Breathtaking views abound at nearly every turn at Sunriver Resort.
SUNRIVER RESORT
Mid Pines, another updated Donald Rossdesigned gem that gives visiting players an
unbeatable tandem of women-friendly courses
(pineneedles-midpines.com; 910-692-7111).
PINE NEEDLES LODGE & GOLF CLUB
Southern Pines, N.C.
It may not scream five-star, but make no
mistake: Under the guidance of LPGA
legend Peggy Kirk Bell and her extended
family, Pine Needles has introduced more
women to the game than any other resort
in the nation. Situated four miles from the
Village of Pinehurst in the quaint little
town of Southern Pines, the homespun
resort’s centerpiece is a restored Donald
Ross course with all his trademarks,
notably wide fairways and inverted saucer
greens. Pine Needles has hosted three U.S.
Women’s Opens, but for the recreational
player, the course is sheer delight from
the forward tees at 4,936 yards. Walkers
are welcome. Caddies are available. Ladies
Golfaris, pioneered by Bell in the 1950s and
available in February, May and September,
offer five days of ladies-only, personalized
instruction that set the pace in the industry.
Accommodations in the chalet-style
lodges are rustic, but Pine Needles has a
laid-back elegance all its own. Guests also
have playing privileges across the street at
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LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB
La Quinta, Calif.
Converted nearly 25 years ago from a
private club to a resort venue, the Mountain
Course at La Quinta, a serene desert
hideaway that dates to 1926, is the prettiest
and most playable of the many Pete Dyedesigned layouts in greater Palm Springs.
Nestled up against the soaring flanks of
the Santa Rosa Mountains, this delightful
spread is a classic target-style course with
plenty of forgiveness from the red tees at
4,875 yards. Just getting started? The LQ
Express tees measure a friendly 3,732 yards.
For a bigger challenge, La Quinta guests
have preferred access to three courses at
nearby PGA West, including the notorious
TPC Stadium Course.
Recently treated to a multimillion dollar
restoration and infused with a fresh, clean
look, the resort offers a wide array of
accommodations, including flower-decked
casitas, suites and luxurious spa villas spread
across its manicured lawns. Enjoy other
options such as a ‘Kinks from the Links’
specialty massage at Spa La Quinta, sample
eclectic regional Mexican cuisine, including
superb tamales and signature margaritas,
at Adobe Grill or relax poolside at a resort
where the sun shines nearly every day of the
year. With 23 courts on a variety of surfaces,
La Quinta is also a mecca for tennis players
(laquintaresort.com; 760-564-4111).
SUNRIVER RESORT
Sunriver, Ore.
Located on the eastern flank of the Cascade
Range and framed by snow-frosted volcanic
peaks, Sunriver’s golf courses, sketched across
a high desert plateau, are exceptionally scenic
even by central Oregon standards. The
Meadows, the resort’s original venue, was
reworked by John Fought into an appealing
retro-style layout with generously rolling
fairways, attractive water features and gently
contoured greens. Caldera Links, a familyfriendly nine-hole par-3 course, is also
delightful. For a bigger challenge, there’s
Woodlands, a Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed
layout indented by lava rock outcrops and
lakes. Crosswater is a magnificent heathlandstyle threaded by a pair of rivers.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Sunriver is in a
class of its own: raft whitewater rapids in the
upper Deschutes River, windsurf in Elk Lake,
fish for land-locked salmon in back-country
lakes, ride a bike (or a horse) along a scenic
riverside path, canoe the high Cascades
Lakes, or explore the crater of an ancient
volcano. Carson’s American Kitchen, named
for the explorer Kit Carson, and Twisted
River Tavern (local microbrews, Oregon
wines, gastropub fare) will reopen in May as
part of a $50 million property revitalization
(sunriver-resort.com; 800-801-8765).
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