Jan 29 2007
There are more than 11,000 golf courses in North America, but only one of them is home to the “Greatest Show on Grass.” Fans will begin lining the fairways at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale on the morning of Jan. 29, which is when the world’s best golfers begin their practice rounds for the boisterous, energy-charged FBR Open. The tournament annually attracts more than 500,000 spectators, making it the best-attended event on the PGA Tour. During the weeklong run of the game’s “greatest show,” many of Greater Phoenix’s immaculate golf resorts are rolling out special packages for the throngs of fans bound for the Sonoran Desert.
For those who want to live like a pro for a week-getting tips from renowned instructors and partaking of quirky indulgences like a warm golf-ball massage-this is the place to be.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
A massage with hot stones? That’s for cavemen. Serious golfers (and not-so-serious ones, too) prefer a more unique spa treatment after a day of hunching over putts and trying to drive par 3s. For them, the Four Seasons Spa has devised the “Golf Specialty Massage.” During this 50- or 80-minute treatment, guests relax as a therapist rolls warm rolls golf balls along the large muscles of the spine and neck. The massage also incorporates stretching and therapeutic massage techniques that relieve muscle tension and stress. Website
Pointe Hilton Resorts
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak and Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resorts, two mountainside resorts in Phoenix, offer customized golf-vacation packages that allow visitors to select from 33 courses in the area. And as long as golfers are in town for the FBR Open, they might as well work on their game at the Hilton Golf Academy, located at Lookout Mountain Golf Club at Tapatio Cliffs. The instruction team there will be offering a Skills Challenge for junior golfers on Feb. 3. During the training session a team of professionals will review participants’ driving distance and accuracy, as well as provide lessons in chipping and putting.Website
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
The 77-year-old Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is known as the “Jewel of the Desert” because of its Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture and 39 acres of picturesque grounds. The resort’s Golf package includes one-night accommodations, 18 holes of golf at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club and breakfast. Golfers who want to be pampered might want to try the Golf & Spa package, which adds a 50-minute massage to the aforementioned mix. Website About.com Article
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is a luxurious resort located within two miles of the FBR Open. It is offering a 10 percent discount off the total bill at The Rim lounge to anyone who presents his or her FBR Open ticket. The resort is home to Kierland Golf Club, which features three distinct nine-hole courses that are recognized by Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Website
The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa
The venerable Wigwam Golf Club, built in 1929 and recently spruced up with a $15 million renovation, offers two exclusive golf packages-the Classic and Timeless. The Classic package includes one round of golf per day and unlimited use of the club’s practice facilities. The Timeless package includes unlimited use of practice facilities and bag storage. Golfers might also to enroll at Jim McLean Golf School, which features instructors who have worked with players such as Ryan Armour, Jerry Kelly, Chris Perry, and Chris Smith-all of whom have a chance of competing in the FBR Open. U.S. News and World Report, CNN, and Travel + Leisure magazine have all praised the school, which features flat-screen monitors, JC Video swing-analysis computer software, and club fitting and ball-flight analysis in its Superstation instruction bays. Instruction rates start at $95 per hour.Website
Article and Information: Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
