Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
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Pure indulgence. There’s no other way to describe the melding of first-class service, rejuvenating spa treatments and two golf courses that have hosted PGA Tour stars from Nicklaus to Woods for close to 40 years. La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad is a treat for the mind, body and soul, and a $140 million renovation has added luster to the historic facility. With walking paths and fountains that illuminate in the evening with flaming lava rocks, the resort has an inviting aura that extends to staff members, who were eager to enhance our visit. A trip to La Costa is more than a golf outing. It’s a mini vacation escape that isn’t far away. The Links La Costa has 36 holes spread throughout the North and South courses. The club has hosted the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions and, more recently, the Accenture Match Play Championship. This year marked the first time the resort had not hosted a PGA Tour event since 1969. There’s no modern design trickery here as each course exhibits classic architectural style. The tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and greens are all in good shape, and the putting surfaces are receptive and subtle in their shape and slope. The North features a slightly more open layout with generous fairways lined by large trees. The South opens with a narrow string of holes that play between some of the original housing around the property before rounding into a sporty layout after the fifth hole. Coastal breezes and heavy air can make the courses play longer than the indicated yardage, and the rough can be penal. The most memorable hole is No. 16 on the North — a par-3 that plays over a lake in front of the clubhouse. Many will remember Tiger Woods nearly holing his tee shot to win the 1997 Mercedes Championship. You really can’t go wrong with either course. Nine holes from each layout were used for the PGA Tour, and the resort offers opportunities to play the tournament layout the fourth Tuesday of every month. The Mind and Body Is there anything better than a massage to wipe away stress or a bad round of golf? With men’s and women’s private saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, whirlpools and a common area that features a heated pool, Jacuzzi and a Roman waterfall, there’s no trick missed here. The waterfall is especially wonderful as a powerful torrent of heated water cascades over your head and shoulders to remove stress from your body. There’s an eclectic list of private massages for individuals and couples, and the resort is home to a full-service salon and the Deepak Chopra Wellness Center for those looking to find their spiritual center. Pleasing to the Palette The BlueFire Bar and Grill features outdoor dining overlooking the plaza and serves flavorful, innovative fare that takes advantage of Southern California’s fresh seafood and vegetables. The Whole Package At $195 for a weekday round, golfers should look at La Costa as more than a day trip for a round of golf. The resort is best experienced in whole rather than in part and that can best be accomplished with an overnight stay. The rooms have been renovated in a contemporary style with flat-screen TVs in every room. A new “Splash Landing” that includes a sandy beach, children’s play area and a waterslide makes it a good place for families, and the resort offers many stay-and-play packages that include combinations of golf and spa treatments. SG For more information, visit lacosta.com or call (800) 854-5000. |
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