When you schedule a golfing getaway, the courses take center stage. For some, 18 holes played across a beautiful landscape is the ideal medium for relaxation. Others require extra rejuvenation after a round. If you fall into the latter camp, the following six golf resorts are certain to appeal, as they each feature a destination spa that rivals the quality of their golf.
Boulders Resort & Spa—Scottsdale, Ariz.
With a footprint that covers 1,300 acres in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert and includes two Jay Morrish-designed golf courses, the Boulders resort just north of Scottsdale represents a great home base—or at least a not-to-be-missed stopping point—for a golf getaway through south-central Arizona. That allure includes the property’s 33,000-square-foot destination spa, which features a heated swimming pool and a labyrinth that’s perfect for meditation sessions. On the treatments side, golfers would be wise to book an “accusage” session, which is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of acupuncture and massage, where the acupuncture techniques target the energy of internal organs while the massage relaxes the muscles.
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Casa de Campo—La Romana, Dominican Republic
For years, Casa de Campo’s trio of Pete Dye-designed golf courses (Teeth of the Dog, most notably) shined brightest among the many amenities at the Dominican Republic resort. Now, thanks to a sizeable investment and brand new construction, Casa de Campo’s destination spa delivers equally high quality on the wellness front.
Spanning more than 18,000 square feet, the resort’s spa features 13 treatment rooms, each outfitted with private gardens and outdoor showers, as well as a communal relaxation area featuring a state-of-the-art hydrothermal circuit (sauna, steam, vitality, and cold-plunge pools), laconium lounges (dry saunas), and an outdoor spa pool.
Equipped with state-of-the-art German wellness technology, the spa can offer unique wellness journeys, such as the Drift Binaural Body Experience. The treatment utilizes a Welnamis Aqua Wave Bed and—through the combination of vibration, light, and binaural acoustics—it allows guests to slip into a deep, 30-minute sleep. Similarly, the spa offers a touchless detox experience that relies on infrared rays, plasma, and light therapy to increase a guest’s body temperature, boost their metabolism, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain.
Fairmont Banff Springs—Banff, Canada
Long before a spa existed at the Fairmont Banff Springs—decades before even a luxury hotel existed on site—the area’s hot springs attracted visitors who traveled from near and far for the perceived health benefits that those geo-thermal pools could provide. Today, more than 130 years later, the Fairmont hotel’s 40,000-square-foot spa serves as a modern-day destination for restoration and relaxation; however, it still offers guests the chance to soak and unwind in bubbling mineral pools.
Three additional waterfall-treatment whirlpools, not to mention another outdoor whirlpool, keep the spa at Fairmont Banff Springs strongly connected to the region’s history as a destination for hydrotherapy. That said, guests can adjourn to any one of the facility’s 27 treatment rooms for more traditional spa services, such as massages, facials, and exfoliating body wraps and scrubs. The Rockies Rehydration, for example, is a 60-minute treatment that combines a dry-brush exfoliation with mineral-rich cream (blended with lavender, ginger oil, and other botanicals), which is applied in concert with a soothing massage. It’s an ideal follow-up to a round played on the resort’s historic, Stanley Thompson-designed golf course.
Pebble Beach Resort—Pebble Beach, Calf.
It’s probably hard—maybe impossible—to imagine Pebble Beach Resort without its world-famous golf courses. It’s much easier, however, to envision some resort guests booking week-long stays just to experience the resort’s 22,000-square-foot destination spa. Comprised of 15 massage rooms, five facial rooms, a full-service salon, a Flotation Wrap Suite, an outdoor pool, a conservatory, and a sanctuary with a fire pit, the Spa at Pebble Beach is one of only 90 wellness properties in the world to earn a five-star award from Forbes. Of greater significance is the varied menu of treatments that the facility can offer, many of which include (or emphasize) the healing qualities of plants, herbs, and minerals that are indigenous to the Monterey Peninsula.
PGA National Resort—Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
In late 2020, PGA National Resort’s new ownership group committed more than $100 million to transform every facet of the 360-room property. That included the creation of two new golf courses—The Match and The Staple—but it also led to the buildout of a brand new, 40,000-square-foot spa, one that is luxuriously appointed to reflect the resort’s location in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens. Historically, the resort has served as an ideal destination for traditional buddies’ getaways thanks to its six courses—including a championship layout that annually tests the best players on the PGA Tour. Now, it’s even better suited given that the spa features an old-fashioned barber shop, the Groom Guy, which offers fresh haircuts, clean shaves, beard trimming, and personalized styling from classically trained barbers.
Timbers Kauai—Kauai, Hawaii
Golf enthusiasts are drawn to the southeastern coast of Kauai for this resort’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course at Hokuala… more specifically, the course’s stretch of continuous oceanside holes that remains the longest across all of Hawaii. Avid players would be wise to also spend some time at Nanea Spa, the first organic boutique spa on the island, which offers traditional Hawaiian treatments that are accented by the use of local botanicals sourced from the resort’s on-site organic farm. A variety of treatments grace the spa’s menu, though golfers looking for rejuvenation after a round will find it via traditional Hawaiian lomilomi massages, which can be elevated with hot stone and CBD oil enhancements.
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Have you visited any of the spas at these golf resorts? Tell us about your experience in the comment section.
