Only a few cottages or a boutique hotel and one golf course could be found in the smallest. The PGA National Golf Resort & Spa in southern Florida is a mega-property with many courses, several dining options, a large pool area, and hundreds of guest rooms.
Exactly what characteristics define a "full service" golf resort? Size is important, particularly for golfers who value stay-and-play packages that include unlimited rounds on many courses. However, it is not the distinguishing feature.
The biggest golf resort in the United States has had its flaws. There was no short course at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina for children or novices to learn the game or for friends to travel there for an afternoon quickie for more than a century. The architect Gil Hanse added the par-3 course "The Cradle" near the main clubhouse as part of the continuing makeover of Pinehurst No. 4. Similar plans to expand the resort's offerings and appeal may be seen at Missouri's Top of the Rock/Big Cedar Lodge, where numerous courses are now under construction.
Full-service golf facilities provide as much attention to the surrounding community as they do to the game itself. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon smashed the old idea that a great facility needed an extravagant spa and pool to be successful, but to some guests, such amenities are still crucial.
The "ideal" golfing retreat
Over the years, the crew at Golf Advisor has played at almost every golf resort in the United States. We've come up with a template of categories that every golf resort should follow to keep golfers and their travelling companions pleased, whether those groups are friends, family, children or a spouse. Following the presentation of the evaluation criteria, the following are the "complete" golf resorts in the United States. Drum roll, please.
Good practise facilities/golf school/golf teachin4g
Good practise facilities serve so many functions. Travelers who want to play golf while on vacation should have access to a warming facility. Especially the snowbirds who have migrated south for the winter are unlikely to have played much. If you schedule a tee time at a top resort, you'll get complimentary range balls, and even better, package players may use the range anytime they choose.
Modern fitness/spa/pool amenities
These amenities are geared more for the family than the golfers themselves, yet they are necessary to create a true "resort" atmosphere. There's more than just a pool or hot tub that today's "waterpark generation" kids require to keep them entertained. The Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California, has an excellent lazy river and splash zone.
Other Recreational Activities
At the top Orlando golf resorts, golf is included as one of several activities available to guests. Some of the best vacation spots provide tours for guests of all ages and interests. Many tourists who want to get their blood pumping choose to use the nearby hiking and bike trails rather than the hotel's fitness facilities.
