TRAVEL | RESORT REVIEW
Best
in Class
How does a destination win the soubriquet “Best Golf Resort in the World”? Charles McLaughlin travelled to the award-winning The Resort at Pelican Hill near Los Angeles to see for himself.
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Courtesy of The Resort at Pelican Hill
hen Condé Nast Traveller announced in April 2012 t hat The Resort at Pelican Hill had been voted “World’s Top-Rated Golf Resort” in its Readers Choice Awards, it sparked discussions on a global basis, with aficionados arguing the case for a raft of spectacular destinations. The debate proved two things: firstly as one might expect, there was no 68
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overwhelming agreement on the choice but also that there was no clear definition of what exactly constitutes a golf resort. There was no doubt however that the spectacular Pelican Hill setting, only 45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, had ticked any number of boxes with the people who had actually stayed there and we at HK Golfer decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about. It’s appropriate that people come to Pelican Hill seeking a better life as the property sits in HKGOLFER.COM
what was the Irvine Ranch, a huge 100,000 acre estate named after the rags-to-riches Irish immigrant James Irvine, escapee from the potato famine in the mid 1800s. Tom Fazio was invited to design two courses in the mid-1980s, and was stunned to see photos of land he felt was more like Ireland than Irvine Ranch. Over the 400-acre site, he designed all 36 holes of what would become the North and South Ocean courses, although there would be several years between both being built. Of the 400 acres, 80 acres represent protected habitat which are blended into the finished design and give them a unique natural character. Fazio’s trademark design philosophy of respecting the natural landscape is evident throughout. He returned in 2007 to renovate both courses in a top to bottom revamp that resulted in the courses being closed for over a year each. The aim, successfully achieved, was to take advantage of all of the improvements in technology and ecological advancements in the intervening years. The courses received new drainage, fairways, bunkers, grasses and water recycling facilities. The renovations elevated a great facility into an outstanding one, and the “wow” factor of the unparalleled ocean views is complemented by the sheer natural beauty of the courses and their environments. Away from t he courses, Pel ica n H il l continues to impress. Accommodations are split between the resort’s bungalow-style guest rooms and suites and The Villas, an enclave within HKGOLFER.COM
Clockwise from top: the resort boasts the largest circular pool in the world; alfresco dining at Andrea, Pelican Hill’s signature Italian restaurant; the scenic 17th hole on the Ocean North Course HK GOLFER・JAN 2014
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A stellar finish lies in wait at the Ocean South Course’s 18th hole (top); luxurious accommodations are the name of the game at The Villas
the resort that offer multiple bedrooms in each property, a personal butler, a private clubhouse and jaw-dropping ocean views. Dining, too, is top-notch, with the resort’s six on-site restaurants all offering the option of an alfresco setting. Andrea, the signature Italian eatery, has been voted one of “The Most Romantic Restaurants in the US” at the OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards, although my personal preference was for the more relaxed and informal Pelican Grill, which features an open kitchen and a superb Napa-inspired menu. Art and wine walks, beach treks to the spectacular three-mile long Crystal Cove, a wonderful spa, the world’s largest circular pool and Camp Pelican, an ocean-view retreat designed for children between the ages of four and 12, round out what is an undeniably exceptional list of activities and amenities. What makes for a world-beating golf resort? Individually, there may well be destinations that pip Pelican Hill in terms of the quality of the golf, or others that feature an even more extravagant list of post-round indulgences. But is there anywhere that has successfully combined both on-course and off-course attractions to such a standard? Add in the proximity to Los Angeles and it really comes as no surprise why the Resort at Pelican Hill was awarded the title. Visit pelicanhill.com for more information.
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