SANDESTIN GOLF & BEACH RESORT
In the sleepy, but stunningly beautiful coastal region of northwest Florida known as the Panhandle, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort opened in 1973 with one hotel and one golf course, idyllically sandwiched between Choctawhatchee Bay and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
No longer a hidden gem, Sandestin has grown into a self-contained resort destination of extraordinary scope. Much of the expansion can be attributed to Intrawest, the Canadian firm best known for its upscale ski resorts throughout North America. Since its purchase of Sandestin in 1998, Intrawest has added a fourth golf course and the Village of Baytowne Wharf, a pedestrian-friendly waterfront complex with a mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, resort amenities and services.
Sandestin now encompasses more than 2,400 acres, and the resort is so comprehensive in its offerings—1,800 lodging options, 38 restaurants, 7 bars and pubs, 48 retail stores, etc.—guests never have to leave the property. Nor do they need a car. A complimentary tram service is available to shuttle guests anywhere on property, including Sandestin’s four golf courses.
Having first brought national attention to the Panhandle as a golf destination, Sandestin has earned a reputation for delivering a nice mix of top-shelf golf at highly competitive rates. The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Raven Golf Club has hosted the PGA Champions Tour’s Boeing Championship at Sandestin since 2006. Brother Rees Jones is also represented with Burnt Pine, a mid-1990s design with extensive mounding and pot bunkers. The surrounding water is mostly aesthetic at Baytowne Golf Club, a Tom Jackson layout featuring junior tee boxes, but water comes more into play on The Links course, Jackson’s original course at Sandestin that plays directly on the bay.
As they like to say at Sandestin, “we’re off in our own little world.” But there’s nothing little, and certainly nothing insipid, about this special destination.
where Northwest Florida, between Pensacola and Panama City on the Gulf Coast Golf course architects Robert Trent Jones Jr., Rees Jones, Tom Jackson
amenities Four 18-hole golf courses; tennis courts of hard, natural grass and Hydrogrid clay surfaces; fitness center; salon and day spa; full-service marina; water sports; and more than seven miles of beach and bay frontage.
accommodations 1,800 condominiums, villas, townhomes, hotel rooms and suites.
packages Wide array of golf, tennis, romance, shopping, water sports and custom-designed packages available.
contact 877-870-5917; sandestin.com/links.aspx
TURNBERRY HARBOUR
Turnberry Ltd. has been in the development business long enough to understand the subtle, yet sweeping differences between selling someone a new home and transforming the way people live.
With 40 years and an impressive portfolio of upscale developments to its credit, the company is making a formidable impression on the Florida Panhandle with Turnberry Harbour. An exclusive development that offers prestige without pretension, Turnberry Harbour seems a perfect fit with Destin’s laid-back ambiance and extraordinary natural beauty.
Situated on 80 acres along the Choctawhatchee Bay, Turnberry Harbour will consist of several residential buildings and an array of amenities and services usually found at five-star resorts. The hub of activity will be a spacious and luxurious residents-only clubhouse, housing a spa and fitness center, tennis and swim club, and a restaurant offering both casual and fine dining. Winding through Turnberry Harbour are the pristine fairways of Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club with memberships available to Turnberry Harbour residents.
Among the first residential offerings at Turnberry Harbour is a 19-story condominium tower with 24-hour valet service and security personnel as well as its own fitness center and lushly landscaped pool deck overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay. Designed to accommodate retirees seeking low-maintenance luxury or growing families on the way up, the 136 Tower suites range from just under 2,000 square feet to nearly 7,000 square-foot penthouses. The common denominator is an array of opulent appointments that include Snaidero “Certosa” Italian kitchen and bath cabinetry, Giallo Light granite kitchen and master bath countertops, Thermador appliances and expansive private balconies, many with summer kitchens.
Turnberry Harbour also offers a unique maisonette option for those who prefer the exclusivity of a single-family home without the maintenance concerns. A pair of low-rise buildings each contains six residences that range from 2,728 to 3,483 square feet and offer the same lavish finishes as the Tower homes.
Service, quality and a legacy of excellence. A new level of luxury living has arrived in Destin, and while the pace may be somewhat slower at Turnberry Harbour, the standards are never relaxed.
where Destin, on the Florida Panhandle
amenities 34,500-square-foot clubhouse; spa and fitness center; tennis club; and casual and fine dining restaurants. Memberships are available to the adjacent Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club.
real estate Condominium tower residences and maisonette building residences with prices ranging from the $900s to $2.5 million.
contact 850-650-4500; turnberryharbour.com
