Golf with the Family
Time is the world’s most valuable commodity. This holds especially true for golfers looking to combine their love of the game with family travel. The golf experts at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts believe that not only is golf without guilt possible on family vacation, but they know the best solutions and strategies to leave both golfers and non-golfers happy and satisfied.
Play Early. Play Late
One of the great things about vacation is a relaxed, flexible schedule. Many people choose to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before getting started on their day’s adventure. Golfers should use this to their advantage by sacrificing a little sleep, booking early morning tee times and spending the rest of the day with their families.
“During the summer months in Jasper, the sun rises very early,” said Gregg Lown, Director of Golf at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper Park, Alberta, Canada. “If golf travelers book an early tee time, it’s very likely he or she will be able to enjoy their rounds and rejoin their family members before the day really gets going. They won’t miss a beat and everyone can enjoy the destination together.”
Plan Alternative Activities
World-class resorts, like Fairmont’s golf properties, are ideal for golfers traveling with non-golfers because they offer an incredible array of activities and attractions in one unique location. This means there is plenty for family members to enjoy while the golfers are out on the course.
In ocean-front destinations, golfers can hit the links while non-golfing family members spend leisure time on the beach, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding or simply relaxing. Many Fairmont destinations offer distinctive experiences unique to the destination, such as an authentic Hawaiian guided outrigger canoe experience at Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui, an eco-boat tour of Fairmont Mayakoba’s canals and mangrove forests in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, or jet skiing and SCUBA diving at Fairmont Southampton’s private beach club in Bermuda.
Mountain destinations offer opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing and exploring, as well as a host of one-of-a-kind of adventures. For example, Fairmont Chateau Whistler at the foot of Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia offers a unique opportunity for skiing or snowboarding at the top of the mountain while the golf course is open for play below. Fairmont Banff Springs, in the heart of Canada’s cherished Banff National Park, features a new Outdoor Recreation Centre where guests can access a host of activities ranging from guided nature walks to mountain bike rentals.
One of the most popular amenities for non-golfers is the spa. Spouses of non-golfers, both male and female, can easily spend half a day or more enjoying a wide variety of luxurious treatments, fitness classes and wellness programs. Fairmont’s golf properties are among the industry leaders at providing innovative, enticing and cutting-edge spa experiences. Properties such as Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California combine the luxuries of its renowned Willow Stream Spa with an idyllic setting and invigorating natural mineral hot springs to create a spa experience like no other. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, has added a whole new dimension to the Well & Being Spa, combining proprietary spa products and treatments with an evidence-based approach to nutrition, exercise and vitality to create highly personalized programs that invigorate body, mind and spirit.
Share the Game
Of course, the best long-term solution is simply to share the game of golf with family members, something that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts makes extremely easy to do. Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego offers golf clinics on Fridays for youngsters ages 5 to 9. Guests under 12 can play golf free of charge when accompanied by an adult paying a greens fee, and the rate is half price for guests 13 to 17 with a paying adult player. Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, boasting 27 holes of golf in the spectacular Charlevoix Region of Quebec, offers special pricing for junior golfers of just $35 CDN per player when accompanied by a paying adult.
With a little forethought and a measure of flexibility, it is entirely possible to enjoy golf without guilt on a family vacation. To learn more about the spectacular golf vacation opportunities available at Fairmont’s iconic golf destinations across North America, visit Fairmont.com/golfpackages.