THE ALLURE OF COUNTRY CLUB WEDDINGS
Country clubs have earned a time-honored reputation when it comes to playing
host to weddings. Known for lush landscapes, superior food and beverage operations, and impeccable service, country clubs and golf resorts are particularly well-suited for that special day. Plus, they are often situated in some of the most memorable places on earth.
“One of the most amazing things about hosting a wedding at one of our many Troon-managed clubs is how we preserve sense of place,” said Hannah Hoffman, project specialist for RealFood, a hospitality strategy and design firm and division of Troon. “Each club has its own character, traditions, menus, and signature items, all representative of the club’s unique locale, regional influence, and the people that call it home.”
“Not all wedding venues allow for the customization that many of our Troon clubs do,” continued RealFood’s Hoffman. “Every bride wants her wedding to feel original. The staff at each club takes the time to work with couples to curate customized experiences; it’s what we do at Troon and RealFood. In the end, the goal is always to bring people together to celebrate and enjoy, whether it be over prickly pear lemonade in the desert, or a glass of cabernet amidst orange leaves in Connecticut.”
DESERT I DOS
In Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon North Golf Club offers panoramic views of Pinnacle Peak, Phoenix city lights, and spectacular desert sunsets, making it a unique wedding destination for at least 40 couples each year. Surrounded by towering cacti and a flowering desert backdrop, couples exchange their vows on the ceremony lawn. Cocktail hour is hosted on the terrace with a setting sun and clear views of the surrounding scenery, followed by a reception in the venue’s recently renovated ballroom, featuring modern décor and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Adept at understanding the nuances of personal service, the culinary and planning staff at Troon North Golf Club accommodates and even advocates custom menus and personalized event details.
“I’ve coordinated 330 weddings here, and not one was the same as another,” said Ania Zwolinski, director of catering at the club for the last eight years. “We even have couples come back for their third or fourth wedding anniversary and chef will recreate the menu from their wedding night.”
Weddings are typically booked in the months of October through May, but with Troon North sitting at 2,800 feet above sea level, the property records temperatures six to eight degrees cooler than the region’s average, allowing for weddings in off-season months, too.
Troon North Golf Club does not require membership to host a wedding. In addition, a complimentary round of golf is included with discounted green fees for the rest of the wedding party.
NEW ENGLAND APPEAL
Minutes from the excitement of North America’s largest resort casino in wooded North Stonington, Conn., Lake of Isles hosts approximately 60 weddings each year. The property, which sits across the street from Foxwoods Resort Casino, is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and features two golf courses, a golf academy, clubhouse, and dining room.
Couples and their families enjoy the experience of hosting an entire weekend of wedding festivities in one
place — with hotel rooms, dining, entertainment, local attractions, and activities at the casino and in the neighboring seaport village of Mystic.
Lake of Isles offers all-inclusive wedding packages, giving couples an abundance of choices, while also accounting for many of the details of the day, including a round of golf and a wedding suite for the couple. The full-service planning leaves plenty of time for proper celebration with family and friends.
LOWCOUNTRY LOVE
There is nothing more spectacular than a grand entrance down the Avenue of Oaks, a half-mile tree-lined drive leading to Belfair country club. “It is just something from a movie scene, and nothing you can find anywhere else, truly,” said Jennifer Simpson, the property’s catering and events manager.
In the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Belfair is tucked away in the quaint town of Bluffton and minutes from Hilton Head Island. A private residential community, the club opens its doors to a select 20 weddings per year. Couples enjoy indoor and outdoor venue options, and specialty menu offerings including food stations and regional selections such as shrimp and stoneground grits, she crab soup, and Lowcountry boil. The wedding party also enjoys onsite accommodations at the property’s furnished cottages.
A combination of old Southern tradition and contemporary luxury, this majestic country estate claims incredible water views of the Colleton River marshes and magnolia flowers of the formal gardens, painting the most memorable backdrop for weddings, honeymoons, and vow renewals.
CLICK HERE to enjoy the April/May 2020 Edition of Troon Privé Magazine!