THE WESTERN GOLF ALLIANCE
Keeping It Long and Straight Since 2002 ™
© Copyright 2002-2012, Western Golf Alliance, LLC. All rights reserved
The Western Stars
One of the stated purposes in the bylaws of the Western Golf Alliance is "to promote and conserve the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions." This is a call to action we take seriously, and which has inspired our continued efforts to assess and promote that which is best about west coast golf. Therefore, when we began our effort to identify the best golf resorts in the western United States, we began by asking ourselves one question:
Where would we recommend to our best friends, work colleagues, clients, and bosses if they asked us
where to spend their hard-earned money on a golf destination vacation?
In other words, we wanted to determine, if our personal reputations and professional courtesy were on line, what golf resorts would we proudly recommend to others? In answering that question, we ultimately identified five key criteria:
1) The resort must be located in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, or Nevada. These are the states that comprise the Western Golf Alliance, and as a golf organization we are going to stick with our regional expertise.
2) The location must have at least two full championship courses, and must include resort amenities and lodging. We are looking for true “golf destinations.” We are not talking about a motel within 10 blocks of three world-class courses, nor are we talking about an amazing five-star resort with a descent course where the concierge will get you a preferred tee time. Resort accommodations and directly affiliated 36 holes are the minimum qualifications for a true "golf destination."
3) The quality of golf is the paramount consideration. Golf trips are about the golf, and if you are going to spend four figures for a golf outing, you want the golf to be very memorable – significantly better than your local muni, and ideally the kind of golf that makes other golfers envious.
4) Additional amenities for both golfers and guests/spouses are considered. While golf is king, the total experience is very important in creating a special golf trip memory. That experience includes social time around meals and entertainment, the quality of lodging, and recreation for non-playing spouses and kids.
5) Where all other things are equal, price matters. Spending less always feels better.
The result of this analysis? One of the most comprehensive evaluations of west coast golf resorts anywhere. We are proud to present to you our Western Stars – the best 18 golf resorts in the western United States.
