He golfs, she golfs: His and hers golf trips abound in the Carolinas

By Shane Sharp,
Contributor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- He golfs. She golfs. This is the M.O. of many couples today; a stark departure from days of old when men would head off on a 36-hole a day bender with the boys and the ladies would stay home and wear out the credit card at the local mall. The times aren't just a-changing -- they've already changed.

Golf-first resorts around the Carolinas have responded to this growing demographic with the bells and whistles to attract club wielding couples. Pinehurst Resort recently opened a multi-million, state-of-the-art amenity spa; the Kiawah Island Golf Resort will open its highly anticipated luxury hotel, The Sanctuary at Kiawah, in June; and dozens of properties from the mountains to the coast are tweaking their wares to make them more women-friendly.

"We really don't have any hard stats on the number of couples who come here, but I would imagine it's been growing with that kind of exposure," says Mike Vegis, a spokesperson for the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. "We benefit by having such a romantic city (Charleston) nearby."

Every resort should be so lucky. But romantic burg or not, plenty of couples friendly golf getaways await him and her this spring in the Carolinas.

The lineup

Pine Needles/Mid Pines Resorts -- Between Peggy Kirk Bell's women only golf instruction program, "Golfari," and the 1996 and 2001 U.S. Women's Opens at Pine Needles, Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts are couples golf to the nth degree.

Both courses have been rated by female members of North Carolina Magazine's Golf Panel as two of the top five best courses for women in the state (whether or not this was designer Donald Ross' intent is open for debate.) This spring the resorts are even hosting a couples tournament, the Couples Carousel of Golf, April 7-11.

The tournament includes four nights stay at the Inn at Mid Pines, three squares a day and 54-holes of golf. He likes: The locker room at Mid Pines, virtually untouched since 1921 and the throngs of memorabilia in the Pine Needles Clubhouse. She likes: Sampling the array of unique shops in Southern Pines and road tripping through the picturesque horse farms of the Sandhills.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort -- Kiawah will up the ante for couples golf this summer when the opulent, oceanfront Sanctuary at Kiawah hotel opens. The 255-room resort hotel will house a panoply of pampering, including one of the Southeast's largest luxury spas, an "infinity" pool, two upscale eateries and a chi chi martini bar.

Until then, the resort has plenty to coddle couples, including five golf courses, 10 miles of sugar sand beaches and the quaint shops at the Kiawah Island Inn. Kiawah frequently offers a creative collection of couples oriented stay and play deals. This month's "Beach and breakfast" package goes for $139 per night (double occupancy) and includes breakfast in the Atlantic Room at the Inn.

He likes: Testing his manhood against Pete Dye's famed Ocean Course and reciting lines from The Legend of Bagger Vance (filmed onsite). She likes: Breaking away to historic Charleston, just a half hour's drive from the resort, for some of the East Coast's best shopping, dining, and museums.

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa -- Asheville will come into its own in the next couple months, as will the scenic mountain town's prime golf offering, the Grove Park Inn. The GPI's classic Ross designed resort course was recently reworked by Chris Spence, a Greensboro based Ross aficionado. The 18-hole layout is snuggled against the Bavarian style resort hotel, making for one romantic setting.

And speaking of romance, the GPI offers various "Romance" packages that include breakfast, dinner and champagne upon arrival. If that doesn't do it, the resort's spa was recently tapped as one of the 13 best in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine.

He likes: Enjoying a cold beer and a hotdog at the Asheville Tourists' (Single A, South Atlantic League) "Thirsty Thursday." She likes: Visiting the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in America and former digs for the Vanderbilt family.

Sea Pines Resort -- It's no accident that the Heritage of Golf on Hilton Head Island is the most popular Tour stop among PGA wives. The setting is postcard, the beaches are pristine, and the shopping options are ample. But for women who'd rather tee it up, Sea Pines Resort's venerable Ocean and Sea Marsh Courses have earned "Beginner Friendly Course Certifications" from the National Golf Course Owners Association.

For couples with kids in tow, Sea Marsh has even been outfit with a set of junior tees, dubbed "Mini Marsh." The resort's crown golf jewel, the Dye/Jack Nicklaus designed Harbour Town Golf Links, is also woman friendly in spots, having been designed in part by Alice Dye. Couples with a tennis jones can get their fix at the Racquet Club -- Sea Pines is considered one of the top five tennis resorts in the country.

He likes: Standing on the 18th tee box at Harbour Town, gazing out on the Calibogue Sound, and ripping one down the middle of the famous par 4, a la five-time Heritage champ and favorite son Davis Love III.

She likes: The Harbour Town Yacht Basin, Sea Pines Center, and South Beach Marina -- home to more than 40 independently owned and operated boutique shops.

Also playing

Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte: 18 holes, a spa and big city amenities within a 10-minute drive. Grandover Resort, Greensboro: 36 holes and a spa in the shadows of the furniture capital of the world. Pinehurst Resort: Eight courses and a new $12 million spa.

March 1, 2004

Shane Sharp is vice president of Buffalo Communications, a golf and lifestyle media agency. He was a writer, senior writer and managing editor of TravelGolf.com from 1997 to 2003.