California
Within the nation’s most populated state lies some of
the best golf resorts in the United States. The terrain varies
greatly from one tip of this long region to the other, as does
the weather—from craggy, seaside links to rolling, inland
meadows; from 80 degrees and sunny to dense fog and biting wind.
But one thing is certain wherever you choose to visit: It doesn’t
get much better than the Pacific Coast when it comes to top-quality
golf resorts.
The California coast below San Francisco presents a golfer a
range of excellent choices. Just 30 minutes south of San Francisco
is Half
Moon Bay, where a Ritz-Carlton and two affiliated oceanfront
golf courses add a splash of elegance to a charming farming
and fishing town. On scenic Monterey Bay golfers find the Holy
Grail of U.S. golf resorts, Pebble
Beach. With several “it-doesn’t-get-any-better-than-this”
courses in the Del Monte Forest—Pebble Beach Golf Links,
Spyglass and The Links at Spanish Bay among them—it’s
easy to overlook the Monterey Peninsula’s other fine designs.
But out in Carmel Valley, Quail
Lodge and Carmel
Valley Ranch have been pleasing guests for years with their
sunnier weather and serene layouts.
Once you hit Southern California, look to Orange County and
San Diego County to provide the best resorts offerings. The
courses in this southern part of the Pacific Region are less
tree-lined than those found in Northern California and Oregon.
Instead, gently rolling hills and panoramic views are the norm.
Golfers find themselves shooting over arroyos and playing through
golden canyons. The weather is typically warmer too. |
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Along the Newport Coast, the two Tom Fazio designs at Pelican
Hill fit this description. They are among the most desirable
upscale public layouts on the West Coast. Nearby in Dana Point
are Monarch
Beach and the affiliated St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel.
The Dana Point and Laguna Beach area is a favorite with non-golfers,
too, as shopping, art galleries, spas and divine cuisine are
in abundance.
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Further south still, golfers can play to their
heart’s delight at Four
Seasons Aviara, La
Costa and Torrey
Pines—three of the top resorts in the United States,
all located within 20 minutes of each other.
With such a wide and diverse selection of courses and resorts,
it can be hard to choose. Clearly, multiple visits to the Pacific
Region are required to make a dent in your “must-play”
list. |
