The Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses on the Monterey Peninsula are ready to step into the spotlight once again as host site of the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship in June. The 36-hole facility in Seaside, Calif., was recently part of a $13 million renovation project by architect Gene Bates, who modified fairways, changed some routing and added and reshaped bunkers. The courses are the official site for the PGA Tour’s second stage of Qualifying School as well as the Champions Tour Q-School. It also was the host site for the 2010 U.S. Open qualifier. The Bayonet, which opened in 1954, is a classic, tree-lined 7,104-yard course that offers expanded views of the bay. The Black Horse, which opened in 1967 and plays 7,024 yards, has been transformed from a series of tightly treelined holes to a more open and flowing environment. Both par-72 courses are steeped in military history and were created on the site of the former Fort Ord. For more information, visit bayonetblackhorse.com.

When it comes to great golf destinations, there are many reasons to applaud the Valley of the Sun

By Joel Beers

Sure, he may be a little biased, but talk to Kris Strauss about the lure of the Phoenix-Scottsdale region as a golf destination, and it’s hard to not get infected by his enthusiasm.

“This is arguably the pre-eminent golf destination in the U.S. — if not the world,” said Strauss, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for OB Sports Golf Management, which manages 15 golf properties in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. “The proximity of an international airport makes accessibility to the courses ideal, and the resorts, night life and restaurants are second to none. It’s a complete golf destination that should be on every golfer’s bucket list.”

Four OB Sports-managed properties are part of our list of six must-play public facilities in the Phoenix-Scottsdale region: ASU Karsten Golf Course, Raven Golf Club, McDowell Mountain Golf Club and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. Rounding out the list are the Arizona Biltmore and the Wigwam Resort.

While obviously a small sample of the approximately 200 golf courses in the greater Phoenix area, which includes the cities of Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe and many others, these six courses embody key characteristics of what makes the region a genuine golfer’s paradise, particularly the natural amenities of a valley created by the Sonoran Desert bumping against dramatic mountains.

“It really is a perfect destination for anyone,” Strauss said. “If it’s a buddy trip, there’s great night life. If it’s a couple’s vacation, the art, culture, dining and shopping are exceptional. And there really are a lot of outstanding quality golf facilities.”

The first four months of the year are peak season in the region, and the sooner you set up tee times the better. That’s particularly true the week of January 30 through February 5, when the PGA Tour’s annual Phoenix stop holds court, and in March, when 15 major league baseball teams, including all five California franchises, hold their spring training games in 10 Cactus League stadiums.

But even if you’re just in town for an overnight business trip or weekend getaway, or plan a longer stay to experience all the region has to offer, it’s hard to find a more fitting destination than the Valley of the Sun.

Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix
(602) 955-6600 • arizonabiltmore.com

Travelers from around the world have flocked to this property since 1929, when a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired hotel opened. And part of its maturation into a world-class luxury resort has been its two 18-hole golf courses: The Adobe, which opened in 1928 and received a full restoration in 2004; and The Links, which opened in 1978. Both are resort courses, meaning their lengths are quite manageable (each is less than 6,450-yards from the back tees) and both are eminently playable. The William P. Bell-designed Adobe is a step back in time, as it’s a traditional layout with lush fairways and no gimmicks. The par-71, 6,300-yard Links is an interesting combination of desert topography, rolling, pine-flanked fairways, and Scottish links golf.

ASU Karsten Golf Course
Tempe
(480) 921-8070 • asukarsten.com
If it was good enough for Phil Mickelson to hone his game in college, this Pete Dye-designed course should be good enough for anybody. The home course of the Arizona State University golf team, the length ranges from 4,765 yards to 7,002 yards from the professional tees. Like any Dye design, it is dramatic. “It’s only minutes from the airport, so it’s a perfect way to begin or end a trip to Phoenix,” said OB Sports’ Strauss. “You’ve got Dye’s signature railroad ties, Hershey Kiss-like mounds and three really tough finishing holes, including the stunning 18th, which is very similar to the Dye’s final hole at TPC Sawgrass.”

McDowell Mountain Golf Club
Scottsdale
(480) 502-8200 • mcdowellmountaingc.com

In January 2011, Mickelson purchased this course, formerly known as Sanctuary Golf Course. The new owner then authorized Randy Heckenkemper to oversee a dramatic revision, which included flipping the nines, widening the playing corridors, reshaping fairways, and adding new teeing areas and waste bunkers. “The improvements have really pushed this course up on the Arizona must-play list,” Strauss said. The par-71, 7,072-yard track is located 600 feet above the valley floor and features dramatic elevation changes and stellar views of Camelback Mountain.

Raven Golf Club
Phoenix
(602) 243-3636 • ravenphx.com
Though located only minutes from downtown Phoenix, playing this David Graham and Gary Panks-designed course, with its nearly 6,000 pine trees lining the fairways and the Flagstaff red cinder border “almost makes you feel like you’re playing a course in Northern Arizona,” Stauss said. Opened in 1995, length ranges from 5,759 yards to 7,078 yards. Offering stellar views of both mountains and the downtown Phoenix Skyline, Raven is eminently playable, but its complex, multi-tiered green system offers plenty of challenge. The Raven Golf Club recently underwent an extensive renovation, including bunker enhancement, and landscape and clubhouse improvements.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Fort McDowell
(480) 836-9000 • wekopa.com

“If you’re a scratch player looking for a true desert test, We-Ko-Pa ranks right up there,” Strauss said. “It offers the challenge of desert golf off the tee, as well as exceptional shot values and really challenging and creative green complexes.” The facility includes two courses, the 7,225-yard Scott Miller-designed Cholla, which opened in 2001, and the 6,966-yard Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed Saguaro, which opened in 2007. The Cholla is the tougher of the two, but each benefits from what may be We-Ko-Pa’s greatest attribute: its location. Situated on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, there are no homes or structures within eyesight, making this not just a desert golf experience, but a desert golf reality.


Wigwam Golf Resort
Litchfield Park
(623) 935-3811 • wigwamresort.com
Part of a 440-acre, 80-year-old resort that blends modern amenities with the region’s Native American history, the three golf courses on this property rank among the most scenic and lush in this golf-saturated area. The Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., opened in 1964 and is a true monster, as it stretches 7,430 yards from the tips. The far more manageable Patriot Course, also designed by Jones, is a par-70, 6,001-yard track with sharply contrasting nines. Resting comfortably between is the 6,852-yard Heritage Course. Though each has its own character, all three offer generous, tree-lined fairways and you’re never too far from water. A $7 million “rejuvenation” of the resort finished in January 2011.

Lost Canyons Golf Club presents a pair of beautiful, exacting tests where smart play can pay off.

By Eli Miller

There is perhaps no better combination of calm and chaos at a Southern California golf facility than Simi Valley’s Lost Canyons Golf Club.

As one of the only 36-hole daily-fee venues in the Los Angeles area, Lost Canyons distinguishes itself with two challenging 18-hole layouts co-designed by Fred Couples and Pete Dye, who is widely regarded as one of the most decorated and demanding golf course architects ever. It’s set amidst the statuesque Santa Susana Mountains and part of an amazingly tranquil environment that’s shielded from freeways and the denser metropolitan area.

A relaxed aura permeates throughout the facility, which includes a full-turf practice range, spacious pro shop and cozy dining space in the Oak Tree Room. And while the two layouts present certain challenges in the form of intimidating tee shots, plentiful bunkering and quick, wavy greens, that aura remains once on the course to help players stay calm and composed for an entire round.

Last month, I teed it up with a few friends on the Sky Course from the 6,740-yard gold markers. Although I was quickly reminded I am indeed not one of the most skilled golfers out there, I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and found myself thirsting for a return trip — provided I keep my game warm during the winter months and employ a smarter strategy on the course.

SAFETY FIRST

Early on, the 545-yard, par-5 fourth hole presents an interesting test. Initial challenge off the tee includes a large oak tree guarding the left side of the fairway and a deep bunker on the right. Then, the fairway doglegs sharply to the right around a large hill, making the last 150 yards of the hole invisible off the tee. Like other par 5s on Sky — especially Nos. 12 and 14 — hitting driver isn’t mandatory since reaching the green in two shots is a pipe dream for most. Take a fairway wood or hybrid and keep the ball in play. Otherwise, you’re making yourself more vulnerable with unnecessary risk.

SHORT HOLES, BIG GREENS

The Sky Course at Lost Canyons boasts a stellar collection of par-3 tests, each of which is framed by majestic mountain views. And while three of the four short holes play close to 200 yards from the gold tees, their expansive, undulating green complexes present more demand. A tee shot to the center of the putting surface is still the prudent play, but since the pins are usually set on green edges, a two-putt is not a sure thing.

The 17th hole, my choice for most scenic on the course, presents a birdie chance if the flag is set in front of the segmented green — it’s listed at 160 yards on the scorecard but plays about 130 yards when the pin is short. If the pin is set on the precarious perch at the far-back-left corner of the green, good luck.

SOAK IN THE SCENERY

The intricate, bumpy faces on the Santa Susana Mountains and the flowing grasses covering them are truly sights to behold. Don’t just admire them for their beauty — putts break away from the mountains, so when you’re reading the greens, be sure to factor them in when determining your line.

To make a tee time at Lost Canyons Golf Club, call (805) 522-4653 or visit lostcanyons.com and facebook.com/lostcanyons.

The Barbara Worth Golf Resort is ready to turn the page and start a new chapter.

Like a weathered cover of an old book, the facility in Holtville, which was built in the 1930s and named after novelist Harold Bell Wright’s “The Winning of Barbara Worth,” is showing its age. Developers Kevin Smith and Darryl Readshaw are ready to remedy that situation by remodeling the resort’s hotel rooms, renovating the golf course and possibly adding a spa, a water park and an RV park down the line. The co-owners of the property, who finalized the purchase of the resort in late August, hope to return the Imperial Valley social center located about a two-hour drive east of San Diego and 90 minutes south of Palm Springs to its former days of grandeur.

“We look forward to seeing this course develop and change,” Readshaw said. “Obviously, when you have a facility that has been closed and as neglected as this one, the list of priorities is long.”

The facility’s hotel, restaurant and bar were closed when a receivership was appointed in 2008, and only the golf course and banquet facility remained operational. Smith said the 6,580-yard, par-71 course was able to stay open the past three-plus years because of public demand and the dedication of superintendent Ramon Lopez.

“We’re fortunate that Ramon has the experience and knowledge here to help us see this through,” Readshaw said. “We’re especially pleased that he is staying on with us.”

A full renovation of the resort, which has 104 hotel rooms and a 12,000-square-foot convention center, will be done in three phases and take up to three years to complete. One of the resort’s hotel buildings was reopened in mid-November, and Smith said that the site’s Fields Restaurant and Caddies Sports Tavern should be open to the public by the middle of December. The desert region around the facility has been the site of numerous Hollywood film shoots, and celebrities such as George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John Travolta and Helen Hunt have stayed at the property when not in front of the camera.

One of the first priorities, Readshaw said, is to get the golf course back in good shape. The course was overseeded in October for the first time in a few years, and a new sprinkler control system is set to be installed in coming months. The developers also purchased 450 tons of white crushed marble sand to refurbish every bunker on the course.

“We want to bring it back to as good a condition as we can,” Readshaw said of the layout. “Some parts of the course have taken a hard hit, so the first goal is to get it greened up and manicured better. After that, we have projects that we really hope can make a statement.”

Some of the other plans for the course include new golf carts, adding a lake on the front nine, resurrecting several of the longer tee boxes, trimming trees and adding or restoring 10 to 15 sand traps.

Readshaw said the resort can be a strong draw for snowbirds who annually flock to the Southwest from November through April. He’s also hoping that the renovation projects help the site become a golf destination for people who like to play in the winter, but don’t want to pay green fees approaching $150 that are charged at some high-end desert courses. He said green fees at Barbara Worth won’t exceed $50.

“We envision a course with new and improved amenities that people will want to drive to or visit and spend a week or a weekend,” Readshaw said. “I guarantee that next year at this time the course and other facets of the property will be in very, very good condition.”

Escena Golf Club combines great golf with exceptional dining for a sparkling Palm Springs experience

By Joel Beers

The Escena Golf Club in the Coachella Valley reopened in 2009 and featured a classic Palm Springs layout designed by the Nicklaus Design Group.

The road Escena Golf Club has taken to becoming one of the Coachella Valley’s most popular golf courses hasn’t been the most direct. Opened in 2005 as the first public course located in the city of Palm Springs in 20 years, the course closed in 2007 due to the bursting of the housing bubble.

However, the club re-opened in late 2009 and since then has become known as one of “the most eminently playable courses in the desert,” according to its Managing Director John Fitzpatrick.

Even though it’s in the desert, you’ll still find plenty of water at Escena.

There are several key reasons for the course’s popularity, Fitzpatrick said: a classic Palm Springs layout designed by the Nicklaus Design Group, a clubhouse restaurant that has become a destination in itself and gorgeous views of the San Jacinto Mountains.

All are important, but it’s the player-friendly design of the course where its real strength resides. At 7,173 yards from the tips, the course has enough length to challenge the best golfers, but even from the championship tees “it’s wide open with a lot of turf,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s not target golf by any stretch, there are no forced carries and you don’t spend a lot of time looking for balls or three-putting on the greens.”

That player friendliness translates into making it a great course for couples. “We get more couples than any course I’ve ever seen,” Fitzpatrick said, due to the course being set up to accommodate players of all skill levels.

Another incentive for couples is the Escena Grill, the clubhouse restaurant that “has become a destination restaurant, almost independent of the course,” according to Fitzpatrick. “It still provides an integral function for the golf experience, however a lot of customers come for the great food and ambiance.”

Located in the facility’s mid-20th Century modern-style clubhouse, the restaurant is flanked by huge floor-to-ceiling windows that afford sterling views of Mt. San Jacinto.

The Escena Grill offers first class food and an exceptional view of Mt. San Jacinto.

The restaurant is open daily for breakfast and dinner Tuesday through Saturdays, with live entertainment offered Tuesday through Friday. It boasts one of the best Sunday brunches in the desert, Fitzpatrick said, and the course offers a package food and golf deal: nine holes and a full dinner range from $55-$60 per person.

While snowbirds from Canada and colder regions of the U.S. converge on the Coachella Valley in the winter, Fitzpatrick said a great deal of Escena’s customers come from Orange and Los Angeles Counties, due to its relative proximity to those areas. Located in the western part of the Coachella Valley, just east of the Palm Springs International Airport, “you don’t have to drive to Palm Springs to get here,” Fitzpatrick said.

“We’re a good complement to some of the great properties in the desert,” he said. “We have different views, a much different clubhouse and restaurant than you get at other places, and the course has never been in better condition.”

Peak season rates range from $95 to $110 and Escena offers a loyalty program that allows golfers to play for $60 to $65 with a $229 annual membership.

For more information, call (760) 778-2737 or visit www.escenagolf.com.

As the weather begins to cool down, there’s no better time to plan a Coachella Valley golf trip

By Larry Feldman

Classic Club

When it comes to choosing a resort destination in the Coachella Valley, my decision usually rests on whether or not I want to rest. If I’m in the mood for a relaxing, do-nothing-type of vacation, I go straight to La Quinta Resort & Club. If I’m looking to rev it up a bit and enjoy a little nightlife with all the bells and whistles, it’s definitely the Marriott Desert Springs Resort.

Located twenty miles east of Palm Springs in the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains is the historic and luxurious La Quinta Resort. Since opening in 1927, La Quinta Resort has been a haven for movie stars, celebrities and well-to-do types. In fact, legendary filmmaker Frank Capra wrote “It Happened One Night,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “Meet John Doe” while sipping his favorite brandy at La Quinta in the years following its opening. It has even been said that he became superstitious about writing his scripts at La Quinta Resort once he swept the Academy Awards for 1934’s “It Happened One Night.”

Today, La Quinta Resort awaits anyone looking for relaxation and pampering. It features old-world adobe architecture accented with arched passageways, large iron and wood doors, terracotta potted plants and a plethora of fountains, gardens and pools. Many of the rooms at the resort are the original adobe casitas from the 1920s but with today’s modern luxuries.

With 41 pools, 53 hot tubs, 23 tennis courts and an award-winning spa, one cannot help but feel relaxed after a stay at the resort. For the ultimate in relaxation, Spa La Quinta offers massage and beauty treatments from many different cultures around the world.

But the best part is that there are five championship courses to play, so getting tired of playing the same old tract isn’t going to happen. Here’s the rundown:

La Quinta Mountain Course: With this 1980 design, Pete Dye transformed the Palm Springs area from a sleepy enclave of private courses to a golf vacation destination. While the course isn’t long by present-day standards, the mountainside golf is so overwhelmingly beautiful and fun that nothing else matters.

La Quinta Dunes Course: This Pete Dye championship course is characterized by rolling, Scottish links-style fairways and thick, penalizing rough. A leisurely round is punctuated by fantastic scenery and careful club selection. A dramatic left-turning fairway with a tantalizing green will tempt long hitters on the signature 17th, while an insatiable lake eagerly awaits the chance to swallow the foolhardy.

Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort - 15th Hole

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course: The same forceful presence the Golden Bear brought to his game is evident in his challenging desert layout. Long hitters will appreciate the opportunity for power off the tee with room for forgiveness, while elevated greens require you to literally raise your short game to another level.

PGA West Stadium Course: This is the must-play golf course in the desert. Designed for golf’s biggest stage, the TPC Stadium Course is where legends have made history. Pete Dye crafted one of the most challenging tracks you can play, creating 18 individual masterpieces, each with a character and identity all its own. Its mystique is derived from unique undulations, cavernous bunkers and the famed island 17th green.

PGA West Greg Norman Course: Greg Norman captured the essence of desert golf with an Outback flair in this challenging yet fair design that features an abundance of sand, sage, colorful pockets of wildflowers, nine lakes and spectacular panoramic vistas, unmatched anywhere in the Coachella Valley.

A few miles west, the Marriott Desert Springs Resort will turn your next Palm Desert vacation into a Southern California experience that will have you feeling as though you’ve been transported to a tropical paradise.

The glittering pools and lakes entice you to splash, dash and cool off in this dazzling desert escape. Stroll through the colonnade of inviting boutiques on your way to a day of fun in the sun. As mascots of free spirits, hummingbirds flutter throughout the grounds, while exotic parrots, macaws and cockatoos inhabit the magnificent lobby with the feel of a breezy tropical oasis. On the lower lobby level, a gondola awaits for a ride to your favorite resort dining spot, an afternoon tour or a customized charter of your own.

The great Ted Robinson stamped his signature on the resort’s two exceptional 18-hole championship courses, majestically set against the towering backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Both the Palm and Valley courses are challenging yet fair tests of golf and help make this one of California’s top golf resorts.
Feel like venturing off-property? Here are a few courses that might tickle your fancy:

Indian Canyons
Surrounded on three sides by breathtaking, colorful mountain vistas, and sheltered from the wind at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, lies this jewel of a resort.

The South Course is an 18-hole championship layout that was redesigned by Casey O’Callaghan in 2004 along with LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott. This par-72, 6,582-yard championship track has four large lakes that come into play on six holes. But the most extraordinary feature are the five par-5 holes. Add to that rolling mounds and fairways and more than 850 palm trees, including some 500 Washingtonia filifera palm trees native to the Agua Caliente Tribe, and you’ve got yourself a true test.

The North Course is a par-72, 6,943-yard layout that was designed by William P. Bell and is heavily steeped in tradition. This classically designed course meanders through Palm Springs’ stylish Canyon region, which boasts a wide array of authentic mid-century modern homes and stunning mountain views. The course has six challenging water hazards and hosts the course’s visual centerpiece, the historic Walt Disney fountain, which shoots water jets over 100 feet high.

Fantasy Springs Resort / Eagle Falls Golf Course

Eagle Falls Golf Course - 7th Hole

Fantasy Springs Resort features 250 luxury rooms and suites in a 12-story tower. Guests can opt for a view of the oasis-like pool and sundeck, lined with palm trees, or of the surrounding mountains of the Coachella Valley. Many rooms facing the pool and sundeck feature French doors, which open out to a veranda — perfect for taking in a breezy desert sunset. Located adjacent to the hotel lies Eagle Falls Golf Course, where renowned architect Clive Clark has taken a parcel of the local desert and carved a golfer’s masterpiece with elevations and water features not usually seen on a golf course that is open for public play. A 6,715-yard, par-72 challenge, Eagle Falls will test the low handicapper, yet provide an enjoyable and fair test of golf for the average player.

Classic Club
Classic Club is a par-72, 7,305-yard Arnold Palmer-designed course that offers a variety of tee options, appealing to players at all levels of the game. The layout’s rolling terrain features a core design with pine, olive and pepperwood trees, offset by flowering bushes, shrubs, and pine straw ground cover, all playing off of the surrounding mountains and vistas that are exclusive to the Coachella Valley that make for an incredibly beautiful golf experience.

SilverRock Resort

SilverRock Resort - 16th Hole

SilverRock Resort’s Arnold Palmer Classic Course, a home course of the Bob Hope Classic from 2008-2011, is a challenging 7,578 yards sprawled over 200 acres with massive native bunkers and stunning water features set against the backdrop and natural beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The master plan includes 36 holes of championship golf, a world-class practice center, retail venues, luxury and boutique hotels and a convention center.

Desert Willow Firecliff Course
Desert Willow Golf Resort has emerged as the favorite place to play in the Palm Springs area for many. Firecliff, which measures 7,056 yards, is a true test of skill where golfers must negotiate their way around extensive natural areas, over 100 bunkers and numerous water features.

Desert Willow Mountain View Course
A more resort-style course, Mountain View has wider fairways and limited desert waste areas. But don’t be deceived, Mountain View measures 6,913 yards and is rated just slightly less difficult than Firecliff. With more forgiving fairways, 98 well-placed bunkers, sloping greens and seven water features, the course still requires the best from golfers of all levels.

CasaBlanca

By: Joel Beers

For most of its history, the Nevada city of Mesquite was little more than a dusty spot on Interstate 15. People were more likely to drive through it as opposed to it.
That is no longer the case.

Today, the highly regarded golf destination features a sprawling resort as well as 10 courses either in Mesquite or nearby, including some of the most praised in the state and even the country. Some are incredibly challenging, while others offer more standard resort-style layouts ideal for golfers of all skill levels. One thing you can expect from any Mesquite-area golf course is stunning views. Whether the courses are located high atop cliffs, nested in valleys or alongside riverbeds, scenic beauty abounds.

There are also some fine accommodations.

The CasaBlanca Resort is located about 45 minutes northwest of Las Vegas near the Utah border. Nestled alongside the gorgeous Virgin River, the resort includes two golf courses, a casino, a spa and a 450-room hotel featuring newly remodeled rooms. It’s ideal for stays of one night to multiple nights — all at prices far more economical than resorts in that other Nevada city.

The resort features two 18-hole tracks, the CasaBlanca Golf Club and the Palms Golf Club. Of the two, the Cal Olson-designed CasaBlanca is the most player-friendly. Its sets of tees can accommodate any golfer’s skill level. From the back tees, labeled the Double Spades, the course plays to 7,011 yards. From the front tees, the Hearts, the course is a much more manageable 5,161 yards.

Palms Golf Club

Another friendly feature is that unlike other Mesquite-area courses, which require a lot of walking due to environmentally sensitive or rocky terrain, carts have access to most of CasaBlanca’s course. That comes in handy on days when the temperature soars above 100 degrees — as do the club’s air-conditioned golf carts.
The course also differs from most desert courses because it is built on and around the Virgin River wetlands. As opposed to a typical desert course that has lots of palm trees and red sand between holes, CasaBlanca is a true oasis of green.

The Palms Golf Club was Mesquite’s first track. It includes a gently rolling front nine and a back nine that winds through mountainous terrain, which requires pin-point precision from the tee. More than 200 palm trees adorn the property, which measures 6,804 yards from the back tees.

As an incentive to lure travelers, the CasaBlanca Resort is always bustling with special events. In late October, it will host the Re/Max Long Drive championships. There are events held year-round, ranging from the world championships of beer pong, BBQ and chili cook-offs, amateur boxing championships, jazz festivals and much more.

The resort features elegant fine dining at Katherine’s, 24-hour dining at the Fez coffee shop and buffets at Smorgasbord, including a Friday night seafood extravaganza, a Saturday night filet mignon spread and a Sunday champagne brunch. There’s also a Starbucks on the property.

The Spa and Salon at the resort offers a wide array of services ranging from massages and facials to its signature treatment, the CasaBlanca Desert Bliss, in which your body is exfoliated with a mineral-rich scrub and then replenished with an application of body butter.

With sand volleyball courts, outdoor tennis courts and a lagoon-style pool, there’s plenty to do during the day and, at night, free comedy shows are offered most Friday and Saturday nights and music and dancing are offered at the Skydome Lounge every night but Monday.

There’s the casino, which includes all the requisite gaming tables along with 750 slot and video poker machines and a sports book.

If golf, gaming and sipping a drink by a beautiful pool is only part of your vacation itinerary, CasaBlanca also has all the info you might need for taking advantage of the breathtaking array of natural, scenic wonders that are within a two-hour drive of Mesquite, including the wonders of Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in Utah.

There are two other notable aspects to the resort. Since it’s located in a city of approximately 15,000 people, there is a refreshing lack of congestion and a more laid-back pace than resorts on the Vegas Strip. And then there’s the cost: In October, mid-day room rates are as low as $60 and even on a Friday night they peak at just $140.

The resort offers a golf and spa package for $79, Sunday through Thursday. The package includes one night in a deluxe tower room and your choice of one round of golf, one 50-minute massage or your choice of two 25-minute spa treatments including a body wrap, facial or massage. For more information on the resort, visit, www.casablancaresort.com.

Here’s a look at some of the other options for golf in the region:

Oasis Golf Club

Oasis - Palmer Course

Oasis - Canyons Course

At 6,408 yards, the par-71 Canyons Course is one of the most user-friendly tracks in the region, but a number of risk-reward holes can make it as tough as you’d like. For more information, visit www.theoasisgolfclub.com.

Falcon Ridge Golf Club
This 6,546-yard track rests high on the cliffs that tower above Mesquite. Though it’s not the longest course, dramatic elevation changes, slick multi-tiered greens, and a very challenging design more than compensate. For more information, visit www.golffalcon.com.

Falcon Ridge Golf Course

Conestoga Golf Club
The newest Mesquite-area course, this Gary Panks-designed track, managed by Troon Golf, opened in 2010. It’s one of the most scenic in the area as it winds through rugged desert canyons. It’s 7,232 yards from the tips and made the short-list of best Nevada Courses in two national golf publication rankings in 2011. For more information, visit www.conestogagolf.com.

The Chase Golf Club at Coyote Springs
This Jack Nicklaus Signature design is an absolute bear from the tips, which measure 7,471 yards. Eleven lakes come into play and mountains surround its valley setting. It also features one of the largest practice areas in the Southwest, including 100,000-square-feet of tee area and a 10,000-square-foot practice putting green. For more information, visit www.coyotesprings.com.

Wolf Creek at Paradise Canyon
Opened in 2000, this Dennis C. Rider course measures 7,018 yards from the tips. It routinely makes the list of top public courses in the country and was recently ranked the third most difficult course in America by the USGA. Sixteen of its holes feature elevated tees and forced carries abound. For more information, visit www.golfwolfcreek.com.

Coral Canyon Golf Course
Though actually located in Southwest Utah, this Keith Foster-designed gem is only a short car drive from Mesquite. It measures 7,029 yards from the tips and, as the name implies, explodes with color. It also offers views of both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. For more information, visit www.coralcanyongolf.com.

Sand Hollow Resort
Also located in Southwest Utah, this facility features 27 holes designed by John Fought. The 7,315-yard Championship Course has earned best public course nods in Utah the past two years. There is also a nine-hole links-style course. For more information, visit www.sandhollowresort.com.

Ranked California’s Top Golf Resort by Condé Nast Traveler readers, Pelican Hill boasts 36 Fazio-designed ocean-view holes. Golf Digest ranks both 18-hole courses, the Ocean North and Ocean South, as two of America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses in 2011/2012.

Pelican Hill Golf Club® offers a luxurious 44,000-square-foot clubhouse, the acclaimed Pelican Grill and Lounge, an Italian coffee bar, a golf shop, and an intelligently designed, full-service practice facility conveniently located right outside the clubhouse door, with an expansive driving range, a complete practice tee and tour-event Nike Platinum One balls.

Pelican Hill Golf Academy offers monthly clinics, private lessons and special programs, led by Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Teachers in America” Glenn Deck.

Two new fall golf packages are available September 5 through December 30.

The “Guys’ Golf Getaway” features two nights in a spacious Villa with personal butler service, one golf round with forecaddie, dinner at Pelican Grill and Haircuts & Hot Lather Shaves in The Spa’s Barber Chair, and starts at $1,450.

Also available is the Golf Academy “Total Tune-up” Package, which includes two nights in a Bungalow Guest Room, with one private 45-minute Golf Academy lesson and a 2.5-hour nine-hole playing lesson starting at $1,685.

For more information, visit www.pelicanhill.com

Hole #1 at Thai Country Club

By Mark Seigel

One of the key factors that attract the large numbers of visitors coming to play golf in Thailand is the vast choice of golf courses located in the many different areas throughout the country.

From the beach resorts in the south to the more mountainous surroundings in the north, or the busier cities of Bangkok and Pattaya, there are golf courses suitable for everyone.

All are in very accessible and transfers between locations can easily be done in a day, providing visitors with huge choice for planning a golf holiday. With modern facilities, internationally designed golf courses, and an excellent infrastructure, the availability of golf has developed significantly in Thailand.

Only recently has this been evidenced by the World Golf Travel Agents Association, as it awarded Thailand the “Best up and coming destination” for golf vacations.

History of Golf in Thailand
Although perceived by many as a very new golfing destination, history shows that golf was actually played here as early as 1906 at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club course. While not as old as other countries, many people will be surprised by this fact.

More detailed records show that His Majesty King Vajiravudh expressed an interest in this new sport, and in 1923 he granted permission for the construction of the Royal Hua Hin golf course in the Hua Hin district.

This information confirms the existence of golf in Thailand 100 years ago; however, active interest and participation were not fully taken up until June 28, 1924, when the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course opened. Upgraded in the 1980s, this course continues to be one of the most popular in the Hua Hin area with both locals and visiting tourists.

However, it was many years before the country got the attention of the Asian professional circuit, and the Thailand Golf Association made its official debut in 1964, hosting the Thailand Open. Since then, the Thailand Open has become a regular fixture on the Asian Tour, with awards and performances being gradually enhanced to international standards.

More recently, Thailand has hosted world-class golf tournaments that attracted such players as Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomorie, to name but a few. Such courses as Blue Canyon in Phuket have played host to international tournaments, as well as Thai Country Club and Alpine Golf Club in Bangkok, during the last few years. Thai Country Club will in fact host the high-profile Asian Volvo Masters for the next three years.

The development of new championship standard courses in Thailand continues at an amazing rate, following the slow down after the economic crisis in 1997. At present, there are over 200 courses located throughout the country, although this number will grow to 250 once construction is completed at new courses being built. This investment into golf in Thailand will further enhance the facilities and courses available to visitors.

THE COURSES

Most of the courses are designed with many water features and strategically positioned bunkers, ensuring the golfer has to apply good course management in order to score well.

Below are some of the more famous courses that are most popular with the visiting tourist.

Thai Country Club and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, both in Bangkok, are good examples of very challenging, well-designed courses. Each are kept in immaculate condition and the greens are always kept at a good speed. Alpine, in particular, provides very challenging putting with large sloping greens.

Thai Country Club will host the Asian Tour’s season-ending Volvo championships for the next three years, and it has previously hosted the Honda Classic of which world famous golfers Tiger Woods and Ernie Els played. When visiting, you can stand on the back of the dogleg 10^th hole and see in amazement the tee shot that Tiger Woods hit when he drove this par four hole.

In 2004, Alpine Golf and Sports Club hosted the Johnnie Walker Championship, a co-sanctioned event between the Asian and European golf tours. Although not an overly long course, it is a very demanding test of golf with the par 3s as particularly difficult as they are long in length, with many bunkers around the well-guarded greens awaiting errant tee shots.

Blue Canyon CC, Phuket

In Phuket, Blue Canyon Country Club also hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994. There are now two 18-hole golf courses, the Canyon course, and the Lakes course, with the Canyon being the tougher. The signature hole is no. 13, which demands a long tee shot over a canyon followed by an uphill iron shot to the green. Just as you thought you had got through the worst of it, the next hole is an equally challenging par 3, nearly 200 yards downhill to an island green surrounded by water.

Laem Chabang International Country Club and St. Andrews 2000 Golf Club are both located in the Pattaya area and each have quite unique features. Laem Chabang, with 27 holes that were designed by Jack Nicklaus, bear all of his traditional hallmarks that include very large fairway bunkers, numerous water hazards and left-to-right dogleg holes. The greens are very large and sloping in line with the terrain, ensuring maximum care must be taken whilst putting.

The truly unique feature about St Andrews 2000 is the two par 6 holes, measuring over 1700 yards between them off the back tees. Hole number four is certainly the most testing of the two, with a drive that requires a 200-yard carry over water, which then doglegs sharply right when you have to hit over the same expanse of water, albeit in a slightly different direction. Once you have succeeded with your first two shots you are then left with a long, tight, well-bunkered fairway before reaching the green.

There are many other excellent courses throughout Thailand, and more information can be found online at www.golfasian.com.

11 Reasons To Try Thailand

Value for Money
For any visiting golfer, Thailand provides great value for the money. From the wide choice of hotel accommodations and golf, to shopping in the local markets or high-class department stores, to the wide array of dining and nightlife, it is remarkably inexpensive for the quality provided.

The Weather
In the cool season, from November to February, Thailand has a fantastic climate. Light breezes and constant sunshine, it offers great conditions for a golfing holiday. Even in the summer months when it gets a bit warmer they are still acceptable golfing conditions.

The Courses
With many courses being developed by leading professionals such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, you will not be disappointed. In addition, a number of courses have been designed by famous course architects such as Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones.

The Locations
Thailand is a beautiful country and offers a number of totally different destinations to play golf. Thailand has a location for everyone: he bustling capital of Bangkok; the beautiful mountainous countryside of Chiang Mai; the stunning beaches in Phuket; the bright lights and amazing nightlife of Pattaya; the quieter seaside town of Hua Hin; and the historical and stunning scenery of River Kwai.

The Infrastructure
Golfing in Thailand is fully supported and is one of the top priorities of the Thai Government’s Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). What this means is that there is excellent information, infrastructure, and regulation to assure the traveling golfer of a high-quality holiday.

Thai Caddies

The Caddies
A unique and truly memorable part of playing golf in Thailand are the caddies. Predominantly made up of females, they provide fantastic service anywhere. Greeting you upon arrival at the clubhouse, they will take care of everything before you tee off. Guiding you around the course with a constant smile on their face, they will give you yardages, mark your ball, give you the lines of your putts, and keep you cool when you get a bit hot.

The Accommodations
No matter where you are staying in Thailand, you can find an accommodation to meet your budget. From stunning five-star hotels to small boutique, Thai-style resorts, Thailand is truly set up to cater for the golf tourist.

The People
The Thai people are known to be some of the friendliest in the world. Always with a smile on their face (it is not called the ‘land of smiles’ for nothing) they are very welcoming towards visiting tourists.

The Food

Thailand offers everything from local Thai dishes to those with other Asian influences. There is a huge variety in choice with the local cuisine, and a wide selection of international restaurants for those who prefer a bit of something closer to home.
The Culture & Customs

Thailand is a unique country with its own identity unrivalled in any other part of Asia. As a predominantly Buddhist country, it is steeped in amazing culture that you will unlikely find anywhere.

Options Other Than Golf
There is so much to do outside golf you will be spoiled for choice. From visiting the amazing temples and shrines to the local night markets and street stalls selling everything imaginable, Thailand is truly a tourist magnet. It offers stunning beaches, beautiful waterfalls and mountains, international style shopping malls, world-class Spa’s, boat trips to idyllic islands, elephant trekking … the list is endless.