THE WESTERN GOLF ALLIANCE
Keeping It Long and Straight Since 2002 ™
#2 - Pebble Beach Resort
Pebble Beach, California www.pebblebeach.com
Overview: One of the greatest facts about golf in the western United States is that two of the “elite golf destinations” in the world are located within 600 miles of each other. Did we pick a great region for the Western Golf Alliance or what?! In the ongoing and very worthy debate between Bandon Dunes and Pebble Beach as the best golf resort in the world, one fact remains … several "experts" (including us?) might say Bandon Dunes has the superior overall golf, but if anyone could go to only one place for one round of golf, the choice would be Pebble Beach. When you add in Spyglass Hill as a “second fiddle” that is still a top 10 public/resort course, Spanish Bay as another top 100 course with its own unique character, plus a world-famous luxury resort, the result is a (nearly) perfect golf resort.
What Makes It Great? While everyone may answer this question differently, the simplest truth probably boils down to a handful of golf holes. Holes 7, 8, and 18 on Pebble Beach especially are miracles of golf course design. Collectively, this Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5 are superior to any other three hole collection at any other course in the world. Individually, these might be three of the 10 greatest golf holes in the world. When you consider a few other "merely amazing" holes - such as the first five holes at Spyglass Hill, and the rest of the holes on the #6-10 stretch at Pebble Beach - it is clear that golf at the Pebble Beach Resort transcends "great golf" and enters the realm of "the most perfect golf in the world." If you don’t love playing the oceanside holes on Pebble, you don’t love playing golf.
What Would We Change? Regardless how amazing Pebble Beach might be, it has a significant flaw ... and everyone knows about this flaw, even if you’ve never played at Pebble. Of course we are talking about the price. By the time you are required to stay at the resort for at least $700 a night, and probably pay for your spouse to enjoy the other resort services, paying $500 (plus a tip for your caddie) for one round of golf is steep. That rate might not hurt as much if the fees at Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay were reasonable … but they currently go $340 and $260 respectively. So, you want to play 54 holes, with four night's lodging, and reasonable food and activities … you are now talking about $5K, and that’s BEFORE the cost of getting there from wherever you are. Worth it? Sure. But … ouch.
Why Pebble Beach is #2: As we have said before - and stand behind as fact - in the world there are three destinations that golfers consider a pilgrimage to visit - Pebble, Bandon, and St. Andrews. And if Bandon Dunes it the greatest place to play golf in the world, perhaps Pebble Beach is the greatest place to talk about playing golf. For most golfers, Bandon is still just some unflattering photos of browned-grass links courses. However, Pebble Beach is one of the most beautiful patches of real estate in the world. It is annually televised tournaments and once-per-decade majors. It is the course you can't unlock until your world-class in video games. It is a place tourists visit without tee times just to take photos. Conclusion: Pebble Beach is where you go to create the best golf memories.
#3 - We-Ko-Pa at Radisson Fort McDowell Resort
Fort McDowell, Arizona www.wekopa.com www.radissonfortmcdowellresort.com www.radisson.com/ftmcdowellaz
Overview: While anyone may debate the order, there is no debate about which resorts are the top two, so the competition for third place is where these rankings get difficult. This might be a surprise pick for #3, but the fact is that the We-Ko-Pa courses are the two best courses in the Scottsdale area … and that’s really saying something! If these two courses only had a Super 8 that allowed you to get preferred tee times, that would not have qualified them for this list (but it would still make We-Ko-Pa a good place to go!). However, the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort is a legit resort with good dining, and is attached to the full service Fort McDowell Casino ... and gaming tables are always good for post-golf entertainment. We would recommend this place as a golf road trip to anyone, and they would thank us afterwards.
What Makes It Great? Without a doubt, the reason someone should go to We-Ko-Pa is about the golf, which is of course exactly what a golf trip should be all about. All golfers know that the Scottsdale area is one of the great golf destinations of the United States, with dozens of world class courses to chose from in the area. And with all the great courses to choose from ... the We-Ko-Pa Cholla and Saguaro courses are the two best courses in the Scottsdale area. That is not just our opinion, that is straight from multiple industry rankings. Therefore, staying at this resort and booking two rounds on these courses is perfect for any golf trip. Additionally, being in this area of the country, a golf trip can easily find another one or two (or more) world-class courses to play if they desired, but really, why would you.
What Would We Change? One of the reasons this is our #3 destination - as opposed to being lower - is specifically because of this question ... we just don't know how to answer it. Is there anything we would change at We-Ko-Pa? Okay, it would be great to have a third course, but the truth is if you want 54 or 72 or 90 holes there are a LOT of places nearby. Maybe you want a true luxury five-star resort with a better spa, but that doesn't affect the golf. Or perhaps you would prefer multiple casinos for some off-course gaming, but then again we are in Scottsdale not Vegas, so the fact there is a nearby casino still sets it above the competition. So if these are the "problems" then we are really getting picky. We-Ko-Pa is across-the-board solid in every aspect … except the golf, where it is exceptional.
Why We-Ko-Pa is #3: The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to elite golf resorts, which lends itself to direct comparison of golf resorts. If you compare "resorts", we know names like The Four Seasons, The Phoenician, The Boulders, and The Fairmont are going to come to mind before The Radisson. However, as we said, in creating the "Western Stars" criteria we decided that the quality of golf would be the paramount consideration in our evaluation. Resort quality is a qualifying factor, but a secondary consideration. Given both our opinions and rankings of "experts" like Golfweek and Golf magazine, you can compare the two We-Ko-Pa courses to ANY other two local course, and We-Ko-Pa wins. We're talking golf, not spas, and therefore - hands down - this is the place to go.
#4 - The Boulders Resort
Carefree, Arizona www.theboulders.com
Overview: In our opinion, The Boulders is the most amazing resort facility in all of Arizona, and the Scottsdale area is the real golf mecca in the western U.S. At this two-course facility, the North course is good, as is the back nine of the South course, but the front nine of the South might be the best nine hole stretch in the entire region! We are talking about a location that has some unique features associated with the stone hills upon which the resort is built, and has put those features to great use. Assessing The Boulders against other local resorts really gets down to personal preferences and order of magnitude … do you prefer Great Golf + Good Resort, or Good Golf + Great Resort? The Boulders is definitely the pick if you prefer the latter.
What Makes It Great? Again, from a golf perspective, the front nine at the South course is worth a golf trip just on its own. Many people come to this area for "desert golf" and they can get that in plentiful supply from several world-class courses. However, the South course at The Boulders has used the unique landscape of their property to give golfers a unique "variation on the theme" if you will. Additionally, in the Scottsdale area, it is easy to add in any number of great golf courses to create a … 54? 72? 90? … hole outing. However, the greatness of The Boulders is the unique resort. The Boulders Resort is a vacation oasis all its own that will appease the most persnickety spouse … one taste of the spa and she will beg you to leave her alone and go play more golf!
What Would We Change? To summarize in three words ... the “second” course. To summarize in more words ... don’t get us wrong, the North course is a good, solid course. It is a good desert course with plenty of visual beauty and a very good golf challenge. However, it is a bit “typical” for the area, and does not bring the boulder outcroppings into play the same way the South course does. Together, the South course is a "top 100" course, and the North course is "very good." Now, if The Boulders had a top 10 course, this location might enter the Pebble vs. Bandon conversation. Our true change, therefore, would actually not be to improve the North course, but to build a new third course that was even superior to the South … then this place would be on every golfer’s lips and near the top of every golfer’s bucket list.
#5 - Sunriver Resort
Sunriver, Oregon www.sunriver-resort.com
Overview: Ten years ago, the Sunriver Resort was the undisputed #1 golf resort in the Pacific Northwest. Now, some golfers may consider it an afterthought. That is a mistake. Sunriver Resort remains one of the most amazing vacation destinations in the country, in the heart of the central Oregon mountains. When you are there, it feels more like you have been dropped into the middle of a Discovery Channel documentary, instead of a place with three of the best golf courses in the western U.S. We are talking about a golf resort with “54 flags” ... and these three courses have collectively hosted NCAA championships, celebrity pro-ams, and the Nationwide Tour, not to mention being the current host course of a Champions Tour major.
What Makes It Great? Sunriver Resort is one of those locations that truly has something for everyone ... the place where you can bring the entire family, play as much golf as you want, and no one else is going to get bored. For golfers, we are talking about a collection of premier golf courses, headlined by the Crosswater course - the host course of the Jeld-Wen Tradition, a major on the Champions Tour. The other two courses, Meadows and Woodlands are outstanding in their own right, and live up to the beauty their names imply. Additionally, the resort offers all sorts of activities for outdoor lovers. There is horseback riding, many mountain hiking and biking trails, white water rafting, and skiing in the winter. And after all that, a few northwest microbrews and four star dining options are waiting in the evenings.
What Would We Change? Similar to Bandon Dunes, Sunriver is a bit isolated. It is possible to fly into nearby Bend, but only on smaller carriers. Also, while Bend is certainly a larger town than Bandon, outside of the "great outdoors" theme there is little to do either at the resort or anyplace nearby. There are a few tribal casinos within reasonable drives, but it would be nice to have a few additional entertainment options, not to mention a few more upscale dining options. At Sunriver, when you get done playing 18 holes, your options are going to be either playing another 18 holes, or doing a lot of nothing. Then again, when you want a golf resort that is among beautiful, unspoiled nature, you get … a golf resort that is among beautiful, unspoiled nature ... nothin' wrong with 36 holes a day!
#6 - Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Overview: In many respects, Troon North launched the resort golf movement in Arizona, and is the genesis of a small golf empire. The golf management company of Troon North started here with their two courses - Pinnacle and Monument - and these two courses are both outstanding. This facility is now a Four Seasons Resort that offers all the plush five star amenities one expects from that resort brand. When you put these two names together, without a doubt you have a great golf destination resort. The competition for golf vacation dollars in the Scottsdale area ensures outstanding golf and outstanding services at all the destination locations in the area, and Troon North is “the original” that all other locations strive to emulate.
What Makes It Great? The Four Seasons/Troon North is a wonderful marriage of a great 36 hole golf destination joining with a luxurious vacation resort destination. Without question, the result is an outstanding golf vacation venue. Troon North built their early reputation off these two golf courses, and both the Pinnacle and Monument courses have received “top 100” rankings from all the major industry rankings in the past. In 2008, they invested in a major re-routing of the courses that actually swapped some of the holes between courses ... in other words, they continue to try to be the best. Meanwhile, the Four Seasons likewise receives top star/diamond rankings from every source that matters. This is a “best of both worlds” destination.
What Would We Change? With all marriages, there is a question of balance ... does one member of the marriage dominate the other when it comes to decisions, preferences, and activities? Our members know that marriage and compromise go hand in hand. Unfortunately, at the Four Seasons Troon North that balance is skewed toward the “Four Seasons Resort” - rather than the “Troon North Golf” - side of the equation. In other words, when you check into this destination, you are likely to be presented with a vacation resort that happens to have two golf courses, instead of a golf resort that also has other amenities. Now, that’s fine for most people, but when we are evaluating resorts expressly for golf purposes, we prefer our golf trips to be about the golf first, the resort second.
#7 - The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, California www.pelicanhill.com
Overview: For many years, the two courses at Pelican Hill have been considered a wonderful “south coast” golf location, as both have appeared on “top 100 public course” lists for a couple decades. However, they lacked the complementary facilities that could inspire a three day weekend kind of golf trip, let alone a true "golf outing". That has changed! With a major redevelopment and creation of a full luxury resort, Pelican Hill finally realized its full potential and stepped into the golf resort big leagues with authority. Having built a great resort, wonderful spa, and multiple restaurants - all of which take advantage of the same South Coast views that already made the golf courses outstanding - Pelican Hill can be considered one of the best golf resorts in the United State.
What Makes It Great? Pelican Hill has always attempted to strike a balance with their golf courses. They price their greens fees as an upscale resort course, and in SoCal that made them a high-priced local course. However, Pelican Hill has always also provide the services and perks that justify such pricing. The result is that locals have never overcrowded the tee sheets, but rather always considered Pelican Hill as a "special" round (or two) of golf. This is great, as the ambiance created at this resort is perfect for that destination golf outing ... it feels like a “special destination” for golf while you are still driving your car up the drive. Combine that with the ocean views - this remains one of the few ocean view golf resorts in the western U.S. - and Pelican Hill is really a special place to play.
What Would We Change? Now that Pelican Hill has finished its overhaul and creating the luxury resort, it really needs to focus on better integrating the golf and resort experience. The resort itself, while exceptional, operates almost independent from the golf since it was actually developed much later. This feels like a wasted opportunity. The Pelican Hill golf courses were formerly on many "top 100" lists, and there is no reason they shouldn't be again. When considering an ideal location in Southern California, great golf, and an amazing resort ... how are their a half dozen better golf destinations on the west coast? The answer is that Pelican Hill needs to merge their golf and resort images, or else they may devolve into two very good courses and a beautiful resort which just happen to share the same property.
#8 - The Lodge at Torrey Pines
La Jolla, California www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com www.lodgetorreypines.com www.hilton.com/torreypines/
Overview: Here we have an oceanside resort with two courses that host PGA Tour rounds and one that hosted the U.S. Open … and sometimes we wonder if it's really a top 10 destination. Okay … that is too harsh, because Torrey Pines is truly a great golf destination. However, there are a number of minor flaws that cause this destination to be removed from the "top 5" consideration. The truth is that the disjoined nature of the lodging and golf - muni courses and multiple separately managed "resorts" - creates a less-than-ideal overall experience for a "golf vacation". Remember, Torrey Pines South is one of the great oceanside golf courses on the west coast, with holes that are engrained in all our heads - it should never disappoint anyone. This is a great golf destination, but we just wish it were … greater.
What Makes It Great? You have watched rounds played at Torrey Pines South every year. You know the tee shot on #3 is both beautiful and intimidating. You want to see how close the fairway really is to the cliffside on #4 (but you don't want to find out the hard way). You are always surprised when pros repeatedly struggle on #8. You wonder why everyone seems to come up short on #13. You wish you could figure out where Stadler's tree was on #15. You see that #18 is a short par 5 and yet the little pond still bites so many pros. And now … you get to test yourself against all those exact same shots! Yes, you’ll be playing from tees almost 1,000 shorter than the pros … but still. Torrey Pines South is the west coast version of Bethpage Black - the U.S. Open course everyone knows, and anyone can play.
What Would We Change? Can we change the ownership model? There is some greatness to the idea that the Torrey Pines courses are "true muni" courses with cheaper rates for locals. However, because of its fame, the South Course is treated like an expensive men’s/women’s club by locals. Meanwhile, the North Course is really just another nearby muni course where the good holes are recreations of their neighbor, and as a result is overpriced. Additionally, most visitors are playing from tees that are too tough for them anyway, so now it's a sloooooow playing muni course. Okay, it’s a PGA Tour stop and U.S. Open host … but when you come here to play golf, what you really want to do is hope you can play the South in under five hours, then go play something better than the North course for your other rounds.
#9 - Tahoe Mountain Resort / Ritz-Carlton Highlands
Truckee, California www.tahoemountainresorts.com www.oldgreenwood.com www.grayscrossing.com www.coyotemoongolf.com
Overview: The Lake Tahoe is one of those picture perfect vacation destinations year-round. Within that setting, the Tahoe Mountain Resort / Ritz-Carlton Highlands created an amazing resort community on the north shore, and then started adding all the amenities anyone could want. In the summer, for us that means golf, and this resort location really loaded up on excellent golf courses. The headliner is Old Greenwood, a Jack Nicklaus signature course, but all the resort courses involve amazing forest/mountain golf, winding their way through one of the most beautiful settings in all of North America. This location is still developing, and its reputation still growing, but soon we predict that most golfers who come to Tahoe will be thinking of the north coast instead of the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline area.
What Makes It Great? The natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe area is just amazing ... this is one of those places graced with everything. In the summer, you can play 18 beautiful holes, hike through a pristine forest, and cruise on a crystal lake, all in the same day! The fact Tahoe Mountain / Ritz-Carlton built a great golf course like Old Greenwood is wonderful ... the fact they backed it up with two additional championship courses is amazing! It takes real dedication and love of the sport to create three great courses in a place with only a five month golf season, and this resort bears the fruit of that love. In our book: great location; plus great golf; plus great resort amenities; plus dedication to maintaining that greatness will earn you a perennial top 10 ranking.
What Would We Change? Of course the first issue with playing golf anywhere in the Lake Tahoe area is the length of the season. After all, this is a location that once hosted the WINTER Olympics, and is synonymous with great skiing, so it is not surprising that it gets cold early in the season, warms up late, and in between the golf facilities are completely closed. However, we aren't going to do anything about that, and neither are we going to get better access to either the Sacramento or Reno airports. So, we'll nit-pick here and wonder ... is there any way Nevada could make a land grab for the Truckee area, move its boarder a little west here, and therefore the resorts could build a casino and we could hit the tables immediately after our round instead of driving 15 minutes?
#10 - La Quinta Resort / PGA West
Overview: La Quinta and PGA West are two names that jump to mind when considering a Palm Springs golf trip. From a golf perspective, the La Quinta Resort is a destination that simply overwhelms any group with options. The resort itself has two golf courses, including the highly rated Mountain course, and then is affiliated with PGA West … another six courses (three public, three semi-private). The best course is probably the PGA West TPC Stadium Course … a must play, if for no other reason than you need to tell the stories about how you were eaten alive by impossible rough, swallowed up by imposing bunkers, and then either a) almost jarred your shot, or b) put two in the water at 'Alcatraz'. From a resort perspective, La Quinta is rustic and showing its age, but it is still an experience in its own right.
What Makes It Great? The sheer volume of golf you can play while staying at La Quinta makes this a worthy golf destination. A group could play 72 or even 90 holes during a trip here, never double up on courses, and leave saying they played multiple “top 100” courses, multiple current/former PGA Tour courses, and one of the toughest courses in the U.S. Also, being in the middle of the Palm Springs golf mecca, there are dozens more great courses seemingly within a long par 5 of La Quinta, if one were so inclined.
What Would We Change? There are improvements to be made at La Quinta on both the golf and resort fronts. From the resort perspective, we are talking about a place that is old and dated. The rooms are small, the pools are below average, and the restaurants are limited. There are plenty of other nearby options, but the place could use a pretty good overhaul. From the golf perspective … The Stadium is really just too tough. There’s a reason tour pros refuse to play it anymore. Pete Dye would call it “challenging”. You might call it “unfair”.
#12 - Semiahmoo Resort
Blaine, Washington www.semiahmoo.com
Overview: In Washington, Semiahmoo is without contest the best golf destination in the state. Of course, in an area of the country best known for rain, that standing almost is “without contest” since there are so few true golf resorts. However, that doesn’t diminish from Semiahmoo. The resort is in an amazing location – the very northern end of the state, hard up against the Pacific and within minutes of Canada (it’s actually north of Victoria, BC). Their two resort courses – Loomis Trail and Semiahmoo – both began as country club courses, and in fact both retain a split of private play, resort play, and open public play. Both have also been “top 100 public” courses, both are in the top 5 best public/resort courses in the state, and both continue to host major events like U.S. Open qualifying.
What Makes It Great? The Semiahmoo resort takes pride in presenting visitors with a true “northwest golf” experience. The Loomis Trail course is built around a series of creeks and ponds, with the result being that water is in play on 17 holes. Meanwhile, the namesake Semiahmoo course winds its way through the woods and ensures that trees come into play in some manner off almost every tee. Individually, these two courses would stand alone as both best-in-state tracks. In combination, this one-two punch creates the best golf resort location in this corner of the U.S.
What Would We Change? When considering everything about Semiahmoo, there are so many things about the place that are good. However, there is very little about Semiahmoo that you might consider “great”. The resort, the courses, the restaurants, other side activities … all range from “good” to “very good.” But we'd like to turn this place up a notch. If it were our call, we'd be on the line with the Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton corporations, selling them on the amazing opportunity to take a “northwest theme 4 star” place and turn it into an “uber luxurious 5 star” destination.
#11 - Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
Overview: Half Moon Bay is the premier golf resort in the San Francisco area that meets our standards. The resort is a wonderful blend of 21st century luxury and old-world charm. Set atop an ocean bluff overlooking the Pacific, the resort is within 30 miles of San Francisco with a world-class spa, oceanfront dining, and personalized service. The two golf courses have a similar mix as well. The older course (The Old Course) is an American classic, just like its designer Arnold Palmer, and it plays like a nice beautiful resort course. Meanwhile, the newer course (The Ocean Course) is a modern course but designed in the fashion of an old-world links course, with rolling fairways, pot bunkers, false front greens, and closing holes along the ocean cliffs.
What Makes It Great? As a golf destination, Half Moon Bay is largely overlooked due to the fame of Pebble Beach, and that's a very good thing if you're looking for a California north coast trip on a reasonable budget. On the golf courses, the visual splendor of the closing holes on both courses can compete with any of the most famous coastal tracks - from the cliffside holes, to the heather-like grasses, to the styling of the resort, you'll favorably compare the experience to destinations like Scotland and Ireland, if not Pebble and Bandon.
What Would We Change? While Half Moon Bay is less than 30 miles from San Francisco, it's actually within a very small (population 11,000) farming town, where the annual social highlight is their pumpkin festival. Additionally, while the Ocean Course features ocean-views from every hole, for whatever reason the Old Course was run inland, so only the final couple holes are along the cliffs. The Ritz-Carlton was just built in 2001, and certainly it is already a great golf destination, but there may be room for future improvement on both the golf and resort/entertainment fronts.
© Copyright 2002-2012, Western Golf Alliance, LLC. All rights reserved
Honorable Mention - Rounding Out a "Top 18"
#13 - Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells, California www.indianwellsgolfresort.com
Amazing lodging, and one of the premier names in Palm Springs golf, though the overall quality of the resort courses just barely misses out on getting this location into the top 12.
#14 - La Costa Resort
Carlsbad, California www.lacosta.com
A long time PGA tour destination, it is one of the best places to play in the "in between" area of Southern California that isn't the south coast, and isn't the desert.
#15 - The Lodge at Ventana Canyon
Tucson, Arizona www.thelodgeatventanacanyon.com
While there may be better individual golf courses in the area, Ventana Canyon is the best multi-course golf resort in the Tucson area.
#16 - Westin Desert Willow Villas
A brand new lodging option, now with an all-condo resort to go with two of the best local public courses.
#17 - Silverado Resort and Spa
Napa, California www.silveradoresort.com
A wonderful resort with two solid courses, with perfect access to a Napa/Sonoma wine country getaway.
#18 - Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
Palm Springs, California www.tahquitzgolfresort.com
While overshadowed by other local destinations, it is still a great Coachella Valley option.
See our criteria for
The Western Stars
#1 - Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon, Oregon www.bandondunesgolf.com
Overview: In the world, there are “elite golf destinations” that are in a class all by themselves. We are talking about places where golfers from anywhere would go just to play golf … where they consider it a pilgrimage to pay homage to the game. Two of those places are St. Andrews and Pebble Beach, and we believe that Bandon Dunes has emerged as the third such destination. Of those, when a neutral party honestly evaluates the overall quality of all the golf courses available, without a doubt Bandon Dunes rises to the top. Add in a price tag for golf and lodging that is totally reasonable, and the fact you don’t have to worry about playing the “right” course, and we will gladly join the long line of people who declare that Bandon Dunes is the greatest golf resort in the world.
What Makes It Great? Bandon Dunes is about one thing - golf. The bottom line is that the Bandon Dunes Resort assumes your visit is not about playing some golf while you are on vacation, but is about playing golf AS your vacation! They assume everyone is there to play as much golf as possible - not hit the spa, or go into town to shop, or walk the beach, or eat a four hour dinner. Everything is set up to accommodate that aim … from lodging, to restaurants, to tee time management, to caddie assignments, to resort shuttles. Of course, with four of the top 20 best public/resort courses in the U.S. - and almost nothing else nearby - the assumption that everyone is here for the golf is very valid. It is this perfect combination of golf quality and single-focus emphasis on the golf that sets Bandon Dunes above any other golf destination.
What Would We Change? Here's a thought ... if we could, would we move Bandon Dunes to someplace other than Bandon? This is a location that is unserved by a major airport, and a good 45 minutes from anyplace anything flies into. There is really no place to go "off resort", and if you took a shuttle to the resort there is no way to get there anyway. And the weather dictates that golfers pack both shorts and rain gear for summer trips. Okay, part of the perfection of Bandon is the ideal venue - isolated, no houses, no distractions, ocean vistas, true links land, challenging wind, etc. And while you have to really want to get there ... maybe that very feature keeps the demand reasonable, thus the rates right. So on second thought ... never mind. Forget we said anything. We won’t change a thing!
Why Bandon Dunes is #1: There has been an ongoing debate about "Bandon vs. Pebble" when it comes to the best west coast golf destination. However, with the opening of Old Macdonald, Bandon may have put that debate to bed permanently. Bandon Dunes now sports four of the top 20 public/resort golf courses in the U.S., and when the dust settles it might just turn out to be three of the top five! Forget the west coast, let's talk global golf destinations ... has Bandon put everything - including St. Andrews - in its rearview mirror? Some say 'yes,' but even those that say 'no' can only base their claim on historical relevance. Bandon Dunes cannot go back and be re-opened 450 years ago, but right now - in 2011 - Bandon Dunes is truly the greatest place to play golf in the world.
Introducing "The Western Stars"
As we all know, the west coast is the greatest golf destination in the world. As a regional golf club spanning five western states, it is our honor to provide the golfing world with one of the most comprehensive evaluations of west coast golf resorts anywhere. We are proud to present to you The Western Stars – the best 18 golf resorts in the western U.S.
