At the Omni Homestead Resort, diversions include waterslides.
Courtesy of Omni Resorts
There are two types of golf tours (friend tours and family tours) and they are not the same. Some resorts cater to the latter by pairing great courses with activities and attractions for all ages. As summer approaches, here are nine places where you and the rest of the gang can get your kicks.
Big Cedar Lodge
Ridgedale, Mo. / Read more or book here
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris has been called the “Walt Disney of the Ozarks.” Think of Big Cedar as his theme park. Designed to celebrate the natural beauty of the Missouri state where Morris was born and raised, the resort features a quintet of top courses (including Payne's Valley, Tiger Woods' first public access course) with an abundance of outdoor activities. Yes, there is fishing – lots and lots of fish – as well as kayaking, canoeing, cycling and guided tours of the amazing network of limestone caves.
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Carsblad, Calif. / Read more or book here
With two 18-hole courses (including the newly renovated North Course, which hosted this year's NCAA Division I championship), Omni La Costa offers all the golf you can eat. But it also offers the game in bite-sized sections, with “reveal tees” on both properties measuring under 5,000 yards, perfect for beginners of all ages. Children under 15 play for free, and the family-friendly benefits don't stop there. Upon arrival, children receive a backpack full of menu items, a perfect introduction to the area with floors full of activities and attractions, from nighttime s'mores roasting and poolside 'dive-in' movies to 100 feet. waterslides.
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Boyne Mountain Resort
Boyne Falls, Mich. / Read more or book here
Boyne there, did that? Then you probably know about the two worst courses – Alpine and Mountain. But if all you did was play golf, you missed out on all kinds of other sports, including hiking, biking, fishing, zip lining and the family-oriented fun of an indoor water park.
Omni Bedford Springs
Bedford, Pa. / Read more or book here
Everything old feels new again at the Omni Bedford, including the Old Course, a landmark design (featuring Donald Ross and AW Tillinghast) that has been restored to its Golden Age roots. For lovers of golf courses, it's an alluring resort in the Allegheny Mountains, where guests can test their aim with archery and ax throwing or simply relax with a spa treatment or swim in one of the country's first resorts. indoor pools.
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The Shangri-La Resort
Monkey Island, Okla. / Read more or book here
Located on the shores of Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Shangri-La capitalizes on the great outdoors. Walking. Cycling. Fishing. Water skiing. We can continue. The resort's recreation area features basketball and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art arcade full of simulators and a mini-Fenway Park like whiffle ball field. And that's before we even get to our favorite game. There are 27 holes of championship golf here, along with an 18-hole course called Battlefield, which opened last year, with each hole named in honor of an Oklahoma World War II veteran.
Omni Mount Washington
Bretton Woods, NH / Learn more or book here
Located on 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest, guided spring-autumn activities include biking, horseback riding, fly fishing and rock climbing. There is also disc golf. And traditional golf of the highest quality on two courses, the historic 9-hole Mountain Pleasant Course, first opened for play in the late 1800s, and the 18-hole Mountain Washington Course, designed by Donald Ross.
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The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Ariz. / Read more or book here
There are water hazards at the Westin Kierland, but this is 27 holes of easy-to-use recreational golf (you can even rent Segways to get around), with very wide fairways, and it's hard to get wet. The easiest way to do that is with the FlowRider, a simulated wave designed for everything from boogie-boarding to standup surfing (instructors are on hand to show you the ropes). If slow-paced family fun is what you're looking for, try the 900-meter lazy river. You can navigate its gentle currents on an inner tube, although your kids may prefer the waterslide. A nice bonus: the restaurants here are great, but just a short walk away you'll find more shopping and dining options.
Hotel Hershey
Hershey, Pa. / Read more or book here
If Willy Wonka were a golfer (and who's to say he wasn't?), he'd want to stay at this well-appointed hotel, where guests can benefit from two 18-hole courses (East and West; the latter a longtime LPGA stop that also hosted the PGA Championship of 1940), and a 9-hole course and putting course, both designed with juniors in mind. Let's be honest though. A giant children's drawing lies just down the road at Hershey Park, an iconic amusement park that ends its fun and spills with the Hershey's Chocolate Ride.
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Omni Homestead Resort
Hot Springs, Va. / Read more or book here
You can't swing a sand wedge around these parts without mentioning Sam Snead, who made his golf debut at the Cascades Course, a William Flynn design that has long been played on the major leagues. The Cascades is one of two 18-hole Omni Homestead courses (the other is the Old Course, which has the oldest continuously used first tee in the country). Snead once said he plays golf to support his fishing habit. He would be happy to know that Omni Homestead offers that (guided fly fishing trips), as well as horseback riding, clay shooting and other outdoor activities. Inside, there are a variety of options, including a turn-of-the-century movie theater and a kids' adventure program complete with rainy day games like giant Jenga, giant checkers, Twister and more.
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