Having spent some time in Queenstown, New Zealand at the end of 2008, I was interested to read that Hilton seem to be planning a new hotel there.
I enjoyed my time there very much; from the wonderful scenery (where much of Lord of the Rings was filmed), to the great golf courses including the new Hills and Jack’s Point Courses…it is also the birth place of adrenaline sports like bungee jumping and jet boating. However, if you prefer something more laid back, it is the perfect base to visit Milford Sound or some of the excellent vineyards…I certainly recommend the Pinot Noir.
One thing I felt the area lacked was a decent choice of 4-5 star accommodation. We find that the Millbrook Resort works well for PerryGolf clients; and for those looking for something extra special, there is Eichardt’s or the new Matakauri Lodge operated by the same owners as Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers. For a more modest option at a standard you can trust, a new Hilton hotel would be a welcome addition.
Fancourt is South Africa’s premier golf resort located in George in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route. If you are scheduling a trip to South Africa then look no further than this ideal resort; home to 3 golf courses – Outeniqua and Montagu (both parkland courses) and the new addition in 2000, The Links, a spectacular links course…all of the courses are designed by Gary Player. Fancourt Hotel also has an award wining spa, luxury accommodation and 3 excellent restaurants on site.
One of the advantages of having a partner who was born just outside of Cardiff (and is a very keen golfer) is that we get away to my favourite hotel, Celtic Manor, whenever possible; Wales playing at home in the Millennium Stadium, a family birthday or anniversary is all the excuse we need.
Celtic Manor
Although the main hotel looks somewhat formidable on approach – from the huge wooden dragon sleeping in the foyer, to the menus in the restaurants – it is a delightfully Welsh experience.
My partner always enjoys a lesson with the Pro which then continues onto one of the courses while I hit the Spa! The staff all over the hotel are extremely helpful and welcoming without being obtrusive and no less so at the Spa where you can chat about your treatment, choose your products and generally get into the mood for relaxation in the sunny conservatory.
There are five restaurants in the resort…and believe me, we have tried them all! My favourite is Rafters in the 2010 Clubhouse for superb food in an informal atmosphere. But for a real treat, and if we are being joined by family, the Taste of Wales experience in The Crown Restaurant makes for a memorable evening. Designed for a table of four or more to share, this is a taster menu with suggested wines and it is a lot of fun. The intention is that you will spend the entire evening with them; from pre-dinner drinks to a nightcap… and you are in no hurry to leave!
By Yvonne Shaw. Yvonne has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.
Golfers will forever enjoy the sensation of discovering that “new golf destination”. A recent trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic provided that experience for me. Situated on the eastern tip of the D.R., Punta Cana Resort & Club is entirely master planned. In recent years it has become popular as a destination of choice for many of the “all inclusive” resorts. These resorts, for the most part are situated to the north of the Punta Cana airport and offer various levels of service and price points.
For golfers however, the Punta Cana Resort & Club is the jewel to be discovered. When you scratch below the surface there are a multitude of fascinating storylines that emerge; the purchase of 30 square miles of jungle in 1969 with no road access, the commitment of the owners to improve their country through tourism, the sustainable tourism plans they have adopted, the rerouting of an international airport runway to enhance a golf experience, an airport arrival and departure process which is far from the ordinary, and a hotel experience at the very highest level.
The airport is owned by the same company who own the new Tom Fazio course, Corales and the Tortuga Bay hotel. They seamlessly blend together their businesses to ultimately deliver a memorable and unique product. The Punta Cana airport is the third busiest in the Caribbean and enjoys scheduled service from most major East Coast U.S. cities plus London, Frankfurt, Moscow, etc. As a guest of Tortuga Bay, as you deplane you are met by a hotel representative and whisked thru the arrival formalities via VIP lanes. Luggage is delivered and you are quickly sitting in a hotel vehicle for the 5 minute ride to the hotel. Tortuga Bay has only 30 suites in 13 villas alongside the beach. It is charming and comfortable with a superb staff.
The original golf course is La Cana, built by P.B. Dye in 2000. It has three holes played directly alongside the beach and is a very enjoyable course. Officially opened this month, the Corales course by Tom Fazio is a solid Fazio design. It can be safely discussed in the same conversation with Eagle Point, Calusa Pines or Caves Valley. Tom has delivered a fine course to the owners. From a conditioning standpoint, it is equal to his U.S. projects and given the commitment of the ownership, I believe that shall remain true over time. P.B. Dye is in the process of building the Hacienda course across the street from La Cana and it is scheduled to open either late 2010 or more likely 2011. I drove 9 holes with P.B. this past weekend and it certainly appears that it will be a fine test of golf. The current plan calls for the original La Cana course to be refurbished once Hacienda is open. Therefore, some time in 2012 they should have 3 very strong courses within 5 mins of a world class hotel and 5 minutes from a superior airport. A golfers dream!
Away from golf, they have a Six Senses Spa (the first in North America) with staff from Thailand. My wife, as a bit of a spa junkie and connoisseur was thoroughly impressed with the experience.
The departure experience at the airport was equally special, with VIP lines, lounges and for icing on the cake, a golf cart to the steps of your scheduled aircraft. It did not go unnoticed that they are re-routing the airport runway by what looked like 30 degrees to avoid overflight of the new Fazio Course and adjacent homesites…that is impressive!
If you are seeking a warm weather destination that is luxurious yet unpretentious, with excellent golf, spa and dining opportunities, I think you will not be disappointed in Tortuga Bay. I know I shall be returning and hope to see you there!
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
Melbourne is already spoilt in terms of golf courses being located a short drive from the “Sandbelt”; which maintains names such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, but it is now adding to its hotel options with a range of new properties that have either opened this year or that are due to open later on in the year. It promises to keep this vibrant cosmopolitan city high on the “must-see” list of any traveller, not just golfers. You can see more details of some of the new hotels by clicking here. We will be especially interested to see what Gordon Ramsey creates at the new Crown Metropol.
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of the agents responsible for our South Pacific programmes.
