Category Archives: Top Golf Destinations

Maderas Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

Zagat Survey is one of the biggest and most reputable ranking institution in the United States. When Zagat ranks it top, there is no reason not to believe that it indeed is the top. On another note, San Diego is home to some of the best golf courses in the country. Now, imagine the best among some of the best – what Zagat ranks highest among all of San Diego county’s roster of top caliber golf courses. This is the Maderas Golf Club. Now imagine what it feels like taking a golf vacation here.

The Maderas Golf Club has consistently ranked top in Zagat Survey since 2003. It has also never left the Top Courses lists of such huge golfing publications as Golf Digest as well as San Diego Magazine. Apart from that, golfers seek out this golf vacation destination that is gently tucked amid rolling hills and forests. Proof that there is something so special about it as golfers hungry for a quality game work hard to find this precious gem. The course is characterized by well-placed bunkers, stunning water hazards of three lakes and five waterfalls, a dramatic terrain, and 40 full acres of wildflower. All these combine to make the course as difficult as it is beautiful.

Course designers, Robert Muir Graves and Johnny Miller, worked their way to bring out the best layout in one of San Diego’s best locations for a golf trip haven. On top of all its beautiful characteristics, it also has complete amenities – from its Italian-style clubhouse to the state-of the-art practice greens. The Maderas Golf Club is by far the most popular course in the San Diego county, and is undoubtedly the best among the rest, as Zagat survey and almost every golfer have proven.

Temecula Creek Inn Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The thing people look forward to the most about golf vacations is to have as much golf as they want to, however way they please. These occasions do not happen everyday and they must be perfect. Some golf resorts deliver. Some do not. But true to San Diego’s reputation of being a golfing haven, golfers are assured they will find that perfect course that will let them live out their dream golf getaways. This is what the Temecula Creek Inn Golf Club promises – AND DELIVERS.

The golf vacation destination is made of three nine-hole courses that are as varied from each other as they are as beautiful. The Temecula Creek Inn Golf Club features a variety of views and terrain characteristics that make the nines a combination of challenging and stunning. The Creek nine boasts of a traditional layout while the Oak nine is of sweeping mountain views. The Stonehouse nine, on the other hand, is best known for its highly dramatic elevation changes. Playing a short round in one of the courses, or playing a combination of two will definitely be the kind of golfing experience that could only be described as incomparable.

These qualities of the Temecula Creek Inn Golf Club have made quite an impression that Golf Digest’s Places to Play has ranked it with four stars. And who would not? Apart from three one-of-a-kind golfing experience it offers, it also has the most complete amenities for golf trips – from lodging to clubhouse to practice greens to just about everything else. The entire facility spells VACATION in bold; it makes it easy to figure out why this is a choice destination for when golfers want to be who and what they want to be.

Rancho Bernardo West Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

San Diego is, undoubtedly, home to many of California’s best golf courses. Its idyllic weather and scenic views make the perfect elements for golfing. Golfers are not the least bit surprised to find the best courses designed by the biggest names in the industry. Among San Diego’s most prized classic courses that never fail to amaze golfers is the Rancho Bernardo West Course. It does not take a genius to tell that golf vacations here are nothing but world-class and of championship caliber.

The Rancho Bernardo West Course is a classic course of traditional course layout that debuted in 1962. It has recently gone through a major renovation to keep it up to date and accommodate the new age golfers, but a lot of its original features are kept – hence the timeless feel to it. This golf vacation destination is characterized by meandering streams, fairways lined by large eucalyptus trees, and water features that play on ten of its 18 holes. It is a par-72 course that stretches to 6,631 yards from the longest tees.

Despite its being relatively older than the other courses in San Diego, the Rancho Bernardo West Course proves that time has only made it better. It holds a AAA Diamond rating as a resort. Its other amenities are also ranked as some of the best in the area; for one, its restaurant, El Bizcocho, has been ranked among the highest by no less than Zagat survey. It is also a favorite host of PGA and LPGA tours. Looking at this golf trip paradise, it is safe to say that it has raised the bar high for the newer San Diego courses. No wonder the newer ones are trying hard to be better versions of this classic.

Sycuan Resort – Oak Glen Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

To be surrounded by some of the most beautiful sights and still be able to stand out as amongst the more beautiful ones is a difficult feat. But it was all too easily achieved by the Oak Glen Course of the Sycuan Resort. Being in San Diego does not make it any easy for this golf vacation destination to stand out, considering the hundreds of other stunning and more expensive golf resorts in the area. Being surrounded by a majestic panorama of hills does not help either. But this course, remodeled in the late 1980s by Ted Robertson and Dave Fleming is simply too incredible, no golfer would ever miss it even if the world hides it among an ocean of jewels.

The 18-hole par-72 course is part of a grand 54-hole golf resort facility considered among the top favorites for golf vacations in the golf course-laden area. The Oak Glen Course of the Sycuan Resort is divided on two 9-hole loops, each nine bearing an attitude of its own, and collectively brings some of the most beautiful views and most challenging layouts in the San Diego golfing scene. It is a rather flat course and it is only in specific tees could the elevation changes be felt; its fairways are lined by huge oaks, pines and eucalyptus trees. The true challenge of this course comes where the Sweetwater River makes its appearance, along with other ponds. They give a true meaning to the word “hazard” in this course.

With its stunning surroundings and challenging layout, not to mention the impeccable conditioning, the Oak Glen Course of the Sycuan Resort blends too perfectly with its already beautiful location. It is a testament that golf trips so epic could still happen.

Diamondhead Country Club – Pine Course

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , • Leave a comment

Diamonds are forever. And the memories of a golf trip to Diamondhead Country Club – Pine Course will remain permanently on the hearts of the visitors. There are many golf courses out there that offer quality amenities. But there is something about this course that makes it very attractive – it could perhaps be its natural environment that gives the guests a peaceful feeling; or its uniquely excellent layout. For whatever it is that makes this course very appealing, it is best for golfers to expect lots of surprises and even more memories. Every swing and every shot, successful or not, will give great fun, challenge, and satisfaction to players.

Diamondhead Country Club – Pine Course is an 18-hole regulation course that features 6,817 yards of golf from the longest tees. Opened in 1970, this par-72 course was designed by Earl Stone. This course is a favorite among long hitters, with its narrow layout paired with rolling terrain and picture perfect scenery. The medium-length layout offers four sets of tee boxes and is characterized by well placed bunkers and water that plays on several holes giving the course an attitude. A golf trip to this course offers absolute pleasure and enjoyment because of the features and services of the place.

A golf vacation at Diamondhead Country Club – Pine Course will leave its mark on the guests. These memories may include their best or worst shots, the amazing views of the mighty pine trees, and the overall beauty of its layout. This makes for memories worth a lifetime’s treasures.

La Costa Resort

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

“Enough said” is saying the least when talking about the La Costa Resort. Adjectives would only prove insufficient. Its many achievements alone would be more than enough to tell the tales of its being accomplished, having been one of the best golf vacation destinations in the San Diego area for the past three decades.

To start with, the La Costa Resort is the home of the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championships for several years. It is also the home of 2 PGA Championship 18-hole courses; each one as celebrated as the other. Both courses are designed by Dick Wilson and feature traditional layouts. The North Course is slightly longer at 7,021 yards with a par of 72 compared to the South Course which stretches at 7,004 yards from the longest tees. North Course contains more of the lakes and has larger landing areas. The South Course, though, is deemed more difficult with its signature narrow creek that comes into play on 12 of the 18 holes. There’s no telling which course is better – the North Course allows golfers to tee off the same first tee as legends the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods; the South Course has PGA Tour’s “longest mile” in its closing five holes that has broken the hearts of many a PGA Tour champions. Needless to say, it offers golf vacations of superstar caliber.

To add to that stellar status, La Costa Resort is also a favorite golf hangout of Hollywood greats like Frank Sinatra among many others. If that is not enough yet, the South Course is ranked among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the US by Golf Magazine. “La Costa” in itself might as well be synonymous with “golf trips”. Enough said.

Virginia Beach National Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

Of the many golf courses of Virginia Beach, there is one that many claim to be the favorite of the locals. Any course in Virginia Beach may find it hard to stand out because all the courses here stand at par with each other. Deciding which one is the best is difficult, but to ask which is the most loved is a different story. The answer rolls off of the locals’ tongues easily: Virginia Beach National Golf Club. And they would not think twice about sharing it with golfers looking for a golf vacation destination.

The 18-hole par-72 course could not be counted out next to its more expensive neighbors. As much as the other courses are created by the industry’s greats, Virginia Beach National Golf Club is a product of the combined genius of Pete Dye and Golf Hall of Famer Curtis Strange. It features natural grasses, waste areas, rolling fairways and tour-quality greens. The course stretches to more than 7,200 yards with five sets of tees to accommodate players of any skill level. And just as much as the locals have made this their personal favorite, it has also become the golf vacation favorite for many golfers.

As the Virginia Beach National Golf Club continues to earn a following from golf trip regulars, it has long since been earning the respect of countless tour champions. It has been hosting the Virginia Open of the Nationwide Tours and undoubtedly has broken as many hearts both of the champions and the aspiring champions alike. The excellent quality of the course and the fact that it bears the name of Virginia Beach may simply be that one huge reason why it is so well loved. Or maybe it’s just too charming that even non-locals fall in love with it all too easily.

The Signature at West Neck Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , , • Leave a comment

When the Signature at West Neck Golf Club first opened in 2001, everyone was raving about it becoming a “timeless classic”. The golfing community expected a lot from the golf vacation destination. Not surprisingly so, the course bears the name of an Arnold Palmer as its creator, and the idyllic golf location of Virginia Beach as its home. How can anyone not expect a magnanimous result from this collaboration?

And magnanimous it was. The course stretches to a good 7,010 yards from the longest tees, all 18-holes spread on dramatically landscaped terrain. The course is a perfect collage of thirteen magnificent lakes, some stunning natural wetlands, and strategically placed beach bunkers. The greens and fairways of Tifsport Bermuda and A-grade bentgrass are conditioned to a state that could only be described as impeccable. The Signature at West Neck Golf Club displays such an air of elegance and unquestionable beauty, perfectly matched with a layout that is sure to challenge golfers playing from any of its five sets of tees. There is in fact a good reason to expect much from this golf vacation haven.

Today, a decade since the Signature at West Neck first opened for play, it is still as beautiful. The newer courses in the area and even the wear and tear of time has not fazed the course. It has become a favorite for golf trips and has a growing list of regular patrons who come back over and over to enjoy the scenery and its own brand of challenge. Undoubtedly, it has become the timeless classic it was meant to be.

Red Wing Lake Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The old and the wise will always remind us that there is a perfect time for everything. There’s a time to build, and a time to rebuild. And that time for Red Wing Lake Golf Club has come in 2005. The 60s-era golf vacation favorite in Virginia Beach had to go through two grueling years of total makeover under the watchful eye of its management and the keen hands of the Kevin Tucker Design Group. It was a long wait, but it was worth it. The George W. Coob original design is now a classic with all the amenities that only new age golfing technology could bring.

It is safe to say that Red Wing Lake Golf Club is better than ever. The fairways now feature a lush carpeting of high grade Bermuda grass and the greens of bentgrass have been restored. The golf vacation destination also has new wetland features that provide additional challenge to golfers of any skill level. The drainage system has also been improved immensely using state-of-the-art facilities for better playability on the greens and the forward tees.

The 18-hole, par-72 classic golf trip haven now stretches to 7,142 yards from the longest tees. The good name that Red Wing Lake Golf Club has earned in the last 30 years since its first opening in 1962 has just reached an all new level with all the improvements it has undergone. It has all the essentials of a classic favorite, with all the goodness of modern technology that can accommodate both the seasoned golfer and the young golf enthusiast. Now, more than ever, is the perfect time for golfers to enjoy the course.

 

 

Riverfront Golf Club

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The excellence of a golf course in layout and scenery is not the handiwork of one alone. It is the result of man’s collaboration with nature – how a golf course architect works his way towards achieving something good out of what nature already has. Such was the case of Tom Doak and the Riverfront Golf Club in Suffolk, Virginia. He was given a piece of land too beautiful to even touch lest it may ruin its natural splendor; but the genius of the designer prevailed, and the result is an award-winning golf vacation destination of world-class quality.

 The Riverfront Golf Club, as its name implies, sits at the mouth of the Nansemond River and at the mouth of the James River. It winds through riverfront acreage, tidal marshes, old gigantic oaks and vast rolling hills – a surprising attribute considering it is surrounded with mostly flatland. The old style course is an 18-hole, par 71 beauty that stretches to 6,735 yards from the longest tees. It makes optimum use of the surrounding waters as hazards, and the natural contours of the land to give the course an attitude. It makes for golf vacations that are not only beautiful, but challenging and interesting as well.

Because of its top caliber features, the Riverfront Golf Club has been awarded with accolades left and right. Only rightly so, it is the perfect reward for all the hardwork put into it. It holds 4 ½ stars from Golf Digest and ranks among the 40 Best Daily Fee Course by Golf and Travel Magazine. The golf trip haven was carved out of nature as if it were made by nature itself, and that makes it even more outstanding.