Looking to go Away from Dec 26th - Jan 2nd this year.

Looking at a resort anywhere Warm (I would love to stay in the US but Mexico / Dom Rep is also do-able)

This year I went to the Fairmont Resort Turnberry Island in Flordia and found it amazing but my wife wants something different.

Needs:

Great Golf (Hopefully 1 lump sum all inclusive)

Great Weather

Great Hotel / Resort

Great Food

Things to do outside the resort (Shopping / Dining / Nightlife, ....)


I would have no problem going back to Turnberry Island. I've heard good things about the Moon Palace in the myian riv. but my Preference is Somewhere in the states.


Fire suggestions away!!!!!!!!!!!
Price is not a huge issue but I'm not going to spend $10gs either. I would love to do fairmont orchid in Kona (Did my honneymoon there) but 7 days is not enough and the distance is too far.

Thanks

You might consider Doral in Miami. Outstanding golf...spa services for your bride...great dining...and they do have some packages that might fit your needs.

Good luck!

thank you. I will look into that!

Check out the Iberostar Grand Paraiso near Cancun. I think they allow a couple of rounds of golf included in the cost of staying at the resort.

I stayed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. Super, super place, but the golf is not included. You will, however, have the golf course to yourself, and it is magnificent.

I am going to Jamaica this year over the same time period. You should look into the Couples resorts there. They have 4 different ones. All are all inclusive and include golf at some really nice courses as part of the package. There is a nice spa at all of them and the dining is absolutely 5 star.

Barton Creek Resort and Spa was recently ranked highly by Golf Digest, but the bonus is nearby downtown Austin w/ its myriad of cool bars/restaurants/live music/hip crowd. The Crenshaw course is top notch, scenic, hilly, tough. The spa services and workout facilities are 1st class.

cool. I really want to stay in florida if possible!

Great call...if you haven't been to Austin, it's a hidden gem. Outstanding weather...great live music...very up and coming in terms of dining.

I can't speak to the hip crowd but with the UT Medical Center, you can have a hip replaced if needed. We seniors think about that kind of stuff.

has anyone golfed at the fairmont southhampton in bermuda?

We love fairmonts as I've stayed at a few and I'm always impressed.

How is the weather during the holidays in bermuda?

I havent been yet, but in February we are going to Moon Palace in Cancun for a buddy's wedding. It is an all inclusive resort, with the only Jack Nicholas signature course in Cancun. I have heard the course is great. We got the upgraded Concierge level package. According to the lady that is their wedding coordinator, the upgrade includes "these rooms are king bed only, ocean view guarantee and comes with additional amenities (2) 25 min massage, upgrade liquor dispenser, private beach lounge chair area with waiter service, aromatherapy menu, 24 hour room service from selected restaurant’s to create special menu, private candlelight dinner, nightly petit fours, turn down service, pillow menu, exclusive concierge phone service."

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.palaceresorts.com/resorts/moonpalace/index.asp

Monarch Beach resort in Laguna Beach Ca. Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad Ca. Manchester Grand in Del Mar Ca.

I heard it was amaizng. I'm actually going there in March for 4-5 days with my uncle.

For some reason, it is Extremely expensive during the holidays. Over 5gs flight and hotel not counting golf or extras.

My options are endless, keep em coming!

I think I set my price point at 4000 flight from detroit and hotel.

George...

Have been to Bermuda 5-6 times and you will never find a classier island in the world. The people are outstanding and the golf is 8 on a 1-10 scale. It's a bit pricey but you'll have a great time and never be treated better.

has anyone golfed at the biltmore hotel in coral gables miami

The Palace resorts are awesome if you get the right package. Some do and some don't include golf - call, they will cater. I've stayed at the one in Cancun and Punta Cana, DR.

The course at the Moon Palace in Punta Cana isn't finished yet, but they will help you book at some other courses...Roco Ki (new Nick Faldo design on the Westin property, the course was finished before the resort, but they have like 4-5 holes on the ocean cliffs) Cap Cana, Punta Blanca, etc...there are some nice courses in the area to play. If you call ahead you maybe able to get them to throw some golf in.

Palace has a couple properties in Cancun, so stay at the one that fits you best, Couples only, family, younger...etc...but they will shuttle you to the course for free which is at the Riviera property away from the beach. It has 27 holes and is a great Nicklaus design.

http://www.palaceresorts.com

I'm surprised no one said Phoenix/Scottsdale yet. There are a bazillion courses and great resorts. Tons of stuff for the wife to do.

Keirland is really cool resort, tons of shopping and Segways to play golf on is tons of fun. Lots of other courses really close.

Troon North is nice.

We stayed at the Legacy resort, nice condos and golf was decent, Raven at south mt. was across the street.

The options are endless. Cheap flights. Great food all over. High end shopping all the way to good outlet malls. There are plenty of sporting event too in Phoenix

we have family in arizona so were trying to avoid that area! I don't want to visit anyone during my vaca!

That is why no one mentioned that. Sorry.

Puerto Rico is awesome. It is US too. Weather is always perfect. 360 days of sun a year. (seriously)

I used to live there. Really lots of great golf, good deals, shopping nightlife, beach, rainforest, bioluminecent bay (coolest thing in the world)

Trump resort and courses are nice. There are a couple of resorts just east and some just west of San Juan that are really really good. Many are all inclusive. Most resorts have 2 courses, but there are something like 20 on the island so more than enough to play in a week.

There's always Innisbrook just north of Tampa. You will pay some money for it, and I'm not sure about Tarpon Springs' proximity to other things, but for Florida.....the copperhead course hosts the PODS championship(or Transitions, or something...).

There is Destin in the panhandle, but that may be a bit chilly that time of year.

Saddlebrook used to, and may still be, associated with Arnold Palmer. I think that is more Orlando, but I can't speak to the quality of the golf.

The course was pretty good @ Moon Palace, but overall I think it was a little pricey for what it was., The resort was just "ok" ....just too big.

I went last year for a friends wedding there also and had a great package (like stated above, massages, in-room liquor dispenser, etc..) Even with the package deal, I say it was just an okay value. I would hope there would be a lot more out there for the money.

+1 on Barton Creek. I've stayed there and it was incredible. Didn't get to play any of the courses, but they made me drool just looking.

Has anyone played / stayed at the Arizona Biltmore?


http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/golf/

Looks great. Family is coming home for xmas so they won't be in arizona so it's now a possibility.


How is the weather xmas time? I went to zona 4 years ago for xmas and it was HOT!

Hope it's the same this year.

Tiburon in Naples. Great golf, it wipl be right after the shark shootout so it will be in excellent shape. Its also in Naples so there is plenty of shopping etc.

OK, here is my 2 cents worth. Most of these were company paid Presidents club trips and top shelf all the way.
1. NO on Jamiaca, Been there 2 times to Montego bay at the Ritz carlton. BUT, its a 3rd world country. You will NOT BE SAFE off the compound, and forget about going downtown to shop. SCARY!! went with a group of 15 and had a 300 lb woman try and pimp me here 13 year old daughter. Plus the cops warning us not to go outside the fence. YIKES.
Yes i shot a career round 74 at white witch, and yes its a nice course... but not nice enough to offset the insecurity you feel off compound.
2. Second Bermuda... If you can swing it for $ 4k... Atlantis and golf nothing could be better.
3. Tiburon... SUCKS. lets see, fairway. no rough. you hit a perfect drive, it bounces left or right and rolls into the palm trees and jungle. no thanks
4. Moon Palace. PARTY CENTRAL!! If its recovered from the hurricane. The pool is party central, the bus trips to downtown VIP ($ 20 bucks...worth it). Oh yeah, the golf. The course is great, only problem is the other courses you can play as part of the Palace resorts are 45 minutes... one way. Food is OK, but who cares when you are on your 5th Pina Colada by noon. (drinks included with the right package).

good luck with the trip. hope this helps.

OK I decided to stay in the US. I don't feel comfortable outside of Canada / US anymore.

So I booked the Biltmore Hotel and Resort in Coral Gables Florida.

Heres the link:

http://www.biltmorehotel.com/

The price was decent, I love the area and the course looks good albeit super expensive.

I can't Wait. Has anyone golfed here before? How is the hotel? Are there any golf stores in the area worth visiting?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lived in Coral Gables as a kid and my mom grew up there, it's one of the few decent areas left in Miami. I played The Biltmore back in the early 90's and it has been renovated since then. It's also a Donald Ross design. The course and hotel are great, you should have a nice time. Don't know about any golf shops, but someone here will know or you could Google it.

I stayed there several years ago... We were there in Sept. and it was really hot (but didn't feel all that bad because it's a "dry" heat and I'm used to high humidity). It was a beautiful facility and really nice golf course -- what I got to see of it, anyway; I got the call that my grandmother passed away while on the course and had to rush out to get back home for that sadness. I seem to remember a surprising number of young children just in case that's a turn-off for you.

For good weather you can count on at that time (78-82 deg) go to south Florida. Naples has an area called Lely Resort with a 4 and 4.5 star public course and a private course. Stay at the Green Links next to the club house and try to buy a pass to The Players Club and Spa for relaxation. It is located 5 miles from Downtown Naples and Marco Island

Is Miami South enough? ! I hope so.

I am very excited now. I'm heading out to GT to buy a nice hard case travel bag. I'm tired of borrowing one!

Get a soft cover. Any of the major club manufacturers or Clubglove will be fine. Double check the padding up top, but if you're spending $150 or more, it will be fine. Get a stiff arm, put some towels around the clubheads, and you'll be fine. You have to think about the cab and more importantly, storage when you are home. A hard case takes up * a lot* of space.

I just bought a samsonite one. It's huge. It's great. I've traveled a few times with my clubs so no big deal. A few towels, a Broom Stick and that's all you need. The taxi is going to be fun! I'm going to have to rent a van for sure.