golf

Gleneagles: Where Familes Can Experience Scottish Outdoor Pursuits

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Scottish Pursuits at Gleneagle Hotel in Scotland

When the Gleneagles Hotel opened in 1924, it was described as 'a Riviera in the Highlands' and 'the eighth wonder of the world'. Then as now, the Gleneagles Hotel was the glorious playground for people dedicated to leisure and pleasure in the most luxurious surroundings. Nearly ninety years later, Gleneagles, which is still considered one of the world's most coveted five star resorts, is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Family Luxury Summer Vacation.

Built by the former Caledonian Railway Company (and complete with its own railway station), the resort has long been a fixed part of high society's calendar. During the 1950's, after the London "season", the elite went to Gleneagles for grouse shooting.
The hotel was only opened during the summer months until the early 1980's when a total renovation and restoration program was initiated. Since then, a total capital investment of more than £46 million has made it possible to enjoy the elegance and traditions of Gleneagles all year round.

Gallery: Country Pursuits in Scotland at Gleneagles

Tags: archery, awards-main, best luxury family summer destination, Diageo, Falconry, fishing, gleneagles, Gleneagles Hotel, golf, golf resort, horseback riding, luxist-awards, Scotland, shooting

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Samoset Resort: Quiet Luxury in Maine

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Samoset Resort, in Rockland, Maine, is fairly remote and offers a comfortable retreat from the frenetic pace of city life. Located a tad more than three hours from Boston, it's a great place for people looking to disappear for a few days, either to swing a golf club or simply to hide from the realities of everyday life.

To truly appreciate what this property has to offer, though, you need to walk through the main building, across the golf course and along the water a bit. Or, you can have someone give you a lift in a golf cart, which might be a bit easier.

The Flume Cottage sits apart from the rest of the resort, resulting in seclusion within seclusion. This1,500 square foot cottage, refurbished in 2010, sits right on the water, with a back deck that sports drop-dead views of the breakwater, with its lighthouse at the end. And, you can soak in the sights from the Jacuzzi that's out there. Since the only adjacent action on land is golf, you don't need to worry about the slightest noise intruding on your getaway, except, perhaps, a knock at the door when your meals arrive.

Gallery: The Flume Cottage at the Samoset Resort

Tags: golf, golf course, golfing, hotel, hotel review, hotels, Jacuzzi, maine, maine hotels, resort, resorts, rockland

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Bid On A Chance To Play With The Greats At Pebble Beach

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity, Sports

Imagine playing at one of the most famous golf courses in the United States with some of the world's most respected golfers. The First Tee, a charity that helps young people from all backgrounds learn about golf, is auctioning the opportunity for one lucky fan and a guest to play alongside Hall of Famers including Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw and Nick Price in a Champions Tour event at the The Homecare & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. The auction through charitybuzz ends on on August 19. The package is a week-long experience on the Monterey Peninsula that includes accommodations at the Inn at Spanish Bay, a practice round and one tournament round at Pebble Beach, unlimited practice rounds at the pristine Del Monte Golf Course and more. The Homecare & Hospice First Tee Open is a 54-hole golf event with 78 Champions Tour players paired with 78 junior golfers ages 15-18 and 156 amateurs. They will compete on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course over Labor Day weekend 2010. The package is estimated at $25,000 but bids start at $7,250.

Clint Eastwood is the chairman of the event and former President George H. W. Bush and Arnold Palmer are honorary co-chairs. Golfers will play both courses Friday and Saturday and on Pebble Beach only on Sunday. All three rounds will be broadcast internationally on the Golf Channel.

Tags: champions tour, CharityBuzz, golf, pebble beach

Luxist Takes a Tour of the Nike Golf Oven

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Nike advertising has a way - one of the biggest, best ways, actually - of seizing your attention. That is only in small part due to the ubiquity of the company's ads. It is more substantially due to: Nike ads don't sell products; Nike ads sell you on the idea of being everything you can be, perhaps better than you ever thought you could be. Take the World Cup: Nike didn't sponsor the tournament; Adidas did. But which company do you remember? Can you even remember an Adidas commercial? Or does your bell toll for "Write Your Future"?

The company was founded on a single idea, and it has continued to let its ideas grab the attention, with the products playing... accessory, as it were, to the achievement of those ideas. When Luxist was invited to the Nike Golf Oven in Ft. Worth, Texas, we met the men behind Nike's idea of golf, and to see how those ideas were made material. You wouldn't guess this would be the place for a Skunkworks devoted to fairways and greens, but then again, there are a lot of things we'd have never guessed about Nike. This is just another one.

Gallery: The Nike Golf Oven

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Tags: ft. worth, golf, nike, nike golf, nike golf oven, sports, texas

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Kingsmill Resort Sold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Kingsmill golf resort in Virginia has a new owner. The Virginia Gazette reports that Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a Denver-based company that also operates Grand Canyon Railway Central and Williams Depot in Arizona, has bought Kingsmill Resort & Spa. Xanterra manages resorts, restaurants, tours and other concessions in national parks, state parks and other locations around the country. Kingsmill is a popular resort in Virginia and has 422 rooms, six restaurants, a spa, marina, and 15-court tennis center. Kingsmill is most famous for its golf with courses designed by Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Tom Clark and two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange.

"Kingsmill is one of the country's premier resorts, and we are very excited to acquire such a high-caliber resort that complements our existing portfolio of properties and is consistent with the expansion of our company," said Xanterra President Andrew Todd in a press release. "We are very excited about the future of the resort and the community." The sale is expected to be completed in August with Xanterra assuming ownership and management of the resort immediately after closing. No word on how much they paid.

Tags: golf, golf resort, golf resorts, kingsmill, luxury resorts, virginia, xanterra

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Offers Unlimited Golf Package

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Sports

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is offering an unlimted golf package this summer

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, Ca. is offering a great summer package for golf lovers.

Available now through September 2, on Sunday through Thursday nights, Ojai's "Complete Deal" package offers guests unlimited golf and one complimentary classic 50-minute spa treatment per night when guests book a "Shangri-La" room type or above. As an added bonus, guests staying in a suite will also enjoy complimentary breakfast. Rates start at $450 per night, which is less than the value of the complimentary unlimited golf and spa treatments (the approximate added value is $500).

Located on 220 tree-shaded acres, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is home to one of the country's premier championship golf courses as well as the newly renovated, world-renowned Spa Ojai. Ojai's world-class 18-hole golf course plays 6,292 yards (from the blue tees) with a par 70, a rating of 71.0 and a slope of 132. Designed and built in 1923 under the direction of George C. Thomas, Jr. and Billy Bell, the course was hailed as "a marvel of golfing architecture." The course and greens were toughened considerably in 1988 by famous course designer Jay Morrish.

In 2005, the 80-year-old resort underwent a $90 million renovation. The resort offers 308 rooms and suites, many with fireplaces and private balconies or patios overlooking the golf course and nearby mountains.

For more information, call the resort at (888) 687-8780. Availability can also be checked online.

The luxurious and historic resort was a finalist for a Luxist Award in the best extended stay spa category in March.

Tags: awards-main, golf, golf package, luxist-awards, Ojai Valley Inn Spa, spa

New Cigar Dinner Lets You Pay IRS Again!

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Auctions, Charity

Let's face it: even the best accountant in the world leaves the high net worth community paying more taxes than you would like. You drop all kinds of cash to the IRS every year, and it sucks. It really does. So, do you want to send that government body more?

That's the question Orlando banker Jeff Ramsey is asking.

He has organized a cigar dinner at Foxwoods in Connecticut to help rescue the house currently (and perhaps temporarily) owned by Jim Thorpe and his wife, Carol. Thorpe, once a pro golfer, won't be able to join you at the dinner ... because he's in prison after "losing a two-year legal battle with the IRS."

The dinner will include silent and traditional auctions to fill the financial void left in Thorpe's life by the IRS.

For $200, you can head up to Foxwoods on June 21, 2010, smoke a few cigars and dine with other civic-minded aficionados who are eager to give Thorpe a hand. For another $1,500, you can play in the ProAm golf course the next day.

Note: This is indirect IRS support. Your money will not go directly to the government agency.

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Tags: cigar, cigars, golf, irs, jail, Jim Thorpe, prison, tax, taxes

The Battle To Trip Up Trump In Scotland Rages On

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Fresh off the Celebrity Apprentice finale billionaire Donald Trump has flown to Scotland for a battle of a different kind. Trump is there to finalize plans to build what he calls the "world's greatest golf course" in Aberdeenshire but he faces continued opposition from local protestors. A group called Tripping Up Trump has formed and bought land belonging to one of the residents, Michael Forbes in an effort to thwart the £1 billion seaside development.

The land, which the group calls The Bunker, is strategically located in the heart of the resort. Trump's proposal includes two 18-hole championship golf courses, a luxury hotel and vacation residences. The group is putting the names of hundreds of protesters on the title deeds, hoping to snarl up Trump and the Aberdeenshire Council in endless paperwork if they decide to issue a compulsory purchase order for the site (a cute animated video explaining the project is after the jump).

Trump and his son Donald Jr. arrived in Aberdeen Airport and spoke with the media but did not indicate if they would be meeting with the protesters. Trump has offered residents a package which includes a promise to purchase their property at 15 percent above current market value, the opportunity to buy a house on the golf complex at cost price and lifetime membership of the golf resort but the residents have not taken him up on this offer. The master plan for the resort will be considered by Aberdeenshire Council later this year.

Tags: aberdeenshire, donald trump, golf, golf resort, scotland

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Italy: The Latest Home to Links Golf

by Paul Rogers (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

An American golf course architect designing a seaside links in Scotland, just down the coast from St. Andrews, is akin to an English chef cooking coq au vin at Le Cordon Bleu. But that's just what California-based Kyle Phillips managed to do a decade ago at Kingsbarns Golf Links. In his latest overseas venture, Phillips has laid out two spectacularly scenic yet understated 18-hole courses at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, the new Rocco Forte Collection resort on the southern coast of Sicily.

The five-star resort--just over an hour from the international airport in Palermo and near the historic city of Agrigento, with its Valley of the Temples--has much to speak for itself, as Luxist noted in reporting the opening of the property. Not the least of Verdura's attributes are suites and villas appointed with assorted mosaics, ceramics and artifacts culled from this primordial island by the interior designer Olga Polizzi, Sir Rocco Forte's sister. The amenities also include four restaurants, among them a Sicilian trattoria, and a gelateria.

Gallery: Verdura Golf Resort & Spa in Sicily

Tags: golf, Italy, Rocco Forte Collection, Sicily

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Putt for Dough With A Phil Mickelson Inspired Putter

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Hello golfers, here's a limited edition club that you're going to have to not only pay dearly for but race for as well. It's the Odyssey ProType 82 and it's all about Phil Mickelson, inspired by the putter he used to win his 4th major tournament the 2010 Masters. Features include Odyssey's White Ice insert (with a Tungsten weight behind it), a sightline specially requested by Mickelson that stretches from the face of the club down the back flange, and a green highlight on the sole as a nod to his win and third Green Jacket. Only 164 Odyssey ProType 82 putters will be made, 82 left-handed and 82 right-handed, all numbered and protected by a signature Phil Mickelson headcover and Black Series grip. The price? $500.

Here's where the racing part comes in: in order to get one you have to log on to OdysseyGolf.com on May 10th 2010 at 11am EST and if you're one of the first 82 lefties/82 righties to register you'll get the chance to buy one. If not I guess you're outta luck. How fast do you think they'll go?

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Tags: clubs, golf, golf clubs, masters, Odyssey, phil mickelson, putter

Punta Cana - New Golf Course, Timeless Style

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events

This month, I headed down to Punta Cana, an elite, glamorous, privately owned resort destination in the Dominican Republic for the launch of their new oceanside golf course: Corales. I had the privilege of staying in a PUNTACANA Resort & Club Tortuga Bay villa designed by Oscar de la Renta (above, see gallery for a peek inside), and even meeting Mr. De la Renta himself at his private Punta Cana home -- which was imaginatively designed and definitely curated with a touch of genius; more on that later.

Though I'm not much of a golfer, I was immediately issued my very own golf cart at Tortuga Bay and a parking space at my villa, as well as a splendid yellow bicycle for getting around the extensive resort grounds. Daily trips to various restaurants on the property and the discovery of natural springs and hidden beaches made the experience somewhat like living on your very own small island and having full rights to explore. There's plenty to do in Punta Cana for non-golfers, from kiteboarding to Segway tours (which I did for the first time and now totally understand what the fuss is all about -- those things are fun!). There's a Six Senses spa, tennis, and a lot of great food, as well as pools and white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see. If you happen to stay at PUNTACANA Resort & Club, you'll even get special, VIP treatment at the airport, the kind where you don't have to wait in any lines, as the resort actually owns the airport.

When I attended the launch of Corales, which was hosted by various Punta Cana officials as well as Oscar de la Renta, Tom Fazio, the designer, and the president of the Dominican Republic himself (who is charming), I was more than impressed by the overwhelming beauty of the course. We sat in an intimate ocean view pavilion right on the green as everyone gave speeches and a Catholic priest blessed the course. The residents of Punta Cana wore white almost universally, which is the custom not only for public events but for every day. Another thing I noticed is that though the weather is hot, they drink red wine, even at lunch. It turns out that a light bodied red pairs quite marvelously with traditional shrimp ceviche and conch salad, both of which were rampantly available. But I digress.

Gallery: Punta Cana Resort & Club

Tags: dominican republic, golf, oscar de la renta, punta cana, resort, tortuga bay

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Celebrate National Tartan Day By Booking A Golf Getaway

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Today is National Tartan Day, the day to celebrate Americans of Scottish descent. Over 11 million Americans claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. These people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th.

Should the homeland be calling you you can join the action at St. Andrews, Scotland for the 150th British Open from July 11-19. Tour operator PerryGolf is offering British Open packages that offer ways of exploring Scotland both on and off the fairways. Scotland is the home of golf and has over 550 golf courses to explore from iconic courses of St Andrews and the coastal links of Aberdeenshire (where Donald Trump is setting up shop) to the challenging fairways of Dalmahoy and Gleneagles. Click through after the jump for details on specific packages.

Tags: british open, golf, national tartan day, perry golf, scotland, St. Andrews

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The Classicist: A Puerto Rican Renaissance at St. Regis Bahia Beach Residences

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports, The Classicist, Real Estate Developments

One of the Caribbean's finest residential and vacation enclaves is taking shape on 483 pristine beachfront acres in Puerto Rico, at the foot of the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. At the vanguard of what promises to be a true Puerto Rican renaissance is the stunning Bahia Beach community with a St. Regis resort and residences as its centerpiece. Located within 25 minutes driving distance of San Juan, Bahia Beach boasts a magnificent two-mile crescent of sandy beach, a challenging 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., golf and beach clubhouses, and a charming seaside village. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will operate the intimate St. Regis Resort, Bahía Beach, which will include an ultra-luxurious hotel and spa slated to open this fall. As any visitor to Bahia Beach can attest, its naturally perfect setting inspires dreams of permanent residence. Bahia Beach offers a number of ways to make the dream a reality, with a variety of homes including St. Regis Residences, Las Estancias estate homes, resort residences, golf and ocean view villas, and beachfront townhomes available in advance of the resort's official opening.

The resort will feature the signature St. Regis Butler and St. Regis Concierge service, a world-class Remède Spa and Fitness Center, a 120-seat Jean-Georges Vongerichten signature restaurant as well as a 90-seat St. Regis restaurant, retail shops and beachfront pool facilities. The tropical, unspoiled splendor of Bahia Beach, located on Puerto Rico's northeast coast at the foot of the El Yunque rain forest and bounded by two scenic rivers, can easily lead you to imagine a remote idyll, yet part of its appeal lies in the community's convenience and accessibility. U.S. residents don't need to bother with passports or worry about currency exchange, while the distance from New York for example is not all that much more than Miami. Once a coconut plantation, Bahía Beach is richly populated with 100-foot palms and other tropical trees, inhabited by myriad species of birds and the vivid green iguanas native to the coast. Over 65% of the property has been preserved as green areas, sanctuaries and nature trails; the Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club is Puerto Rico's first resort community to become a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.

Gallery: St. Regis Bahia Beach Residences

All residences sold within Bahía Beach include social membership in the community's private club, providing members with special dining and recreational privileges and services. Upgrades to full golf club memberships are also available. The signature St. Regis Residences, Las Estancias, will offer 25 majestic estate homes introducing an unrivaled dimension of luxury and hospitality to Puerto Rico. Located on a private island within the Bahía community and designed in a tropical plantation architectural style on spacious lots, these residences are available in six different models with floor plans offering large verandas, three-car garages, infinity edge swimming pools and separate maid's quarters. Homes are sized from 6,000 to 9,000 square feet and built on half acre to 1.5 acre lots with stunning ocean and golf course views. The first homes have already been delivered and one well-known major league baseball player has already taken up residence. Owners of Las Estancias will enjoy full access to St. Regis Resort amenities including the signature St. Regis Butler and St. Regis Concierge. Read on for details of the rest of the residences, and check out the gallery for stunning images.

Tags: Audubon, Bahia Beach, beach, Caribbean, El Yunque, golf, golf club, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, nature sanctuary, Puerto Rico, rain forest, residences, resort, San Juan, spa, St. Regis, St. Regis Bahia Beach

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BMW Golfsport Collection

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style

BMW and OGIO have come together to create the BMW Golfsport Collection, a set designed to make any golfer's game more fun, comfortable, and stylish. The collection includes: a golf bag made of white or black nylon with white and silver accents, an umbrella for fending off pesky showers, a couple of polo shirts, a water bottle, a golf set (with tees, balls, divot tool, ball marker, and towel), a golf shoe bag, and a cart bag complete with rain hood and insulated compartment for beverages. The only thing it doesn't come with is clubs. Buy each piece separately for mix and match convenience, €5,00 - €195,00.

Gallery: The BMW Golfsport Collection

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Tags: bmw, golf, golf bag, golfing, ogio

Miraval: An Oasis in the Desert and in Life

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Miraval is a one-of-a-kind Tucson, Arizona resort and spa, nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Day Spas.

Miraval takes the money stress out of your spa retreat by offering all-inclusive stays which cover airport transportation, welcome gifts, accommodations, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, "growth activities," fitness and yoga classes, full resort amenity access and a daily $130 resort credit to be used for spa services, private consultations, Dinner with the Chef, or a round of golf. For anyone who's concerned about how much money they'll spend on their retreat, this is an ideal situation.

The desert resort was built in 1995 in the shade of the Santa Catalina Mountains and offers everything from spa and beauty experiences to nutritional counseling and horseback riding. Miraval is the kind of resort you don't leave at all while you're there. You can attend the luxurious lunches in your robe and choose your daily experiences as you go, according to how you're feeling -- no need to plan it all in advance. You can view sample weeks, called Experience Guides, which are updated monthly, here.

Gallery: More from Miraval