"Intoxicating" Lake Toxaway's Greystone Inn to offer world-class golf

The elegant Greystone Inn is only a two-minute walk from Lake Toxaway Country Club. It’s also the only way the golfing public can enjoy the club’s new Kris Spence-designed championship golf course.

Although private, Lake Toxaway Country Club extends full golf privileges to guests of Greystone Inn. So when the redesigned course opens Aug. 20, the award-winning inn will boast another desirable amenity in addition to its full-service spa, gourmet dining, water sports, daily champagne cruise and afternoon tea.

“Our portfolio of amenities will be greatly enhanced by the new course,” says Greystone General Manager Clark Lovelace. “The addition of a first-class $9 million course immediately transforms us into one of the premier golf resorts in the Southeast.”

Golfers who visit the Greystone Inn will experience a level of luxury unmatched in the mountains of North Carolina. The 33-bedroom inn opened in 1985 and has been winning accolades ever since.

This year marks the 22^nd consecutive year the Greystone has earned Four Diamond status. In 2006, readers of Conde Nast Traveler ranked the Greystone the 15^th best hotel in the U.S. , and Travel + Leisure magazine consistently ranks the inn in its top 500 hotels and resorts worldwide.

Signature to the inn is its evening champagne cruise aboard the 33-foot mahogany Miss Lucy. The hour-long cruise glides by beautiful lakefront homes while the captain regales guests with tales of the industrial elite visiting the lake 100 years ago, including such families as the Fords, Rockefellers, Edisons and Firestones.

Seven-course gourmet meals are also a key part of the Greystone experience. The inn’s lakeside dining room menu changes nightly, providing guests a perpetual choice of entrees.

With its excellent service, fine dining, spectacular scenery, and now a truly magnificent golf course, the Greystone Inn stands out as a destination of choice for the discerning traveler.

For further information, visit www.greystoneinn.com or call (800) 824-5766.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offer year-round, championship golf in a tropical paradise

LEE COUNTY, FL—The area is known for its award-winning beaches, world famous shelling, spectacular sunsets and all the best that Mother Nature has to offer.  The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel also provides a golf mecca known for its rich golf history, championship courses designed by legends and an endless selection of choices available year-round in this tropical paradise.

From golf resorts to public municipal courses to exclusive clubs that allow public play, area courses provide opportunities for golfers of all levels.  Many have views of the Gulf of Mexico , have won awards for their commitment to the preservation of the environment and all have worked to protect the area’s wildlife. 

According to the National Golf Foundation, the area is eighth in the nation for golf holes per capita, with an endless list of choices and quality layouts that make golf easily accessible to visitors.

In addition to resorts known for their championship courses, most accommodations in the area will recommend nearby courses for their guests.  Visitors may also select from the extensive list of public courses.

Old Corkscrew Golf Club earns place on “best” list

Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero, which opened in 2007, is the area’s only stand-alone Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.  It didn’t take long for the course to gain recognition as it was name to the list of America ’s Best New Courses by Golf Digest magazine in December 2007. Open to the public, the course provides an outstanding golf experience that challenges players of all levels and is set in a natural environment.  In addition to great golf, players enjoy an up close and personal encounter with the area’s unique landscape and wildlife.

Certified with the Audubon seal of approval, Old Corkscrew Golf Club’s location still reflects its original natural setting, complete with stands of cypress, magnificently tall pines, mature oaks and nesting colonies of wood storks, egrets and herons, just to name a few.  Valuing wildlife and natural habitats as much as they value the game of golf, Old Corkscrew is committed to enhancing the environment.  Audubon International is an environmental educational organization that focuses on sustainable development. Fewer than two percent of courses around the world have been named a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.  For information and tee times, call 239-949-4700 or visit www.oldcorkscrew.com.

Local golf resorts

The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs

One of the area’s newest courses, Raptor Bay is the first resort course to receive the Audubon International Gold Certification.  Designed by golf legend Raymond Floyd, the 18-hole course is designed in harmony with its lush, natural setting. The course is available to resort guests as well as to the public.  For information, call 239-444-1234 or visit www.coconutpointhyatt.com.

South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island

The newly redesigned Captiva Island Golf Club at South Seas Island Resort is designed by Chip Powell and ranked one of the Top-Five Short Courses in the world by the Professional Golfers Association. The course recently completed $4 million in upgrades and offers guests nine holes with stunning views on the Gulf of Mexico .  Course is open to resort guests.   For information, call 239-472-5111 or visit www.southseas.com.

The Gasparilla Inn & Club

Located on Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida , the newly renovated Gasparilla Inn and Club at Boca Grande recently received the designation as a “Historic Hotel of America.”  Golfers set their own pace on this Pete Dye, 18-hole course that offers views of Charlotte Harbor from every hole.   Course is open to resort guests.  For information call 941-964-2201 or visit www.gasparillainn.com.

Additional courses open to the public include:

Alden Pines Country Club, Bokeelia

Gordon Lewis-designed course

239-283-2179

Fort Myers Beach Golf Club

Only course on Fort Myers Beach

www.fmbgclub.com

239-283-2179

Beachview Golf Club, Sanibel Island

Member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

www.beachviewgolfclub.com

239-472-2626

Bonita Fairways Country Club, Bonita Springs

New clubhouse

www.bonitafairways.com

239-947-9100

For additional information on planning a golf vacation to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, visit www.FortMyersSanibel.com.

NEW WATERFRONT LIVING CONCEPT ON GRAND CAYMAN

The DeckHouses Offer the Ultimate Resort/Private Island Living Experience for Home Owners

GRAND CAYMAN – “Our goal is to capture the essence of authentic

"We are bringing to life our vision for the ultimate, exclusive island experience, giving home owners the best of the best.” This is how Michael Ryan, owner and developer of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, explains the challenge of his newest project. Just announced and with completion planned for 2009, The DeckHouses – 19 five-bedroom, five-bath gated single family homes, each on a private island and with full access to the services and amenities of The Ritz-Carlton, including private butler service – represent the newest concept in luxury lifestyle in the region.  Reservations for ownership are being accepted through the end of 2007, with contracted sales expected to commence before the new year.

The concept is to enable an owner to move from the deck of a luxury home to the deck of a luxury boat in one fluid motion, a single step, integrating outdoor and indoor living.  If it seems simple, it’s only in the neat phrasing of the idea. The DeckHouses, in phase two of The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, however, are set to clothe the concept, employing nature’s building blocks, natural wood and native stone, even shells, in a series of 19 elegant private-waterfront properties.In developing the concept for The DeckHouses, Ryan, David Camp, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, and four other members of his development team, visited 32 luxury resorts in 12 countries on a whirlwind six-day tour of the Caribbean region to determine what works best and what affluent home buyers most appreciate.

The result is a perfect blend of privacy, world-class amenities and design, beautiful natural surroundings and an abundance of water.The predominance of the water element in planning has been carefully devised, representing a paradigm shift: When it comes to transport, you can now forget your car and take the boat. 

The development is ready to move beyond what has expertly been achieved by the resort hotel and grasp the potential of a fully integrated community“This is one of the first steps in becoming Grand Cayman’s only ocean-to-ocean resort. It gives us the opportunity to fully integrate the Residences with the many wonders of the Caribbean Sea.

Every homeowner will feel connected to the water,” says Camp, “Your daily life will revolve around the water thanks to the network of waterways that tie the community together. You can step out into your boat house, fire up your boat and cruise to dinner at one of the many restaurants on property. Or, you can hop on one of the water taxis and be delivered to the shops or to an appointment at the spa.”The three-story DeckHouses will be situated on a small peninsula surrounded by water. Each home is separated from the others by water and lush, natural vegetation, creating a uniquely secluded private island environment. In addition to a private swimming pool, wrap-around decking and an attached boathouse for housing and displaying personal watercraft, each island features its own private beach and cove. A one-bedroom, one-bath guest cottage is included on each property as well.

In architectural and landscape design, The DeckHouses will celebrate the beauty and timelessness of the Caribbean, taking full advantage of waterways, masterfully-planned landscaping and topography and 270-degree panoramic views. Tucked into elevated topography and vegetation, they create an authentic tropical ambiance further enhanced by hand-crafted and natural materials. Interiors by Hughes Design Associates will pay tribute to the region’s heritage, and Zurcher Architects, based in Costa Rica, are providing the architectural design.

Further distinguishing The DeckHouses from other home ownership options in the Caribbean, all owners and their guests will have full access to the facilities and amenities of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, which, since opening in 2005, has earned worldwide accolades for its fine restaurants, spa, luxury shopping and unparalleled setting on Seven Mile Beach. DeckHouse owners also have access to the resort’s Greg Norman-designed golf course, dining at Blue by Eric Ripert and other facilities and activities. Additionally, other unparalleled lifestyle options will be available to DeckHouse owners, including personal ownership of an Italian antique-style hand-crafted wood watercraft, a luxury vehicle, personal golf cart and full personal butler service by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.  Additionally, the Cayman Islands’ status as a British Crown Colony, along with its extremely favorable tax climate, offers real estate purchasers a welcome stability.For more information, visit www.thedeckhouses.com.  

Golfing in the Carolinas 

By Robert J. Nebel

Editor, Men's Traveler

While you might not match Tiger Woods' prowess with the golf clubs, you can certainly dream. Two Southeast golfing spots may help you reach that elusive goal of becoming a golf pro. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort on the coast of South Carolina and the Maggie Valley Club in the mountains of North Carolina are premier courses that are worth a road trip.

An island golf getaway

Perhaps the next big star in the golf course world will be the Ocean Course at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Both the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 PGA Championship will be held there. This course, which opened in 1991, was designed by famed golf architect Pete Dye.

The course offers excellent golfing accompanied by a panoramic view of the Atlantic. Kiawah Island is located just 45 minutes outside of Charleston.

In addition to the Ocean Course, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort is home to four other notable golf courses. The Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point and Cougar Point courses all have unique attributes. For example, Osprey Point, designed by Tom Fazio, is surrounded by live oaks, palmettos, magnolias, natural lakes and a saltwater marsh.Golf packages at Kiawah Island include lodging at the island's hotel, The Sanctuary, and course access. The Classic Golf Package features a two-night stay at the hotel, a daily buffet breakfast, and two rounds of golf on the Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point or Cougar Point courses.

Access to the Ocean Course is offered with the Championship Golf Package. This deal includes three rounds of golf, a two-night stay, dinner each night in your choice of several resort restaurants and a buffet breakfast.

Golf isn't Kiawah Island's only attraction. The Sanctuary is a luxurious oceanfront hotel that is home to a grand lobby with rare wood floors, two exquisite restaurants, a salon, spa, retail stores, indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center.

"We are more than just a golf resort," said Matt Owen, public relations manager for The Sanctuary.

Scenic golf in North Carolina

In the fall, the golf course at the Maggie Valley Club in western North Carolina is particularly scenic. Though leaves on the trees surrounding this mountain course change colors in autumn, the fairways stay green year-round.

A major renovation is taking place at the Maggie Valley Club, which has remained virtually unchanged since it opened in 1962. Ongoing improvements, which include an upgraded golf course and remodeled clubhouse, will be completed by next summer.

"The renaissance is coming to fruition," said developer Mike Toohey in a recent press release.

The 18,000-square-foot clubhouse at the Maggie Valley Club houses the resort's expansive dining room, a casual lounge, a pro shop and fitness center. Spa services are available at the clubhouse as well.

The club's Seasons Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests at the Maggie Valley Club may also dine at the more casual Pin High Lounge.

New condominium suites at the Maggie Valley Club feature views of the resort's golf course. Each two-bedroom, two-bath suite has a fully equipped kitchen, as well as a dining room. The living rooms include sleeper sofas. Nightly, weekly and monthly rates are available.

More info:

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
www.thesanctuary.com/golf.html

The Maggie Valley Club
http://www.maggievalleyclub.com/

Check out the ultimate Georgia golf guide and if you're ever in Atlanta, click here.

PINEHURST’S BUDDY TRIP OF A LIFETIME TAKES GOLF TRAVEL TO NEW LEVELS

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. (July 10, 2008) – For those who believe there are few things more important than a golf trip with close friends, Pinehurst Resort has launched a unique experience that includes the opportunity to win a signature trophy on one of golf’s most revered layouts – and a schedule packed with perks.

The Buddy Trip of a Lifetime at Pinehurst is loaded with extras that take an average golf trip to the next level – from a steak and lobster dinner with a private chef in your own villa to a round on No. 2 with caddies wearing your name. And one member of your group will be awarded a PutterBoy Trophy. You choose the game, Pinehurst will hand out the trophy and, with it, a year’s worth of bragging rights.

“We have so many groups of friends and family that visit Pinehurst for their buddy trips that it made seemed a natural to offer this ultimate package,” said Don Padgett, president of Pinehurst. “We want to create a memory that lasts forever, sharing moments with friends and family that can’t be replicated.  Pinehurst is the place where these perfect trips happen.”

On the course, that means playing as much or as little as you wish. A dozen Titleist Pro V1s will greet you before your first round, and coffee or Bloody Marys will be delivered to the first tee when beginning your second day of golf.

Included in the package is one round of golf on Pinehurst No. 2 – site of this summer’s U.S. Amateur, as well as the 1999, 2005 and 2014 U.S. Opens. Before teeing off on the famed layout, one of Pinehurst’s professionals will offer tips and insights on how to play the course, and your caddie will be wearing a bib with your name on it. After putting out on the 18^th hole, a photographer will be waiting to take a group photo, which will be framed and left in your room.

Off the course, you’ll want for nothing. Villa accommodations will include a wet bar pre-stocked with beer, wine and snacks of your choice. Your daily breakfast and dinner includes a steak and lobster feast prepared by a private chef right in your villa.

A dedicated concierge will help take care of your every need. You’ll have unlimited access to steam, sauna and whirlpool in The Spa. You’ll have a $50 gift card to spend anywhere at the Resort. Surprise gifts will greet you on arrival and departure. And, if for some reason you needed to leave the Resort, access to an Acura courtesy car will be available throughout your stay.

The three-day, two-night Buddy Trip of a Lifetime is available for groups of four or more and carries an all-inclusive price of $2,300 per person double occupancy; or $2,800 single occupancy. 

COMPLETE COMPONENT LIST:

• 3 days / 2 nights in our luxurious Villa* accommodations - four guest rooms connected to a central gathering parlor
• Villa parlor wet bar stocked with beverages of your choice (wine and beer) & snacks for your stay
• Unlimited golf
• Round on No. 2 with single caddies who wear your name and their bibs
• Private tip session with a Pinehurst pro on how to play No. 2
• On-course surprise, activated by your group's planner
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Exclusive Steak & Lobster dinner with your own private chef in Villa
• Unlimited steam/sauna/whirlpool access at The Spa
• Group photo at 1st tee of No. 2
• Acura courtesy car available throughout your stay
• VIP Concierge access throughout your stay
• Surprise welcome/departure gifts
• $50 gift card per person
• Pinehurst Putterboy Trophy for group's contest of choice - you make the bets, we provide the prize

Golf, Southeastern Style

Travel “Fore!” great golf experiences in the Southeast

By Robert J. Nebel

The sound of the iron on the club as it approaches the vulnerable white dimpled ball on its tee produces an exhilarating effect all its own. Once it departs from its resting place, the ball ascends into the distance like a free bird. For myself and others it is an escape like no other. Welcome to the game of golf.

For some, golf is a hobby or an occasional treat. With my busy schedule, I include myself in this group. Whenever I get on the fairway, golf is a mystery and a challenge. After each outing, I’m left wondering, “What is it about this game?” When you break it all down, it’s just people hitting balls into holes.

For others, golf is religion. I have met many of these devotees on my travels who are equally fascinated with the game.

Whether you are an amateur or a pro, I have discovered that all types of golf courses are available throughout the Southeast.

Golfing among great scenery

Playable yet challenging is what describes the Maggie Valley Club’s golf courses.

This club, nestled away in Western North Carolina, offers fun, picturesque golfing opportunities. Its front “Valley Nine” allows you to warm up before hitting the challenging course, the “Mountain Nine.” When you work your way up to the “Mountain Nine,” you’re rewarded with endless views of the area’s vast mountains. Whether you have a good game or not, one thing is guaranteed: a game of golf at this club is a pleasure. Everyone who I encountered at Maggie Valley gave the experience positive reviews.

The Maggie Valley Club’s course was hand-sown in the 1960s with a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye which is the reason for its bright green hues. Their planting program makes it possible to add 60-70 trees.

Their clubhouse, which is part of an ambitious renovation project, offers a spacious workout room, luxurious locker rooms, restaurants and a state-of-the-art detached golf shop. To top it off, vast balconies and decks let visitors enjoy views of the golf courses set against the majestic scenery.

The Maggie Valley Club is a three-plus hour drive from the metropolitan Atlanta area. It is set over 3,000 feet above sea level between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountain ranges.

Tee time in Tennessee

If golfing in the North Carolina mountains is too far for you, check out the Eagle Bluff Golf Club in Chattanooga. Golf-lovers say that Eagle Bluff demands concentration and patience. It is a 6,700-yard course that features elevation changes, contoured fairways and lush scenery. Eagle Bluff’s course overlooks Chickamauga Lake and Harrison Bay.

Eagle Bluff is located about 15 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. If you plan to stay the night, check into the beautifully renovated Chattanoogan Hotel. After a day of golfing at Eagle Bluff, nothing will soothe sore shoulders than a massage in the Chattanoogan’s Spa. Top the spa session off with a visit to the hotel’s Broad Street Grille which features delectable dishes including New York Strip steaks and Grilled Organic Salmon Roulade. Retire to your spacious room that provides all of today’s comforts which include fluffy beds and updated bathrooms.

Lanier is affordable, playable

Are you looking to save money on your next golf adventure? Look no further than the Lanier Club. The classic 18-hole, par 72 Joe Lee-designed club allows limited public play that features low daily, weekend and twilight rates. This course provides players with challenges that can be reached on any level of golfing experience. Set under the quiet pine trees and pristine slices of water, each of its holes are unique.

The Lanier Golf Club is home to a separate practice and driving range as well as a clubhouse, pool and tennis courts. Hungry patrons can check into the Club Grill after a day on the fairway.

The best part about this club is that it’s close to home. The Lanier Club is located off of Highway 20 on Buford Dam Road in Cumming.

Serious golfing

The Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina is a “Golf Mecca.” Its courses are some of the most impressive that I have visited thus far in my travels. Each of Pinehurst’s courses tell have their own history and individual design. Course No. 7 is the legendary one I visited. It’s a Rees-Jones designed course that takes advantage of its natural habitat to help and provide a challenge to golfers.

The course that is getting all the attention this year is Course No. 2, which is celebrating its 100^th birthday. More than 6,000 people who have played the course this year, signed the registry. Golf legend Tiger Woods has raved about this course when he once said, “I play golf courses on tour and we all see it, miss the green, automatic lob wedge, hack it out of the rough. That to me in not fun golf. Fun golf is Pinehurst.”

Pinehurst is always improving. Room renovations in its Carolina Hotel are being upgrading through a multi-million dollar initiative. Flats screen televisions, ultra-soft bedding and marble bathrooms are just a few of the amenities being installed in the rooms.

An improvement that is in its design stages is Pinehurst’s Members Clubhouse, which is set to be completed next year. It will be similar to the existing 40,000 square-foot structure that was built in 1970.

“Pinehurst has always prided itself on innovation. It’s what’s kept us at the top of the list in the golf and resort industry, in realizing we can’t rest on your laurels to serve our guests in a competitive market,” said Janeen Driscoll, Communications Manager for the Village of Pinehurst. “Pinehurst has made a deliberate effort to bring the best to this historic venue, and our ownership has committed to those same ideals.”

Many courses to choose from

Whether you are in Georgia, Tennessee or the Carolinas, there is a course for you. Thankfully novice and the faithful players can find a diverse number of courses throughout the Southeast.

Web sites:

Maggie Valley Club

http://www.maggievalleyclub.com

Eagle Bluff Golf Club

http://www.eaglebluffgolf.com

Lanier Golf Club

http://www.laniergolfclub.com

Did you know?

Sources: Golflink.com, The Lanier Golf Club, Pinehurst Club

*The Maggie Valley Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation-length course. It features 6,505 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

*Legendary designer William Prevost, Sr. designed the Maggie Valley course which opened in 1962.

*Maggie Valley has a course rating of 70.8 and a slope rating of 125 on Blue grass.

*The Lanier Golf Club has been operating as a family-friendly golf institution since 1970.

*North Carolina’s Pinehurst will be the site of the 2015 U.S. Open for an unprecedented three times in 15 years.