Four Diamonds In The… Er… Rough

It’s that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the sap is rising, and men and women turn their thoughts towards…golf. From our April issue.

OK, we know.  How many articles can be written on “GREAT GOLFING DESTINATIONS!”  Fair enough.  But we’ve assembled four really spectacular experiences that you very well might not have heard of.  And given the saturation of golf journalism, that alone is worth taking a look.  Enjoy, and hit ‘em straight!

 

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course
Arcadia, MI

We have to confess here to a little Midwestern bias.  Our headquarters are in suburban Chicago, and northern Michigan is one of our favorite regions – particularly the Traverse City area, one of the most stunningly beautiful regions in the world.  The impact the unique vistas and stimulating terrain has on the golf course is virtually indescribable.  Say YES! To Michigan?  Absolutely.

Arcadia Bluffs is a daily-fee golf club, open to the public seven days a week, from mid-April to mid-November each year, weather permitting. There are no private memberships, and every design aspect of the facility fosters enjoyment for guests of all golfing abilities. In addition to the premier layout, guests can enjoy a full practice range and separate short-game facility. GPS-equipped golf cars are available, or you may take advantage of the caddy program.

14710 Northwood Highway - Arcadia, MI  (800) 494-8666  www.arcadiabluffs.com

 

The Phoenician Golf Resort

Scottsdale, AZ

Well, perhaps you have heard of this one.  The Phoenician Golf Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been rated one of the top resorts in the world.  In addition to its 27 holes of championship golf on meticulously manicured greens and lush fairways, the resort offers fully nine – yes, nine - swimming pools, and a unique Tennis Garden that features a Wimbledon-style championship grass court and 11 lighted courts.  It really has to be seen to be believed.

Contoured out of the beauty of the spectacular Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Phoenician features a 27-hole championship golf course that inspires your spirit of adventure. Designed by Ted Robinson, Sr. and Homer Flint, The Phoenician’s three diverse nine-hole courses create 18-hole combinations for the challenge and fun you crave. Tee off on the finest golf courses in Scottsdale, Arizona, with 6,300 yards of extraordinary terrain with gorgeous greens, pristine desert views, breathtaking scenery and Arizona’s only sand-island green!

The Phoenician - 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251  (480) 423-2450  www.thephoenician.com

 

Keystone Ranch
Dillon, CO

Colorado has some drawbacks, we’ll concede…at least partly.  The most obvious is the fact that it’s seasonally-challenged.  Yes, the golf season is comparatively short.  Yes, it’s more a ski destination than golf destination.  However, the extraordinary vistas and landscape of  the region, along with the brilliance of the course design, make this a can’t-miss golfing experience…at least during the summer.

Challenge yourself and take your game to a higher level on this classic mountain golf course. Winding through lodgepole pines, around sage meadows and across a nine-acre lake, this par-72 golf course features slight elevation changes and many bunkers. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Keystone Ranch Golf Course follows the legendary links-style of a Scottish course on the front nine, while the back nine presents a traditional mountain valley layout. Total yardage is 5,582 - 7,090.

1239 Keystone Ranch Rd, Dillon, Colorado 80435, Summit County  (970) 496-1520  www.keystoneresort.com

 

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Alabama

 
No, Alabama isn’t synonymous with golf.  But Robert Trent Jones is.  The legendary designer has built hundreds of courses around the world.  And a CEO named Dr. David Bonner came up with idea of creating a series of courses in Alabama to honor Jones and his accomplishments.  Major players like Marriot came on board, and now a vast golfer’s delight awaits in the land of cotton.

Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the largest golf course construction project ever attempted. The Trail is a collection of 468 holes of championship golf on 11 different sites across Alabama. The Wall Street Journal said the Trail “may be the biggest bargain in the country” and The New York Times called the Trail “some of the best public golf on Earth.”

SunBelt Golf Corporation - 167 SunBelt Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35211 www.rtjgolf.com

                

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