But it’s only at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa’s Wildfire Golf Club that they have designed courses right next to each other. Palmer was first on the scene when he unveiled his par-72 7,145-yard signature course in 1997. This links-style design is longer and tighter off the tee than its counterpart, with plenty of undulation in the greens. The defining hole may well be the 17th, a 430-yard par 4 with a lake just right of the green. Faldo’s course debuted in 2002 in conjunction with the hotel that overlooks it. With 108 bunkers, many of them steep-faced, accuracy is at a premium. “The fairways are pretty generous and the greens are large,” says director of golf John Wright. “You really have to avoid the bunkers though since some are so deep you can’t move the ball forward, you might have to play sideways or even backwards.” Your best chance for an eagle—or triple bogey for that matter—usually comes on the well-bunkered 314-yard, par-4 16th. Putting surfaces on the Palmer course were re-grassed last year, while the Faldo course will receive the same treatment in 2009. According to Wright, better players find the Palmer course more difficult, but usually the course records (63 for the Faldo and 61 for the Palmer) remain safe. Stay The 950 rooms and suites at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa rise up and over the desert floor, many with golf course views. You won’t go hungry, not with dining options include like gourmet Italian at Ristorante Tuscany, Meritage Steakhouse, or Hawaiian fusion at Roy’s. Play <a href="http://www.jwdesertridgeresort.com" class="external">Wildfire Golf Club</a>, 5350 E. Marriott Dr, Phoenix, 480-293-5000 or 800-835-6206. Grayhawk Golf Club Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon Course turns 15 this year, but this teenager, and its younger sibling named the Raptor Course, have matured far beyond their years. Combining the two stellar tracks with a cool vibe (rock music still oozes out of speakers hidden in rocks around the clubhouse and practice area), this north-Scottsdale mainstay is a must-visit and must-play. The Talon Course, a Gary Panks and David Graham design, is the original layout and retains a distinctive look and feel unique to its desert location. From railroad ties in multiple bunkers near the green on the 505-yard fifth to a swinging bridge entry for the back tee (175 yards) on the picturesque par-3 11th, this par 72 is extremely playable. An island green on the 125-yard 17th is simply icing on the cake. “I recommend that first-timers play the Talon because of the great scenery,” says golf professional Doug Hodge. “The Raptor is wider off the tee, but the green complexes are more difficult and it’s a tougher overall challenge.” Designed by Tom Fazio, the Raptor has hosted multiple professional events over the years, including the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open the past three years. Fairway bunkers often swallow up errant tee shots, while the putting surfaces require steady nerves to handle the big, swooping breaks. Grass collection areas around the greens are no picnic either. It’s all capped off by a killer 18th, a 521-yard par 5 with water all the way down the right. Stay XONA Resort Suites is five minutes away and just underwent a $10 million renovation. Long a popular stop for visiting golfers, with many rooms containing full kitchens, the property has been re-energized with a new lobby, bar, and restaurant. Play<a href="http://www.grayhawkgolf.com" class="external"> Grayhawk Golf Club</a>, 8620 E Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, 480-502-1800. true

2009-12-14T18:41:40+00:00

false

true

2009-12-14T18:41:40+00:00

Where to stay and play in the Grand Canyon state.

Eagle Mountain Golf Club Some visiting golfers drive by this Scott Miller design on their way to other more highly acclaimed courses nearby, but it’s their loss. Located just off East Shea Boulevard in Fountain Hills, Ariz., the course at Eagle Mountain Golf Club is both picturesque and challenging. Opened in 1996, Eagle Mountain flows through canyons and ravines, with fairways often shaped to help funnel errant drives back toward safety en route to huge, undulating greens. Water comes into play rather dramatically on the par-4 closing holes to each nine, with those greens guarded down the left and right side respectively by the hazard. While there is plenty of grass on every hole, there are not many flat lies, so brush up on the proper way to play those tricky sidehill, downhill, and uphill shots. Still, it’s a fun layout and the conditioning is above average. “Eagle Mountain is very player friendly, so you won’t get beat up like you might at a target-style desert course,” says head golf professional Jeremy Hayman. “And the views throughout are incredible.” Those distractions include the downtown Phoenix skyline, the McDowell Mountains, and Red Mountain, which you’ll be facing on the 18th, a par 4 that drops 250 feet from tee to green. Stay The Inn at Eagle Mountain could not be better positioned: within a three-wood of the course, with some rooms offering glimpses of the 10th and 18th holes. Numerous themed suites are available, from a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired version to the Old Mexico style of the...

Arizona Hot Spots

2009-12-14T18:50:15+00:00

4 Yogi Berra touched on the problem when he said of a New York nightspot, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.” But a place like California’s Sonoma County, on the other hand, is the perfect spot for a winter getaway. Because of its more than 200 award-winning wineries, scenic coastline, majestic redwoods, and top-rated golf courses, Sonoma County, less than 30 miles north of San Francisco, has long been a preferred destination of those looking for the ultimate vacation experience. But visit during the winter months and the driving is a bit more leisurely, the natives are a little happier to see you, and while not every day is a beach day, most of the time you can still play a round in shorts. And speaking of driving, the <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma" class="external">Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa</a> offers a podcast driving tour with commentary from local historians as well as food and wine personalities. But that’s just one of the things making the Fairmont, located in the eponymous town of Sonoma, the lodging of choice in the area. Its fine-dining establishment, Santé, is something of an institution in this culinary-crazed region, and its spa is famous for its natural thermal mineral water and more recently its Pilates for Golf program. Best of all, guest status at the Fairmont is legal tender for golf at private <a href="http://www.sonomagolfclub.com" class="external">Sonoma Golf Club</a>, site of the recent Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the season-ending event on the Champions Tour. The very walkable layout measures 7,087 yards for a par 72 and fits its wine-country context like a glove. Designed by Sam Whiting, also known as the architect of San Francisco’s prestigious Olympic Club Lake Course, it dates to 1928 and is set on 177 acres at the foot of the Mayacama Mountains, amid lakes, mature forests, and vineyards. Traveling is Essential Whether it’s to some of the dozens of vineyards or to Sonoma County’s nearly as numerous golf courses, reconnoitering the area is essential to appreciate its variety. Two wildly different golf experiences can be sampled in the same day: <a href="http://www.northwoodgolf.com" class="external">Northwood Golf Club</a> and Sea Ranch Golf Links (707-785-2468), which are connected by a gorgeous drive along the California coast. The former is by Alister Mackenzie, the latter by Robert Muir Graves. Northwood, in Monte Rio, is a nine-hole course shoehorned into a colossal redwood forest. It begs to be walked. Sea Ranch, in the town of the same name, is a windswept seaside track. Together they may encourage you to think about moving to California yourself. The Windsor Golf Club (707-838-7888), which opened in 1989, is quickly landing on many golfers’ must-play lists as well. This 6,650-yard par-72 championship layout traverses a creek, lakes, and oak trees. While its signature hole is No. 8, a 368-yard par 4, you won’t miss its signature silos along the landscape. Home to dozens of award-winning wineries and challenging golf courses, Sonoma County also offers a number of activities to for a break from the links, including more than 40 spas, museums, galleries, restaurants, and more. Just remember, though, this is off-season. Golf Courses in the Area <a href="http://www.bodegaharbourgolf.com" class="external">Links at Bodega Harbour</a>, 21301 Heron Dr, Bodega Bay, 800-503-8158 6,290 yards, par 70; $60-$90 <a href="http://www.northwoodgolf.com" class="external">Northwood Golf Club</a>, 19400 Hwy 116, Monte Rio, 707-865-1116 5,786 yards, par 72; $33-$57 <a href="http://www.roosterrun.com" class="external">Rooster Run Golf Club</a>, 2301 E. Washington St, Petaluma, 707-778-1211 7,001 yards, par 72; $38-$58 Sea Ranch Golf Links, 42000 South Hwy 1, Gualala, 707-785-2468 6,604 yards, par 72; $60 <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma" class="external">Sonoma Golf Club at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn</a>, 100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-939-4100 7,100+ yards; $185 Windsor Golf Club, 1340 19th Hole Dr, Windsor, 707-838-7888, 6,650 yards, par 72; $37-$56 Wineries & Wines Check out these Sonoma County wineries below and consider adding these some recommended wine choices to your list. <a href="http://www.gunbun.com" class="external">Gundlach Bundschu Winery</a>, 2000 Denmark St, Sonoma, 707-938-5277 > One of the oldest wineries in Sonoma, the $22.50 2008 Gewürztraminer has aromas of orange blossom, lemon, and spices. <a href="http://www.lambertbridge.com" class="external">Lambert Bridge Winery</a>, 4085 W. Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, 800-975-0555 > $45 2006 Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley is a full-bodied and robust wine with flavors of boysenberry jam, cassis, and currant blended with dark chocolate brownie, nutmeg, and cinnamon. <a href="http://www.ledson.com" class="external">Ledson Winery</a>, 7335 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 707-537-3810 > This French Normandy winery known as “The Castle” specializes in small varietal lots but the award-winning $24 2007 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc is a popular white wine and worth a try. <a href="http://www.robertruevineyard.com" class="external">Robert Rue Vineyard</a>, 1406 Wood Rd, Fulton, 707-578-1601 >Zinfandels are a must at this appointment-only winery. $32 2006 Wood Road Reserve Zinfandel is an award-winning wine that carries blackberry, plum, and Marionberry flavors. <a href="http://www.strykersonoma.com" class="external">Stryker Sonoma Winery and Vineyards</a>, 5110 Hwy 128, Geyserville, 707-433-1944 > The focus of this winery’s efforts is on the Cabernet varieties. Try the $48 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard. true

2009-12-11T14:31:07+00:00

false

true

2009-12-11T14:31:07+00:00

Explore Sonoma County’s best golf courses while savoring the local wines.

Yogi Berra touched on the problem when he said of a New York nightspot, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.” But a place like California’s Sonoma County, on the other hand, is the perfect spot for a winter getaway. Because of its more than 200 award-winning wineries, scenic coastline, majestic redwoods, and top-rated golf courses, Sonoma County, less than 30 miles north of San Francisco, has long been a preferred destination of those looking for the ultimate vacation experience. But visit during the winter months and the driving is a bit more leisurely, the natives are a little happier to see you, and while not every day is a beach day, most of the time you can still play a round in shorts. And speaking of driving, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers a podcast driving tour with commentary from local historians as well as food and wine personalities. But that’s just one of the things making the Fairmont, located in the eponymous town of Sonoma, the lodging of choice in the area. Its fine-dining establishment, Santé, is something of an institution in this culinary-crazed region, and its spa is famous for its natural thermal mineral water and more recently its Pilates for Golf program. Best of all, guest status at the Fairmont is legal tender for golf at private Sonoma Golf Club , site of the recent Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the season-ending event on the Champions Tour. The very walkable layout measures 7,087 yards for a par 72 and fits its...

A Great Finish

2009-12-11T17:44:54+00:00

4 If you can’t make a smoother, slower golf swing on Grand Bahama Island, then you probably never will. The fourth-largest island in the Bahamas has endless white sand beaches, perfect weather (70-75 degrees daily during the September to May dry season), and an ultra-relaxed atmosphere fed by easygoing residents, all of which should connect you with an optimal swing tempo just minutes after stepping off the plane. The island, some 55 miles east of Florida’s West Palm Beach, is home to <a href="http://www.ourlucaya.com" class="external">Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort</a>, which tees up a twosome of worthwhile layouts. First is the Dick Wilson-designed Lucayan Course, which dates back to 1962 and measures 6,824 yards. Tropical breezes make the tree-lined dogleg fairways a few strokes harder, as do the small, elevated greens. The resort’s other layout—and newer, having debuted in 2000—is the 6,920-yard Reef Course, an acclaimed effort by Robert Trent Jones Jr. His handiwork resulted in a links-style track that also puts a premium on accuracy, largely due to the presence of water prominently featured on all but five holes. Both courses have hosted the PGA’s Bahamas National Open and multiple other championship events. The resort itself is a mere 20-minute ride from the international airport in Freeport, which is serviced with direct flights of just under three hours from New Jersey on Continental Airlines, as well as non-stops from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. A new non-stop flight via U.S. Airways from New York is scheduled to begin in December. Accommodation on the property include the Radisson, a more upscale alternative that’s perfect for couples and featuring 740 rooms in two buildings; or the more family-oriented Our Lucayan Reef Village, which itself almost has 500 rooms (more than half offering an ocean view), plus a waterslide and Camp Lucaya for kids ages 3-12. In fact, last year Parents Magazine ranked the Our Lucaya Reef Village as the number one beach resort for families in the U.S. and Caribbean. Guests at either can use facilities at both, including more than 10 restaurants serving an international array of delicacies. Outdoor activities in addition to golf are plentiful—the list includes nature tours, horseback riding, snorkeling, and swimming with dolphins, among others, plus a unique tennis center at the Radisson that features courts with the same surfaces as three major championships: the grass of Wimbledon, red clay of the French Open, and the DecoTurf of the U.S. Open. The facility is the only one of its kind in the Caribbean. Indoor options also prove popular for visitors. If you have gotten enough sun for the day, you can try your luck at the Isle of Capri Casino or soothe your muscles at a 25,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. There’s also the Port Lucaya Marketplace with shops, restaurants, and lively, nightly entertainment. The latter might affect your scores, but that’s part of island life, even for just a few days. Just don’t forget your passport. Quick Tips • The country code for The Bahamas is 242. • Driving is on the left. • Both the Bahamian dollar and U.S. dollar are accepted. • The Bahamas is on Eastern Standard Time (EST). • A departure tax of $15 is typically included in ticket prices. Useful Links • <a href="http://www.bahamas.com" class="external">The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism</a> • <a href="http://www.ourlucaya.com" class="external">Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort</a> true

2009-12-08T20:13:54+00:00

true

2009-12-08T20:13:54+00:00

Home to unspoiled white sand beaches, upscale family-friendly accommodations, and first-rate golf.

If you can’t make a smoother, slower golf swing on Grand Bahama Island, then you probably never will. The fourth-largest island in the Bahamas has endless white sand beaches, perfect weather (70-75 degrees daily during the September to May dry season), and an ultra-relaxed atmosphere fed by easygoing residents, all of which should connect you with an optimal swing tempo just minutes after stepping off the plane. The island, some 55 miles east of Florida’s West Palm Beach, is home to Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort , which tees up a twosome of worthwhile layouts. First is the Dick Wilson-designed Lucayan Course, which dates back to 1962 and measures 6,824 yards. Tropical breezes make the tree-lined dogleg fairways a few strokes harder, as do the small, elevated greens. The resort’s other layout—and newer, having debuted in 2000—is the 6,920-yard Reef Course, an acclaimed effort by Robert Trent Jones Jr. His handiwork resulted in a links-style track that also puts a premium on accuracy, largely due to the presence of water prominently featured on all but five holes. Both courses have hosted the PGA’s Bahamas National Open and multiple other championship events. The resort itself is a mere 20-minute ride from the international airport in Freeport, which is serviced with direct flights of just under three hours from New Jersey on Continental Airlines, as well as non-stops from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. A new non-stop flight via U.S. Airways from New York is scheduled to begin in December. Accommodation on the property include...

553

Escape to Grand Bahama Island

2009-12-16T15:53:42+00:00