Special Advertising Section:
The Golf and Spa Experience

Consider the extreme dichotomy of standing over a three-foot putt with your high-stakes match on the line, and the ethereal feeling that comes from letting tension float away and becoming one with your breath, your body and the quiet. Most likely, you've experienced the former. And if you've never experienced the latter, then this section is for you.

Golf is the greatest game on the planet, but it can be a roller-coaster ride of intense exhilaration and piercing agony. More often than not, we walk off the course not reveling in our string of birdies on the back nine, but fuming over the four three-putts on the front side that necessitated such a rally. So where do we go for relief? Well, there's always the 19th hole. But for the 21st century golfer, the ultimate soothing of body and soul is just a black stone massage away.

The marriage of golf and spas makes perfect sense, so it's not surprising that the country's best resort destinations, private clubs and residential communities have joined in this brave, new world of health.

There are now specialized services designed to boost core strength, balance and flexibility. A post-round rubdown is almost de rigueur after an adventurous 18 holes. In fact, there are golf and spa packages where you can bring down some of the country's best courses and then not feel any less the conquering hero for indulging in a champagne and caviar facial.

The properties that follow are noteworthy for outstanding golf and indulgent spa services.

Go ahead, big fella. Detoxify. Exfoliate. You deserve it.

THE CLIFFS COMMUNITIES
North & South Carolina

The Cliffs, with seven golf courses, including Gary Player's signature design currently under construction at The Cliffs at Mountain Park,isn't just a community for golfers. A team of wellness experts at The Cliffs includes the former director of fitness for Pebble Beach, nutritionists, and exercise and conditioning specialists. In fact, the No. 1 amenity there is parks, trails and green space. Inside its gates, The Cliffs has currently reserved close to 2,500 acres of private parks and groomed trails for walking, hiking and biking. Pair with that a state-of-the-art wellness center in each community, equestrian center, nature centers and marinas connecting residents via The Cliffs' own intercommunity water taxi, and you can see why members never have a dull moment.

And the wellness center at The Cliffs is not only growing but is making history in the process. In 2008, it will open the Keowee Springs Lodge and Spa, America's First Luxury Family Wellness Resort. Among the resort's finer features is an elite, limited collection of private resort residences, including spacious Lakefront Estates, Lakeview Villas and Lodge Cottages ranging in price from $1 million to over $4 million. Residences come fully furnished and expertly decorated, with GEM cars to traverse the pedestrian pathways connecting the resort's amenities. All are maintenance-free, exceedingly well cared for, and enrolled within The Cliffs residential rental program.

Showcasing sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Keowee, Keowee Springs' Lodge and 20,000-square-foot Spa will bring the outdoors in with indoor/outdoor treatment rooms and a woodland-themed decor inspired by the natural landscape. Some resort guests may find respite at the two world-class restaurants in the Lodge, one of which is being developed in partnership with James Beard Hall of Famer Gray Kunz of Manhattan's Cafe Gray and, formerly, Lespinasse. Or by dropping off the children at KidFit, the 8,000-square-foot activity center that will boast a water park, climbing center and computer zone for the hard-to-please "tweens". Or by spending quality time on the Fazio course, whose design provides three sets of six holes appropriate for those priceless afternoon barefoot games with the family or a robust round of 18 for the traditional foursome. Or by bagging all of this and retreating to the Beach Club, set at the lake's shore with water so clear and clean it's considered drinkable.

A world-class resort and destination spa, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs will draw residents from around the country and provide a pristine environment to optimize the health and well-being of every member of your family. At the heart of the Keowee Springs Lodge and Spa will be a medical/wellness center, offering a comprehensive menu of services to owners and resort guests. The Cliffs offers a world-class medical advisory board that includes leaders in preventive medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, women's health and sports medicine from pre-eminent Medical Centers of Excellence.

For more information on The Cliffs Communities, call 877-254-3371 or visit CliffsCommunities.com/links



DAUFUSKIE ISLAND RESORT AND BREATHE SPA
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

Those who seek the total immersion of a golf and spa experience need look no further than Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa, one of South Carolina's top resorts. Located just off the South Carolina coast and accessible only by boat, this serene sea island retreat offers an unrivaled combination of civilization, relaxation and world-class amenities amidst the stunning setting of the South Carolina low country.

The 1,200-acre resort features two world-class golf courses: Melrose, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course with three spectacular finishing holes fronting on the Atlantic, and the Tom Weiskopf/Jay Moorish-designed Bloody Point course, which flanks the Intracoastal Waterway and is named for a site on which the Native American Indians and English clashed in the 1700s.

Managed by Troon Golf, the leader in upscale golf course management, Melrose and Bloody Point encompass hundreds of acres sweeping gently across forested hammocks, iridescent blue water, and white sand dunes.

Named as one of the Travel Channel's "Best Island Hotels in America," Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa features a wide range of accommodations, including the beachfront Inn at Melrose, the spacious and secluded Melrose Beach Cottages, the luxury vacation villas of Easter Beach, the oceanfront Sandy Lane Luxury Vacation Villas, and well-appointed private vacation home rentals.

The resort also features four restaurants, a full service spa, an equestrian center, an award-winning tennis center, five swimming pools, summer family programs, club memberships, real estate opportunities and plenty of other recreational and watersports activities.

Summer weekly vacation rentals start at $1,416 per week and 36-hole golf packages are available for $115 per day. Membership packages are also available.

For additional information on Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa, call 800-648-6778 or visit DaufuskieIslandResort.com/links

THE GREENBRIER
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

The Greenbrier, long renowned for its comprehensive and first-rate golf facilities, has recently enhanced its caddie program to provide guests greater enjoyment of the game. The resort has more than 50 caddies available to guests, 20 with more than 10 years of experience.

"There are many benefits to utilizing a caddie," said Robert Harris, the resort's director of sports and recreation. "Our caddies are very knowledgeable about our three courses and their insights are invaluable. Another benefit is the fitness component. When playing with a caddie, a guest will walk approximately five miles in one round, which is great exercise."

The Greenbrier offers guests a choice of three different courses, each laid out in gently rolling terrain along the valley floor and built in the era when the proximity of green to tee was an important design element. The Old White, the resort's first 18-hole course, originally opened in 1914. Noted golf architect Lester George restored the Charles Blair Macdonald designed course to its original design in 2006. The Greenbrier Course, redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1977, hosted the International Ryder Cup matches in 1979 and the Solheim Cup matches in 1994. The Meadows, originally a nine-hole course, was expanded in 1962 and dramatically updated in 1999. All three courses conveniently begin and end at the Golf Club, which also houses an award-winning professional shop, expansive locker rooms, a restaurant, lounge and snack bar. For guests who wish to improve their skills, the resort's Golf Digest Academy has instructional clinics, multi-day instructional packages and private lessons.

The Greenbrier also offers a selection of spa treatments and fitness services designed just for golfers. The Sports Massage, with active stretching and rigorous strokes, prepares muscles for a specific activity and relieves stress and tension from overuse. The Golfer's Game Saver focuses on overused muscles associated with a golf swing. This treatment begins with a soak, followed by a massage concentrating on the forearms, hands, back and shoulders. Warm heat packs are used to relax strained muscles. Golfers can also enjoy the benefits of The Greenbrier's golf-specific fitness options.

For more information on The Greenbrier, please call 800-624-6070 or visit Greenbrier.com



KIAWAH ISLAND RESORT
Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Renowned for its legendary resort experience, Kiawah Island is offering its Total Performance Golf Package, ideal for golfers of all levels. The package starts with two rounds of golf and a luxurious two-night stay at The Sanctuary. It also includes a 90-minute private golf lesson with Kiawah's PGA Golf Academy Director, Steve Mitchell, and your Personal Improvement Program on Modelgolf.com that allows you unlimited video uploads for one year and a unique package of information that allows you to continue to improve your golf swing.

The package also includes club fitting at the Golf Learning Center (club fitting systems include woods and irons from Titleist, Callaway, Cobra, Nike and Cleveland), and a golf-specific personal training session that includes warm-up stretches and stabilization exercises with a focus on rotational movements and core strengthening. Finally, the package offers a Sports Massage in the Sanctuary Luxury Spa„an invigorating athletic massage using rhythmic strokes to stimulate muscles, aid in flexibility and flush metabolic waste from the tissues.

Two-day package rates starting at $1,420 (rates are seasonal and based on availability, and do not include taxes, service charges or resort fees). Packages can be individualized, and single- or additional-night pricing is also available.

After hosting the Senior PGA Championship in May, Kiawah publicly unveiled its new 24,000-square-foot clubhouse at the renowned Ocean Course in June. Situated adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and 150 feet from the 18th green, the new clubhouse has been designed to augment The Ocean Course's stature in the game of golf and provide a stage befitting major professional golf events. Having also hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches„the memorable "War at the Shore"„The Ocean Course will be the venue for the 2012 PGA Championship, the first of golf's four "majors" to be held in South Carolina.

For more information on Kiawah Island Resort and the Total Performance Golf Package, please contact the resortÍs reservations department at 877-683-1234 or 843-768-6000, or visit KiawahResort.com

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
Naples, Florida

A 125-acre tropical paradise on Florida's Gulf of Mexico, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club is southwest Florida's only beachfront resort to feature an on-site championship golf course, a world-class spa and an award-winning tennis center.

Designed in classic Florida style, the spectacular full-service spa offers an array of massage services, body treatments, skincare services, hydrotherapy and salon services. Among the signature services is the Florida Fruit Fresh Facial with botanical extracts such as black currant, pineapple and aloe. Additional services include Beach Stone Therapy, Rehydrating Milk and Honey Body Wrap and the Rainforest Body Scrub.

For more information on the resort or spa packages, call 888-271-1456 or 239-261-2222, or visit NaplesBeachHotel.com



Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The Atlantic coastline serves as a dramatic backdrop for the AAA Five-Diamond-rated Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. This northeast Florida landmark, which offers 250 luxurious rooms and suites, has graciously welcomed resort guests since 1928 with award-winning hospitality.

Recreational enthusiasts will appreciate the surf, beach, golf, tennis and gym, while socially, guests will enjoy the three restaurants and a gallery of shops and boutiques.

A new spa, the region's largest, recently opened to rave reviews. Featured are 22 treatment rooms, more than 100 pampering and MedSpa services, spa dining and an outdoor therapy pool for relaxation.

For additional information on the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, please call 800-234-7842 or visit PVResorts.com

 

SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT
Sandestin, Florida

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is like a world unto itself, encompassing 2,400 acres in northwest Florida between the stunningly beautiful Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay.

The resort's four award-winning golf courses represent an idyllic combination of quality and variety: the Rees Jones-designed Burnt Pine Golf Club; a pair of Tom Jackson courses, Baytowne Golf Club and The Links Course; and the Raven Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that hosted the PGA Champions Tour's Boeing Championship in June.

Sandestin also features a newly renovated Salon & Day Spa, offering a well-equipped fitness center as well as an array of salon services for both men and women. The resort also offers 15 tennis courts, a 98-slip marina, restaurants and nightspots, and more than 1,700 accommodation options in a wide range of prices.

Sandestin is located eight miles east of Destin between Pensacola and Panama City on the Gulf Coast. For more information, call 800-622-1038 or visit Sandestin.com/links.asp

TEE TIMES USA
Florida

For the best deals on an unmatched selection of Florida golf, contact Tee Times USA, Florida's own golf vacation specialist.

One toll-free call to Tee Times USA gives you free information on more than 300 Florida golf courses and hundreds of hotels and resorts. You can also book free advanced tee times with or without accommodations, months before play.

Tee Times USA recommends Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, just minutes to world-famous attractions. Enjoy The Legends at Orange Lake--a challenging Arnold Palmer Signature Design as well as The Reserve, another outstanding 18-hole course.

In addition, Orange Lake boasts two executive courses, Crane's Bend and Legend's Walk. Amenities abound including 10 swimming pools with four waterslides, a 12-acre water park with lazy river pool, cabanas and spa as well as nine restaurants.

For more information on reservations, call Tee Times USA at 800-374-8633 or visit TeeTimesUSA.com


TIERRA DEL SOL RESORT, SPA & COUNTRY CLUB
Aruba

At Aruba's northwest rugged and picturesque tip, a private and serene 600-acre community has emerged for those with discriminating taste and a need for the utmost level of privacy and seclusion. Tierra del Sol Resort, Spa and Country Club is a sanctuary of casual elegance, gourmet dining, spa pampering, world-class golf and tennis for your next escape, retreat, meeting, golf group, wedding or celebration.

When packing, don't forget your golf clubs. Challenge yourself by playing on the only 18-hole championship golf course on the island, designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

After your round of golf, pamper yourself at Body and Soul Spa, Fitness and Full Care Beauty Salon, with our special "Golfer's Par Excellence" treatment that includes a 25-minute foot reflexology, a 50-minute golfer's therapeutic massage, a men's fitness facial and the use of sauna, steam room and private Jacuzzi.

For more information on Tierra Del Sol Resort, Spa and Country Club, call 866-978-5158 or visit TierraDelSol.com



WINTERGREEN RESORT
Wintergreen, Virginia

High in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains stands Wintergreen Resort--one of the nation's premier year-round golf destinations. Only a three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Wintergreen offers golfers what is generally considered to be the finest collection of mountain golf holes east of the Rockies.

Devils Knob, the highest course in Virginia at 3,850 feet, is known for cool summer temperatures, outstanding playing conditions and panoramic vistas. Year-round golf in the valley, some 3,000 feet below, is offered on the nationally-ranked Stoney Creek course--27 holes designed by world-renowned golf course architect Rees Jones.

Wintergreen Resort's well known Wintergarden Spa and Aquatics & Fitness Center is a mountain top retreat from everyday life where guests will feel pampered, release tension and experience the healing effects of a renewed body and spirit in an exquisite setting.

Following a multi-million dollar expansion, the Wintergarden Spa offers new and enhanced treatment rooms, a wider variety of spa treatments, a full-service salon and retail shop. Each of the treatment rooms, the fitness center and the lounge areas have windows from which to view the awe-inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains and the enormous valley below, allowing for an almost "glass conservatory" feeling, thereby bringing additional thought-provoking peace and serenity to the already relaxing total body experience.

Adjacent to the Wintergarden Spa, the Aquatics & Fitness Center offers a cardiovascular and strength studio, a heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool, four hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and a retail shop.

For more details on Wintergreen Resort, please call 800-266-2444 or visit WintergreenResort.com