Tired of your local golf club? Grand Luxury Group Founders, Ivan and Rouslan Lartisien have pulled their top picks on how to inject some variety into your play with a trip to a luxury golf resort.
Found in the most beautiful regions of the world and boasting excellent playing conditions, these five resorts have the looks to charm anyone, golf lover or not; and the varied list of activities they propose will have your whole brood busy while you’re working on your swing.
Why the Golfers Love It…
Found in Ireland’s gorgeous County Mayo, the Ashford Castle’s nine-hole course is relatively unknown to local golfers, but that’s not due to its quality. Designed by Irish golf architect Eddie Hackett, the 2,740-meter course is adapted to novices and experts alike, and since it’s a nine-hole, it’s the perfect way for beginners to practice in a real playing environment and identify weaknesses in their game before heading for one of the many 18 holes in the surrounding area (Connemara, Galway, North Kerry).
Why the Others Won’t Mind…
Found on the shores of Lough Corrib and surrounded by the Mayo County’s green hills and forests, this 13th-century castle offers an authentic luxury experience which is impossible to find anywhere else. There’s an excellent spa, private cinema, and the bars and restaurants are in unique settings; but, if you’re coming to the Ashford Castle just to stay indoors, you’ll be missing out on a whole world of activities. Fishing in the waters of Lough Corrib, practicing falconry, or going on day-long horse rides through the beautiful forests surrounding the hotel, there’s a lot to do here whether you’re out on the green or not.
TERRE BLANCHE HÔTEL AND SPA GOLF RESORT – CÔTE D’AZUR
Why the Golfers Love It…
The Terre Blanche Hôtel Spa Golf Resort combines two prestigious 18-hole golf courses with one of the best resorts on the Côte d’Azur. The courses are quite challenging, and if there’s any part of your game that’s holding you back, the on-site David Leadbetter Academy (one of the most prestigious golfing schools out there) should help you smooth out the creases.
Cutting-edge mapping technology is used to analyze every aspect of your swing, and to help your personal trainer recommend the right equipment and technique for you. If you’re serious about improving, there’s nothing better.
Why the Others Won’t Mind…
Found in the Pays de Fayence, amid fields of lavender, rolling hilltops, and French wine country, the Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort is Mediterranean luxury living at its best, for every type of traveler.
For slow travel aficionados, typical provincial towns and the dreamy countryside of the Mediterranean are only minutes away and accessible by electric bike, buggies, or with the help of your good old hiking boots.
For the best views, make sure to stop by the medieval Village of Mons which towers over the forests of the valley, or jump into a glider or helicopter for sweeping aerial views of the region.
If you find the lifestyle and the coastlines of the Côte d’Azur more appealing, the luxury golf resort is only minutes away from Cannes, St Tropez, and Monte Carlo and boat excursions that will take you to the major towns of the Riviera, including the Lérins islands and the Antibes, are available.
Why the Golfers Love It…
The Verdura’s two 18-hole courses – Designed by American Architect Kyle Phillips – are among the best in continental Europe and in an innovative twist, the best holes from both courses can be combined to offer competitive play. With no buildings, and barely any trees on the course, you can enjoy the beauty of the Sicilian landscape in all its glory while you’re teeing off, and the view of the Mediterranean Sea on the last four holes of the West course is spellbinding.
If you’d like to brush up on your skills, the resort offers group clinics and private lessons run by PGA approved trainers. For the younger ones, the Verdura Junior Golf Academy is the perfect introduction to the sport. And, if you’re up for some practice shots or just want to squeeze in a quick game, the resort’s nine-hole course was made with you in mind.
Why the Others Won’t Mind…
Sicily’s southwest coast is picture perfect and offers plenty of historical sites and sun-splashed landscapes to enjoy.
At the UNESCO heritage site of Agrigento, (also known as The Valley of the Temples) you can explore intact Doric temples that seem frozen in time, and the remnants of a Greek colony dating back to the 6th century B.C. The ancient Greek city of Selinunte (409 BC) is also nearby. For the more adventurous, the hotel organizes helicopter trips and guided walks of Mount Etna regularly.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAURITIUS AT ANAHITA
Why the Golfers Love It…
An unlimited, free to use, 18-hole golf course set in paradise, that’s what guests of the Four Seasons Mauritius Anahita can enjoy. Designed by South African golf superstar Ernie Els, the quality of the Four Seasons 18-hole course is world class. Lengthy, with beautiful tropical backdrops, and with a difficulty level that won’t have you smashing your club in frustration, the Four Seasons Golf Club is a joy to play and one of the best courses available on the island.
If you want to improve, two instructors – including one with previous experience at the David Leadbetter Academy – are at hand, and they’ve got video analysis in their arsenal to help you improve your swing.
Why the Others Won’t Mind…
Located on an isolated stretch of Mauritius’s east coast and on a private island, the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita grants seclusion and privacy. With a wealth of villa options to choose from, your backyard could be a quiet stretch of beach, a fragrant tropical garden, or exotic mangroves; and with sea temperatures averaging at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, each offers a little slice of paradise, regardless of golf.
Mauritius enjoys exceptional biodiversity in its lagoons and the numerous shipwrecks and underwater caves you’ll find here are teeming with life. If you’re into diving or snorkeling, taking a dip in these warm waters and discovering what’s underneath is impossible to resist.
