In 1766, a decade before the Declaration of Independence was signed, a former military cadet named Thomas Bullitt became a founding father of a different kind. He built a lodge.
Then, as now, location was a key consideration, and Bullitt chose a prime one, in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia, where mineral springs bubbled up from the earth, drawing travelers who believed in their healing powers. Bullitt’s lodge, which he called the Homestead, gave him a place to stay.
His guest list became illustrious. In the summer of 1818, Thomas Jefferson spent 18 nights here, seeking relief from rheumatism. Almost a century later, William Howard Taft came to treat something else: an addiction to golf. At that time, the Homestead added a course, opened in 1892, establishing itself as America’s first golf resort. But just the last one.
Today there are about 800 golf resorts in the United States and hundreds more around the world. Its diversity matches its geographic range, from intimate retreats built around a single celebrated course to sprawling destinations with enough holes, hotel rooms and amenities to resemble small towns. Some are designed for friend trips. Others cater to families or couples, complementing golf with world-class cuisine, outdoor adventure, elaborate children’s programs, indulgent spas and more.
That wide is reflected in The new GOLF list of the Top 100 Resorts in the world. (You need to be a InsideGOLF member to see.) Spanning every continent where the game is played, the list captures an unprecedented moment for the golf journey. Participation is at record highs. The competition for travel golfers is fiercer than ever. Travelers aren’t just looking for great places to play. They’re looking for memorable stays, and resorts have responded in kind—with new courses, ambitious restorations, expanded clubhouses, reimagined restaurants, updated amenities and accommodations, and increasingly refined service.
The results can be seen around the globe. Luxury standards continue to rise across Asia. European golf resorts, once associated with creaky floors and cramped accommodations, increasingly rival their counterparts anywhere in the world for comfort and hospitality. Caribbean destinations have broadened their appeal well beyond the sun and sea fairways. Wherever golfers travel, expectations continue to rise, and the best resorts continue to grow with them.
Casa de Campo’s dog’s teeth were sharpened.
courtesy Casa de Campo
More than a quarter of a century after Bandon Dunes rewrote the old rulebook on proximity to major population centers, developers continue to act on the same lesson: Build an exceptional destination in a sublime location and golfers will make the trip, no matter how remote. Increasingly, however, that destination includes much more than golf itself.
This year’s Top 100 – which, unlike our strictly panelist-driven Top 100 US and Top 100 World course listings, was compiled by the GOLF staff – includes more than a dozen new entries while also highlighting another defining trend: the emergence of global resort brands with an expanding reach. Cabot has grown from a single destination in Nova Scotia into an international collection that stretches from Scotland to the Caribbean, France, Norway and, soon, western Canada, expanding not only through new developments but also through revitalizing existing properties. Omni has assembled one of the largest collections of golf resorts in the country. Trump’s portfolio spans multiple continents; three of its resorts are new to the Top 100 list. Different brands. Different philosophy. But all rooted in the same calculation: golfers are not just booking tee times. They pursue singular experiences.
The oldest resorts point to another immutable truth. History cannot be bought, but it requires investment. While the most enduring destinations leverage their heritage, they don’t remain relevant to being trapped in amber.
Adare Manor is among Ireland’s most luxurious golf properties.
Courtesy Adare Manor
Few places illustrate this better than the Homestead. What began as a six-hole course in 1892 has given rise to two revered 18-hole layouts, while the resort itself has evolved with the times. Under Omni’s ownership, nearly every corner of the property has been refreshed, from the Great Hall and guest rooms to the golf courses and amenities.
Yet the property still carries echoes of the past. Or, should we say, current? The same waters that Jefferson saw as a balm for his rheumatism provide a wonderfully soothing respite after a while.
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Experience it all with 8AM Travel
Wake up photo in a GOLF Top 100 Resorts in the worldplay superbly conditioned courses, dine at the best tables – golfers and non-golfers, all traveling in style.
8 AM Travel make this dream a reality. Our network is global; our knowledge is local. We have spent years building relationships in Spain, the Algarve, Lisbon and beyond, learning the subtle differences that separate a good experience from an exceptional one. Our travel specialists prepare your tailor-made itinerary – the elegance of Puente Romano, the ordeal of Valderrama, a spa day for those who prefer not to play. Together, we create a journey that is entirely yours. Once your itinerary is set, the planning ends and the service begins. We arrange accommodation, ensure departure times, arrange luxury transport, arrange dinner and provide concierge support throughout. You just love it.
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