CIGAR AFICIONADO NAMES BEST GOLF RESORTS AND COURSES AROUND THE WORLD
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Troon Golf,® the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing is thrilled to recognize those managed-facilities that have been named to Cigar Aficionado’s inaugural ranking of golf resorts and courses around the world. This list, coupled with the publication’s December 2005 “Best Hotels” survey serves as a great destination guide for those golfers looking for a top-tier golf/resort experience either domestically or abroad.
Considered by the experts as the Crème de la Crème, the Ailsa course at The Westin Turnberry Resort was ranked No. 2 amongst the “Top 10 Courses, Abroad,” with No. 1 being the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In the “Best Resorts Overall” category, which includes golf, lodging, dining and facilities, The Westin Turnberry Resort was again recognized, as the best “Multiple-Course Resort, Abroad,” and in the British Isles, the “Best Resort in Scotland.” “One of Scotland’s two 800-pound gorillas when it comes to true, full service resorts, Turnberry wins on the strength of its phenomenal Ailsa course, which our experts picked as the second best international layout and the finest stop on the British Open rota other than St Andrews. The fabled links meets the sea on a cliff top at the third tee, kicking off perhaps the grandest 10-hole stretch in golf, entirely along the coast, through dunes, with the ruins of a castle thrown in for good measure,” stated the panel. The Ailsa course and/or resort also received “honorable mention” in the following categories: “Best Golf: Multiple-Course Resort, Abroad,” “Scotland – Best Course” and “Best Non-Golf Facilities: Multiple-Course Resort, Abroad.”
The Grove in London was ranked as the “Best Resort in England and Wales,” and given honorable mention in the “Best Single-Course Resort, Abroad” category. “…Runner up The Grove makes an argument for England. Just three years old, The Grove is a funky, fashionable luxury hotel half an hour outside London, making it very accessible from all corners of the globe…” stated the panel.
In Mexico, One&Only Palmilla was named “Best Resort” in Mexico. “With its new wing of luxury suites and the best butler service imaginable, plus 27 Nicklaus-designed holes on site, Palmilla is a self contained fantasyland, the only stand-alone golf hotel resort in the crowded and luxurious Los Cabos region,” stated the panel.
“Congratulations to each of these facilities for being named to Cigar Aficionado’s prestigious list of courses,” stated Troon Golf President and COO Hud Hinton. “As we continue to grow our business internationally, accolades such as this go a long way in lending credibility to Troon Golf in new regions of the world. We thank our associates for continuously offering guests the TROON GOLF EXPERIENCESM and setting us apart from the competition.”
For the magazine’s first ever ranking of golf resorts and courses around the world, Cigar Aficionado assembled a “dream team” of raters: esteemed golf course architects, leading golf journalists, prominent resort executives and people who have played on the PGA and LPGA Tours.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Troon Golf is the world’s largest golf management company, overseeing operations at more than 185 courses located in 28 states and 19 countries. Additionally, 32 Troon Golf facilities enjoy a Top 100 ranking by national or international publications. Troon Golf properties include The Peninsula Golf & Country Club, Millsboro, Del.; The Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland; The Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; Lake of Isles, North Stonington, Conn.; The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Colo.; Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, Algarve, Portugal; Palmilla Golf Club, Los Cabos, Mexico; and The Grove, London, England.