Best Value Golf Resorts
PGA Village, The Inn, Beaver Creek Lodge, Keystone & Boyne Highlands
An overview of five top rated golf resorts from Florida, California, Colorado and Michigan for less than US$150 per night.
From Golf Digest’s latest top 75 picks for best golf resorts in North America, five are less than $150 per night (high season). In Florida, California, Colorado and Michigan you can visit the best by Robert Trent Jones (Jr. and Sr.) Tom Fazio and Donald Ross for less than a night at a big city hotel.
1) PGA Village
At PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida you'll find two Fazio - designed courses and a Dye course. On site is the PGA Learning Center. Next door check out the free PGA Historical Center to see golf championship trophies dating from the 1600's. The first PGA owned and operated golf course open to the public features 54 holes of golf with Audubon designation. You don’t have to be a guest to play and rates are as low as 59.00 per round earning it a “Best course for under $100.00” nomination from Travel and Leisure Golf. Golf For Women magazine has included PGA Village in its best 50 courses for women.
High season base room rate is $126 per night. T:800-800-4653
2) The Inn at Pasatiempo
The Inn at Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz, California is a cozy lodge situated in the Santa Cruz mountains. The Inn overlooks the classic 18 hole 6,439 yard par 70 Alister MacKenzie (of Augusta National fame) designed golf course. Nearby, visitors can stroll the beach town boardwalk and tour central coast wineries and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Inn offers no less than five golf packages.
$110 per night. T: 800-834-2546.
3) Beaver Creek Lodge
Though better known as a ski lodge, Beaver Creek has a championship 18 hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. that incorporates the natural beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Narrow fairways wind around Beaver Creek adding to the challenge of the consistently good playing conditions. In summer, you have to be a guest to play here. While in the area be sure and book rounds at the neighboring Arnold Palmer and Pete Dye courses.
Prices per night:$119: T:970-496-4500.
4) Keystone Resort
Another Colorado bargain features a Robert Trent Jones Jr. course with great views of the Continental Divide and Buffalo Mountain. A second course, The River, by Hurdzan and Frye opened in 2000. It's an environmentally sensitive track that preserves native sagebrush, native grasses and 12 species of wild flowers.
This mountain lodge situated amid rolling hills and alpine lakes dates from the 1800's and has an AAA four diamond restaurant on site. 60 miles of mountain bike trails, fly fishing and white water rafting are some other activities on offer.
$149 per night. Golf packages start at $158.00 T:877-625-1556.
5) Boyne Highlands Resort
From the northern lower peninsula of Michigan comes 72 holes from the greats like RTJ, Donald Ross and Arthur Hills. A consistent silver medalist, Jones' Heather course winds through woods and blueberry bogs a half day drive from Chicago. Special events include family days. All you can golf packages start at 119.00 per person.
$102 per night (2006). T: 800-203-3650.
