Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
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"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing" |
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There might be some red carpet on the property, but the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess doesn’t need to roll it out to make guests feel like they’re getting the royal treatment. The AAA five-diamond resort is a breath of fresh air in the Arizona desert for visitors, who sense that something special is in store when the 651-room facility set against the backdrop of the McDowell Mountains comes into view. The Spanish Colonial architecture, breezy plazas, fountains and tile walkways give the facility a warm and open feeling that guests have embraced with open arms since it opened in 1987. Some of the colorful walkways that weave throughout the property lead to the guestrooms, suites and casitas. Others lead to the facility’s 72,000 square feet of meeting and function space, while others take guests to the resort’s five diverse and elegant restaurants, seven bars, five heated pools, seven tennis courts and other hideaways. “We’re very proud of the five-diamond status we’ve received and maintained through the years,” said Jennifer Franklin, the resort’s director of public relations. “That level of service encompasses everything we have to offer, from the fine dining and recreational options to meeting the needs of golf travelers and business people. Even families tell us how much they feel at home. We really feel like we have something special here.” Making guests feel special is what the Willow Stream Spa is all about. Since opening in late 2001, the spa has been a soothing retreat for guests who want to relax, get pampered or have a massage therapist get their aching muscles back in shape for another round of golf. “We are really cutting edge,” said spa director Jill Eisenhut. “We do all our own research to find out what women want and what men want as far as a spa experience is concerned.” What Willow Stream officials discovered is that men aren’t as apprehensive as they used to be about visiting a spa, so an MVP Room was built and a number of treatments were developed with active males in mind, including a golf performance massage that concentrates on the muscles and joints used most during a round. “Being such a golf destination here, we have a lot of men’s groups who meet once or twice a year who love to get their sports massages or facials,” Eisenhut said. “We have a number of treatments just for men, and they’re really becoming popular. The gap is closing dramatically when it comes to spa usage between women and men.” When it comes to golf destinations, not many places in the country can match the Valley of the Sun and its more than 200 options. To help golfers navigate a course of action, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has a golf concierge team to help resort guests with information, tee times and transportation. “The needs of golfers are very different from those of other hotel guests,” said Justin Wood, director of golf for all Fairmont properties. “We try to take all the burden out of a person’s golf vacation.” One of the region’s more famous courses is visible from the balcony of some guestrooms. The TPC of Scottsdale, where the annual FBR Open is played, is on the property of the resort, which is the official hotel of the PGA Tour event. Guests can test their skills on the Stadium Course, where the pros play in front of what’s become known as the tour’s most enthusiastic galleries, or on the Desert Course, which is under renovation and might be used for a round or two of the FBR Open when completed. “The fantastic thing about the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is that we’re located near three golf properties that are listed among the top 100 in the country — the TPC of Scottsdale, Troon North and Grayhawk,” Wood said. “So, for the daily-fee, public-access guest, it really doesn’t get much better than that.” For more information about the resort, room rates or course prices, call (480) 585-4848 or visit www.fairmont.com. To make a reservation, call (800) 866-5577. |
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