The Seven Deadly Spas

Seven Reasons Why Western Golf is Sinfully Special

Chris Duthie | The Broadmoor and La Quinta Resort & Club Photos © Chris Duthie

Golf and spa are ideally matched pursuits, a detail not lost on premier vacation properties. Worldwide, resort getaways increasingly cater to travelers who crave this heavenly twosome. For a sampling of the West’s better golf and spa combos, take a look at these exceptional destinations:

Right in our own back yard, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs earned America’s top resort ranking by offering peerless guest facilities and services. The recently renovated, gold-medal property sports three superlative golf courses and an award-winning spa that promotes wellness goals through innovative services, stunning natural surroundings and an integrated approach to health and relaxation. broadmoor.com; 888-974-4990

A recent $140 million renovation added high-gloss sparkle to the historic Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. Anchoring the top-to-bottom revamp is a 43,000-square-foot spa that was envisioned by spa specialist Sylvia Sepielli. Plus, guests may test their game on 36 holes of PGA Tour-quality golf designed by Dick Wilson or, if the swing goes south, book first-class instruction at its golf academy. lacosta.com; 800-914-7886

Golf temptations at La Quinta Resort & Club are legendary, beginning with the PGA West Golf Academy and ending with five championship-caliber golf courses designed individually by Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Pete Dye (including Dye’s brilliantly designed Mountain Course). Accenting the desert locale’s award-winning pampering is its quintessential guest retreat, Spa La Quinta. laquintaresort.com; 760-564-4111

It’s ranked among the top golf resorts in America, and for good reason. Pebble Beach Resorts on California’s Monterey Peninsula offers privileged access to exquisite Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and three other golf courses. Plus, a magnificent, 22,000-square-foot spa is mere steps from Pebble’s first tee. pebblebeach.com; 800-654-9300

For guests of seaside Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington, it’s all about the über-luxe indulgences. The award-winning destination is home to 36 holes of top-ranked golf—including the Arnold Palmer-designed Country Club and the Graham Cooke-crafted Loomis Trail courses—plus a tempting signature spa that offers the Northwest’s most extensive array of skin care treatments. semiahmoo.com; 360-318-2009

The Green Reed Spa at Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque provides the perfect complement to the resort’s brilliant Scott Miller-designed layout. Utilizing enriched native New Mexican plants, clays and indigenous treatments, this full-service spa also features steam rooms, saunas, hot and cold plunges—all to balance and invigorate you. sandiacasino.com; 877-272-9199.

Oregon’s Sunriver Resort is renowned for 63 holes of golf, including play on its singular Crosswater Course, a former Champions Tour stop. Its Sage Springs Club and Spa is equally decadent, underscored by a menu of stellar body treatments and facial rituals designed to relax, restore and rejuvenate. sunriver-resort.com or (800) 801-8765

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Durango resident Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com