Take Aim at these Five Golf Getaways this Summer
As the official hotel of the PGA TOUR®, it’s natural that Omni Hotels & Resorts boasts some of the most impressive golf vacation destinations in the country. But there’s no need to take their word for it — with five mentions in the April 2019 Golf Digest “Best Golf Resorts in the Americas” and seven mentions in Golfweeks’ “Best of 2019: Best Courses You Can Play,” Omni’s reputation for golf is no secret.
Located in some of the country’s most beautiful locations, these destinations provide challenges for players of all levels, offering championship golf with awe-inspiring backdrops.
1: Barton Creek | Austin
Located in the heart of Hill Country — yet a mere 20-minute drive from Downtown Austin — Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa is Texas’ go-to destination for a golf getaway. The resort is home to four championship courses, all recently revitalized as part of a $150 million renovation and expansion over the past year, and makes frequent appearances on “Best of” lists by Golfweek, Golf Digest, Conde Nast Traveler and Golf.com.
Dappled with creeks and waterfalls throughout the course, Fazio Foothills offers a challenging but fair layout that places a premium on shot-making. This 7,125-yard, par 72 course places emphasis on risk versus reward, a hallmark of architect Tom Fazio’s style, and has been named No. 3 in Texas by Golf Magazine in its “Top 100 Courses You Can Play.”
Fazio Canyons is the first resort course in Texas to be certified as an Audubon International Signature Sanctuary and was designated as a Certified Signature Sanctuary, offering players a true connection with their natural surroundings. The course was also recently ranked “#1 Top Texas Tour Venues That You Can Play” by Golf.com.
The Coore Crenshaw Cliffside course challenges golfers with its approach to large, well-contoured greens and lush, wide-sweeping fairways lined by densely packed trees. Whereas Palmer Lakeside, designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, features dramatic elevation changes, rewarding those long off the tee.
In addition to the courses, the expanded resort now includes a new guest room tower, seven restaurants, poolscape featuring three pools and two hot tubs, and a world-class spa with private rooftop garden and pool.
2: Mount Washington | New Hampshire
Seeking a reprieve from the Texas summer heat? Consider the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire, where average high temperatures in August and September max out just under 70º F. A National Landmark, this grand masterpiece of the Gilded Age features magical details like Tiffany stained glass and functioning in-room fireplaces, creating an ambience of historic proportions.
Flanked by New Hampshire’s spectacular Presidential Mountain Range, the Mount Washington Course continues to be recognized as New Hampshire’s “Best Course You Can Play” by Golfweek year over year since 2009. Designed by renowned architect Donald Ross and studiously restored by Brian Silva, the course features bunkers crafted in a classic flair and infinite varieties of recovery shots in the closely cropped areas around the putting greens.
The 9-hole Mount Pleasant course is ideal for pressure-free family golfing, and includes junior tee locations on every hole and family-friendly pin placement.
Off the greens, Omni Mount Washington’s expansive property offers 11 dining options, full-service spa with treatments inspired by the surrounding White Mountain National Forest and boundless activities from river tubing to rock climbing.
3: The Homestead | Virginia
A hideaway nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia, The Omni Homestead Resort offers Southern hospitality steeped in history. When thermometers in Texas are hitting triple-digits, average high temperatures in August and September top out just over 80º — perfect for enjoying their poolscape (including slides and a lazy river) when you’re not on either of two 18-hole golf courses.
Set against the backdrop of the Allegheny’s rolling ridges, The Cascades has a varied terrain that earns its reputation as one of the finest mountain courses in the country. It makes sense that the legendary Sam Snead launched his career on this fabled Virginia mountain golf course, which has the honor of being ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest.
Home to the nation’s oldest first tee in continuous use, The Old Course features abundant fairway contouring, making approach shots interesting due to a side hill, uphill or downhill lie to smallish greens.
Surrounded on all sides by National Forest, The Omni Homestead offers guests a true retreat. The property also boasts extensive amenities including a full-service spa, seven restaurants, activities like zip lining, fly fishing, skeet shooting and even falconry (in other words, not your typical vacation).
4: Amelia Island | Florida
Go from sandy bunkers to sand dunes at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Named a “Top 121 Golf Resort in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler, and home of Golf Channel’s “Big Break: Florida,” the resort’s pedigree for golf is as impressive as its long list of activities and amenities.
Located on a barrier island just south of the Florida/Georgia state line, Amelia Island presents miles of pristine beach along the Atlantic Ocean on its east side. To the west, the ambiance feels decidedly classic Southern Low Country, thanks to Spanish moss-draped live oak trees that frame views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The best way to enjoy the Intracoastal views is with a round on Oak Marsh. Designed by Pete Dye, the course is noted for its tight fairways and small greens as it meanders along serpentine salt marsh creeks and around picturesque oaks. Included in Golf Digest’s prestigious list of the “Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S,” Oak Marsh was also honored by Travel & Leisure Golf as one of “Florida’s 50 Finest Courses.”
Designed by Tom Fazio, Long Point offers natural hazards, tight fairways and elevated greens. The rolling fairways wind through three spectacular and distinctive settings: magnificent marshes, thick forest and scenic oceanfront dunes.
After the round, retreat to your oceanfront room (every room at the resort boasts a view of the Atlantic Ocean), grab a bite at one of 10 restaurants on property, take a dip in the oceanfront poolscape, experience a nature tour or discover any of the other boundless activities and amenities.
5: La Costa | California
On the west coast, play in the footsteps of champions and celebrities alike at the two championship golf courses at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. Located in the charming area of Carlsbad (just 30 minutes from San Diego International Airport), La Costa offers an expansive and lush landscape supplemented by rich Spanish-colonial style architecture.
Play where the pros have played on the aptly named Champions Course, the location of dozens of PGA TOUR events throughout the years. A links-style course with generous landing areas, subtle elevation changes, deep bunkers and firm and fast conditions, Champions has routinely been recognized by Golf Week as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play.”
A parkland-style course that features mature trees and gentle doglegs, the Legends Course places a premium on accuracy off the tee. To get around the course in style, the resort offers both Phat Scooters and Golfboards in addition to typical golf carts.
For players looking to elevate their game, Omni La Costa’s golf instruction program is unparalleled, offering both traditional lessons as well as high-tech approaches like the RoboGolfPro robotic swing trainer and K-VEST, a motion learning system that instantaneously measures players’ 3D data.
When it comes to golf at La Costa, the entire resort serves as the 19thhole, with five dining options, eight pools (including an adults-only pool and waterslides for the kids) and American Spa’s “Favorite Resort Spa Nationwide.”
Teeing it Forward
North Texas’ golf credentials are about to get even more impressive with the announcement of a new resort in Frisco that will be home to the PGA of America headquarters. The new development will feature two championship golf courses, a short course and practice areas totaling 45 holes; a clubhouse; a 500-room Omni resort; parks and several miles of trails and much more.
Until then, make the most of your next golf getaway with Omni’s exclusive PGA TOUR package, which grants guests a round of golf every day of their stay, $75 credit to spend at the resort and an official PGA TOUR welcome amenity.