Whether you enjoy the exercise or fresh air or basking in the beauty of the great outdoors, golfing can enrich your life. Swing, pitch and putt amid epic natural beauty at these hole-in-one resort locations.
From California’s rugged Santa Rosa Mountains to Central Florida’s subtropical ecosystem… and from Newport Beach’s dramatic coast to St. Kitts’s sparkling Caribbean shore. What do these four vacation destinations have in common? Each boasts a gorgeous golf course that should top your must-do list.
Shadow Ridge Golf Club • Palm Desert, California
The Coachella Valley is an upscale desert resort community where the sun blazes 350 days a year. Nicknamed the golf capital of the world, the area is flush with courses. The Shadow Ridge Golf Club at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge stands out among them, however, thanks to its 18-hole championship course designed by six-time championship winner Nick Faldo.
Play a round surrounded by the snow-capped Santa Rosa Mountains, or sharpen your skills at the onsite Marriott Golf Academy. Multiday school experiences make full use of the academy’s certified instructors, expansive training facilities and innovative TrackMan technology. Go ahead and bring the kids, who’ll be so busy at the resort’s swimming pools and movie theater, they’ll hardly miss you.
Grande Vista Golf Club • Orlando, Florida
Sprawling oaks, bald cypresses, slash pines and saw palmettos paint the landscape of Grande Vista Golf Club at Marriott’s Grande Vista. The nine-hole, Ron Garl-designed course is all about families — in fact, kids under 15 play free after 3 p.m. The club also features a second location of Marriott Golf Academy, where friendly, certified instructors fine-tune your swing and short game in a state-of-the-art, 35-acre practice facility.
Of course, nearby theme parks and family-friendly attractions beckon, but the resort also keeps guests of all ages entertained with swimming pools, fire pits and a full-service spa. Don’t miss the Grande Vista Grill’s themed events, like beer and wine tastings, cooking classes and kids DIY pizza and pancakes.
Royal St. Kitts Golf Club • St. Kitts
During your Caribbean getaway, take on St. Kitts’s only golf course, which offers 18 challenging holes amid lush tropical scenery. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club at Marriott’s St. Kitts Beach Club features three palm-studded holes on the Atlantic Ocean and two on the Caribbean Sea. Every swing and putt immerses you in the island’s natural beauty.
Continue ogling the ocean at the course’s Clubhouse Grille, where local fare such as fish sandwiches and jerk-seasoned wings headline the menu. Then spread out in the resort’s two- and three-bedroom villas, and take advantage of all the amenities at the adjacent St. Kitts Marriott® Resort, including a beach, a casino and a sleek steakhouse.
Pelican Hill Golf Club • Newport Coast, California
The course at Pelican Hill Golf Club is so scenic, your eyes are sure to wander from the fairway. Each of the 36 holes was designed by legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio. At the Ocean North Course, which curls over plateaus and canyons, Pacific Ocean panoramas extend from every tee box. Or play the Ocean South Course, where three holes hug the sunset-facing coast.
One mile away, at Marriott’s Newport Coast® Villas, post-golf relaxation awaits in the form of spa treatments, steaming whirlpool spas and poolside dining. As a bonus, the property is just a quick jaunt to SoCal attractions like Newport Beach and Balboa Island.