The warm blend of comfort and luxury brings guests back to tranquil Terranea Resort
As Terranea Resort prepared to celebrate its fifth anniversary with special events beginning Memorial Day weekend, the world-class accommodations and amenities of the Rancho Palos Verdes destination continued to draw visitors from around the world.
And, frequently, more than once.
Agnelo Fernandes, Terranea’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, says there’s a simple explanation for the resort’s ongoing appeal.
“At Terranea, there’s what we call a ‘relaxed elegance’ that exceeds the expectations of every guest,” Fernandes said. “Whether they’re here for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a day of golf, Terranea provides both the sophistication and the relaxed ambiance that meets every need.”
Poised above coastal bluffs with panoramic, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Terranea Resort debuted in June 2009 as the only luxury destination resort on the Los Angeles coast. Celebrated for its natural beauty, the 102-acre Mediterranean-inspired estate features a range of guestrooms and suites, including spacious casitas and villas, and The Bungalows at Terranea, a collection of guest accommodations featuring spa and wellness-focused amenities. Other luxurious resort amenities spotlight eight unique dining experiences, a full-service spa and fitness center, award-winning golf course The Links at Terranea, three swimming pools, kids’ club, ecological enrichment programs and 135,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor wedding and event space.
“Our guests might be on a business trip the first time they stay with us,” Fernandes said. “Then they’ll return for a couples weekend, playing The Links and visiting the spa … the variety of activities and the welcoming environment throughout the resort brings them back.”
Golf is especially enjoyable at Terranea. The Links is set apart by lush natural terrain and dramatic vistas overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. The collection of the nine par-3 holes, designed by Todd Eckenrode, is masterfully routed and integrated with each other and the natural surroundings. Elevation changes, green contours, artful bunkering and unobstructed sightlines enhance The Links’ wide range of strategic elements.
Totaling approximately 1,239 yards, the course features tee placements ranging from 104 to 173 yards for an inviting short- and mid-range setup that appeals to both new and experienced golfers. The Links provides golfers the opportunity to play every type of short to long iron shot imaginable.
“It’s just a fantastic golf course,” Terranea Resort Director of Golf Buddy Nichols said. “We describe it as a championship-caliber par-3 course, with conditions that you’d find at the most exclusive private clubs.
“It’s not a typical par-3 course. The Links will challenge every player, and the layout is just spectacular.”
Players enjoy an expansive, multi-tiered short game practice area with chipping and putting greens, as well as private and group instruction, junior player lessons and golf clinics led by The Links’ PGA professionals. The Golf House offers premium golf club and walking cart rentals, golf accessories and apparel.
The Links at Terranea has launched a new Golf Academy along with special one- or two-day intensive programs, focused on short game, full swing, and playing strategies as well as golf fitness instruction. Providing a glimpse into a day in the life of a typical touring pro, the Golf Academy intensive program starts with a complimentary breakfast, followed by a workout routine with a trainer. Golfers then head out on the course for a practice session with a PGA Instructor and a playing lesson. A complimentary picnic lunch is also included with the golf experience. The Golf Academy offers access to some of the best instruction and best training equipment available, giving guests a chance to experience practicing like a pro.
The Golf Academy’s outdoor, expansive, short game practice facility features four USGA regulation green complexes, four practice bunkers, an assortment of lie conditions and a 15,000 sq. ft. golf-academy only access short game practice area. In addition, the state-of-the-art Full-Swing Golf Studio featuring Foresight Sports GC2 Golf Simulator/Launch Monitor and V1 Golf Video software provides swing feedback and statistics. From gap and club fittings to full-swing lessons to TPI Golf Fitness programs, the Golf Academy experience covers every aspect of the game.
“The practice facility at The Links is world class,” Nichols said. “When players utilize our practice areas and take part in a program from The Golf Academy, they see a significant improvement in their game.”
As an added benefit, guests at Terranea Resort can book tee times at nearby Trump National Golf Club (below) through the Resort.
Golf is only one of the many activities at Terranea. Pointe Discovery activity center offers land and sea adventures such as horseback riding, falconry, ocean kayaking, paddle boarding and other water sports. Complimentary on-property activities include bocce, croquet and other outdoor recreational activities; tennis is available at Peninsula Racket Club, with a complimentary shuttle provided.
Family vacations are popular at Terranea; the Resort features the Adventure Zone, Tide Pool Kids Club, and the 140-foot water slide at the Resort pool, one of three heated family pools (including two adults only pools at Terranea).
Both solitude and shopping are also readily available at Terranea; there is a, secluded beach cove for Resort guests, as well as onsite boutique retail stores. Relaxation and fitness are featured at The Spa at Terranea, an award-winning 50,000 sq. ft. oasis offering luxurious treatments and state-of-the-art amenities to pamper both resort guests and daytime visitors. The Spa has 25 treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure stations, hair and beauty salon services, a 5,000 square foot fitness center with yoga studio with Pilates, and a private pool and hot tub.
Once an appetite has been worked up on The Links, at Pointe Discovery, or in The Spa, Terranea Resort provides a dining experience for all tastes. Catering to an international palate, Terranea’s eight exceptional dining venues range from gourmet cuisine to casual fare – all set against the Pacific Ocean. Terranea’s signature restaurant, mar’sel, reflects a modern twist on California cuisine as inventive as its name suggests (Spanish for “sea” and French for “salt”). A seasonal, gourmet menu spotlights local ingredients alongside herbs and produce grown on property in the chef’s garden.
Nelson’s, with its spectacular cliff-top setting directly above the Pacific Ocean, is a guest favorite for casual dining. At Catalina Kitchen, guests savor a variety of options throughout the day in an elegant, yet inviting atmosphere. At bashi, guests enjoy a contemporary blend of Asian cuisine and local flavor in another of Terranea’s scenic settings.
Terranea’s fifth anniversary offerings, starting with the Memorial Day weekend festivities and continuing throughout 2014, are inspired by the five diverse pillars of Terranea, which include community, wellness, discovery, epicurean, and celebration. Those cornerstones reflect the resort’s commitment to providing an experience that ensures a repeat visit.
“It’s that quality of variety, that relaxed luxury and the 1,250 passionate associates of Terranea who pride themselves in delivering heartfelt service, that brings people back,” Fernandes said.
