Originally Posted by
carls888
Thanks everyone.
As we are travelling so far (from Australia) we think we will stay at both.
We are having a week in Charleston, 3 nights Kiawah, 5 nights Savannah, 3 nights Sea Island, unsure whether to stay at the Lodge or Cloister yet though.
Any opinions?
Also anyone stayed at the RC Amelia Island lately?
C
Avoid the RC Amelia Island. You will be disappointed.
If you are coming for golf, let me make four suggestions:
Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach
The American Club at Kohler (Wisconsin)
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Bandon Dunes, Oregon
While these properties generally would fall in the four-star-plus standard, they rank to me, in addition to Kiawah, as the top golf destinations in the US.
Casa Palmero is a small, deluxe hotel within the grounds of Pebble Beach. You get preferred booking (2 years advance booking) for golf at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and Spyglass. These courses rank on the must play lifetime list for all serious golfers. US Open winners at Pebble include Nicklaus, Watson, Kite and Woods. CP is the nicest property at Pebble, though the Lodge and the Inn at Spanish Bay are also nice. The Lodge wins for views (overlooking the 18th hole), but CP is tops for intimacy/luxury.
Bandon Dunes is a "build it and they will come" property. Remincient of Barnbougle Dunes down on Tassie (though more deluxe), this is some of the most memorable golf in the US. The property is the weakest on the list, but still acceptable.
Kohler up in Wisconsin is one of the courses in the PGA Championship rotation (one of our majors up here in the US). Owned by the Kohler faucet family, they have some very nice spa facilities and dining that was better than I anticipated.
Kiawah is also one of the top golf spots in the US.
If coming from Oz, I'd go to Pebble Beach as a matter of priority. It is close to SFO.
Let us know what you select.