The Top 25 Golf Resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico & the Caribbean

The TOP 25 Golf Resorts In North America

Most golfers are looking for that perfect Golf Getaway. A place where the golfing is great, the dining and lodging are superb, and the scenic beauty of the resorts surroundings is magnificent.

What follows is Golf Digest Magazine's Top Golf Resorts, compiled by nearly 800 expert and experienced members of their Course Ranking Panel. The actual list contained 75 resort names, but these are the cream of the crop - the Top 25 Golf Resorts from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Resort	Room	Resort Information
1. Pebble Beach G. Resort Pebble Beach, Calif. pebblebeach.com 800-654-9300	$475	Owners have spent $20 million over the past 18 months, upgrading rooms, improving bunkers and drainage, adding trees to its celebrated courses.
2. Bandon Dunes Resort Bandon, Ore. bandondunes.com 888-345-6008	$260	Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes courses remain the buzz of the golf world. Now there's a third course, Coore & Crenshaw's Bandon Trails to open June 05.
3. The American Club Kohler, Wis. 800-344-2838 destinationkohler.com	$275	Who knew Wisconsin could be so hot? Four terrific courses (including Whistling Straits) and two top hotels have made Kohler one of middle America's golfing preferences.
4. Sea Is., The Cloister & Lodge Sea Island, Ga. seaisland.com 800-732-4752	$400	The main Cloister building is being rebuilt, but there are still plenty of beach-, front rooms there and at the Lodge. Consistent raves for the three courses, too.
5. The Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. greenbrier.com 800-453-4858	$285	Boredom is physically impossible here, with 50 recreational activities and three fine golf courses. Latest addition is swimming complex with infinity-edge pool.
6. Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, N.C. pinehurst.com 800-487-4653	$176	Major renovations to No. 6 course, directed by Tom Fazio, are designed to place it among resort's "Championship Set." The big draw remains masterpiece No. 2.
7. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai The Big Island, Hawaii fourseasons.com 800-332-3442	$560	Highly decorated destination - No. 1 on Conde Nast Traveler's '04 Resort Spa survey - is home to a Nicklaus-designed 18 running right along the Pacific.
8. Lodge at Koele/Manele Bay Lanai, Hawaii islandoflanai.com 800-321-4600	$400	Four Seasons is taking over management. That should give the already plush accommodations a lift. In the meantime, its two courses are as popular as ever.
9. The Homestead Hot Springs, Va. thehomestead.com 800-838-1766	$175	Cascades, among America's Top 100, is one of three fine tracks at this historic getaway. What's new: upgrades to clubhouses for golf, shooting.
10. The Boulders Carefree, Ariz. wyndham.com 800-553-1717	$625	If the two courses wear you out, Golden Door spa now has guided meditation with a shaman. Also new: night-vision goggles for exploring nocturnal wildlife.
11. Fairmont Banff Springs Banff, Canada 800-441-1414 banffsprings.com	$230	Hotel finished a major face-lift two years ago, an upgrade to the spa in '03. But the real beauty is outdoors. Mountain backdrop is incredibly scenic.
12. Four Seasons North Troon Scottsdale fourseasons.com 888-207-9696	$495	Its Monument and Pinnacle courses remain 4½-star desert classics. What's new: complimentary spa-fitness classes, including "Golf Pilates."
13. The Broadmoor Colorado Springs broadmoor.com 800-634-7711	$325	Nicklaus Design is redoing the Mountain Course, closed until 2006. Until then there are two other first-rate courses and a five-star, five-diamond hotel.
14. Kiawah Island G. Resort Kiawah Island, S.C. kiawah-island.com 800-576-1570	$225	Now there's a top-notch hotel (The Sanctuary) to go along with its top-notch golf. Pete Dye has made his Ocean Course a bit easier, but it's still a monster.
15. Cabo del Sol Cabo San Lucas, Mexico cabodelsol.com.mx 800-386-2465	$330	The Ocean Course, closed last summer, has all-new greens, other changes by Jack Nicklaus. Careful on 16: You can literally putt it off green, onto beach.
16. Reynold's Plantation Greensboro, Ga. reynoldsplantation.com 800-826-1945	$225	Ritz-Carlton Lodge opened lakeside in '02, winning raves. Also new: a Pelz short-game school. A fifth course, designed by Jim Engh is underway.
17. The Lodge at CordeValle San Martin, Calif. cordevalle.com 877-255-2626	$525	Started life as a private club for Silicon Valley execs, has since added villas for guests. Highlights: fun, scenic Jones Jr. golf course and superb weather.
18. Four Seasons Resort Aviara Carlsbad, Calif. fourseasons.com 800-332-3442	$395	Celebrated spa and botanical gardens combine with a nice 41/2 star Palmer/Seay design. In an "only at Four Seasons" move, the rangers distribute Tootsie Pops.
19. Kapalua Resort Maui, Hawaii kapaluamaui.com 800-527-2582	$199	Expect big improvements at the Kapalua Bay Hotel, which just got new management. Also on site: three top courses and a Ritz-Carlton.
20. Nemacolin Woodlands Res. Farmington, Pa nwlr.com (Tied) 800-422-2736	$200	Extensive changes to Mystic Rock course since 84 Lumber Classic came to town in '03. Also new: Falling Rock, a 42-room boutique hotel overlooking the 18th.
20. Eseeola Lodge Linville, N.C. eseeola.com (Tied) 800-742-6717	$375	Owners spending $2 million to get course back to its original Donald Ross-designed look and feel. Lodge is no Ritz, but it's cozy, peaceful, private.
22. Coeur d'Alene Resort Coeur d'Alene, Idaho cdaresort.com 800-688-5253	$149	Extensive redesign brought new trees, bunkers, tees, irrigation, resurfacing of floating green. Check out new carts with wood-grain dash, chrome-spoke wheels.
23. The Inn at Bay Harbor Bay Harbor, Mich. innatbayharbor.com 800-462-6963	$149	Newly partnered with Marriott (hotel's a Renaissance now), resort owners have been focusing on tree removal, vastly improving Lake Michigan views.
24. Mauna Lani Resort The Big Island, Hawaii maunalani.com 866-877-6982	$385	Swirling winds are biggest obstacles on the two 18s here, built on fields of black lava. Villas, private bungalows and standard guest rooms are all part of the mix.
25. Ritz-Carlton G.R., Naples, Florida ritzcarlton.com (Tied) 800-241-3333	$399	Highly regarded hotel, just over two years old, sits alongside Tiburon's two Greg Norman-designed courses. Though neither 18 has any rough, they're no pushovers.
25. The Ocean Club/Atlantis Paradise Island, the Bahamas 888-528-7157 oceanclub.com (Tied)	$340 $450	Ocean Club is very quiet and exclusive. Atlantis is the flashier side, with casino and water slides. Both enjoy access to fine, Tom Weiskopf designed oceanside 18.

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