Golf Travel Experiences

THE BREAKERS PALM BEACH ENTICES GOLFERS WITH FLORIDA’S FINEST MIX OF VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY GOLF EXPERIENCES, AND UNSURPASSED INSTRUCTION

PALM BEACH, FL – The multi-faceted Breakers Palm Beach features two memorable championship courses – 36 holes in complementary settings that give dimension and variety to the game at one award-winning destination – as well as one of the country’s finest personalized golf instruction programs.

The historic Ocean Course – an extraordinary vintage golf experience – and the stunning golf and tennis clubhouse, were designed in the grand, ‘Old Florida’ style of architecture.  Its contemporary counterpart is The Breakers Rees Jonesâ Course, located 11 miles west of the main hotel.  This course experienced a dramatic $6 million reconstruction in December 2004, under its namesake, one of the golf industry’s most renowned architects.  The magnificent new layout reflects Jones’ incomparable neo-classic style and was awarded “Renovation of the Year,” by Golf Inc. Together, these championship courses position the oceanfront resort as a great golf destination among avid golfers and those travelers who simply enjoy golfing on vacation.  Tim Collins, director of golf, explains, “As opposed to being a great resort with quality golf, we are a great golf destination.”

Originally laid out by Alexander H. Findlay in 1896, and completely redesigned by famed golf course architect Brian Silva in 2000, The Ocean Course is the state’s oldest 18-hole course.  Elements such as random bunkering throughout the landscape (as opposed to a more modern, repetitive scheme) and fairways that weave between sandy hazards embody an old-world sensibility.  Elevated putting surfaces flanked by deeply-recessed, vintage bunkers and close-cut ‘green surrounds,’ make a variety of recovery shots possible.

In 2000, Silva’s redesign addressed tee elevation, tee sizes, surface slopes, pin placement areas, an integration of sand and grass-faced bunkers, as well as a complex installation of new drainage and irrigation.  According to Silva, a past Golf World magazine Architect of the Year, “We successfully heightened playing interest while re-establishing vintage design characteristics of the course.  Our goal was to preserve the unique and priceless attributes of the original course while reviving those details that have not survived the rigors of climate and time.”                                                            

The Ocean Course rewards wits over power and challenges skill.  Resort pros recommend playing the ball low to counteract the spirited ocean winds and to use the terrain to play the ball in front of the green.

In contrast, The Breakers Rees Jonesâ Course, a contemporary championship course, delivers a more “playable” game that captures the interest of players of all skill-levels. The resort engaged renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, a future Golf Hall of Famer, to reconstruct the Breakers West links in 2004. Golfers appreciate the lush foliage and numerous water hazards in the style of a nature preserve, set against the backdrop of an immaculately landscaped residential community.

John Webster Golf Academy at The Breakers
The John Webster Golf Academy (JWGA) has transformed The Breakers into a world-class golf destination with a new platform of player-centered golf instruction.  Its core themes – personalized tutorial, equipment and physical fitness – are Webster’s recipe to fortify players at all levels.  Year-round golf instruction with a roster of highly skilled teaching professionals is available in private lessons, golf school formats and specialized instruction for kids and teens. State-of-the-art Learning Centers at both The Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course provide optimal settings for evaluating and accurately diagnosing an individual’s swing. The JWGA offers personalized fitness evaluations as well as custom club fitting with the Titleist Performance Monitor. Webster is a Titleist Certified Fitness Professional and on the Titleist Leadership Advisory Staff; he is one of only four Prominent Titleist Club Fitters worldwide.  A PGA member since 1995 and PGA Class-A Teaching Professional, he has taught notable students including Cal Ripken Jr., Tom Kite, Candy Hannemann, Kyle Boller, former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and former USGA President/US Amateur Champion Fred Ridley.

The Breakers Ocean Clubhouse
The 32,000 sq. ft. world-class golf and tennis Clubhouse, the architectural highlight of The Breakers golf experience, is set across South County Road a few hundred yards from the main hotel. The two-story building’s design is reminiscent of a grand old Florida estate; the exterior features wood clapboard on the first level and shingles on the second, capped by a slate roof.  The interior design is a timeless, casual elegance with a residential feel, while expressing the hotel’s unique, individual character and the locale in which it resides.

The Clubhouse features The Sports Pro Shop, recognized as one of the Top 100 Best Golf Shops by Golf World magazine, offering a broad selection of golf and tennis equipment and designer merchandise; luxurious locker rooms; a fitness center featuring state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment, free weights, sauna and steam.  Located on the second floor of the facility is The Flagler Steakhouse, a restaurant with porch seating, spectacular views of the fairways, and calm ocean breezes.  Prime-cut aged steaks are the centerpiece for its diverse menu. 

On par with the golf facilities and adjacent to the clubhouse are 10 beautifully groomed Har-Tru tennis courts, all lit at night.  Professional instruction is available along with clinics and private court time.

Founded in 1896 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Breakers Palm Beach is one of America’s legendary resort destinations.  The 540-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach.  With the commitment of its original ownership, The Breakers has invested $250 million over the past decade in its ongoing revitalization and enhancement of its multi-faceted amenities – most recently, the dramatic transformation of shoreline into a luxurious beachfront experience.  The resort’s timeless atmosphere has been renewed in a style of relaxed elegance, from its magnificent interiors to its artfully designed landscape.  Highly personalized service indulges couples on a romantic getaway as much as it energizes multi-generational travelers with a family-minded philosophy.  Capital expenditures averaging $20 million a year continue to be reinvested in the property for the long term, to ensure it remains appealing to future guests for decades to come.

The resort features 36 holes of championship golf, including The Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course; 10 tennis courts, a 20,000-square-foot luxury spa; a breathtaking oceanfront and Mediterranean-style beach club with a half-mile of private beach, featuring luxurious beach bungalows for daytime-rental, five pools and four whirlpool spas; a comprehensive Family Entertainment Center, an extensive program of family and children’s activities, and a variety of water sports.  The Breakers also features a broad selection of distinctive restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, as well as an array of on-site boutiques – all wholly owned and managed by the resort.  The Breakers is recognized as a AAA Five Diamond property.  For reservations or more information, contact the resort toll-free at 1-888-BREAKERS (273-2537), (561) 655-6611, visit www.thebreakers.com, or contact your travel professional.

Located on a scenic 860 acre estate in the heart of the Southern Drakensberg, Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort offers guests a tranquil setting to relax and unwind.

All accommodation is spacious and comfortable, offering a choice of contemporary rooms or thatched bungalows. All rooms have a private bathroom, television, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities and heaters.

The Deluxe Rooms also include under floor heating for those cold winter days. Dining options include The Eagles Roost (buffet), The Bistro (a ‘la carte), The Bergview (a ’la carte), Vine-Knot Restaurant (a new addition) and the Glengarry Country Club (light meals). A lounge and two bars are also available.

A variety of recreational activities are available on the resort such as tennis, bowls, volleyball, badminton, fishing, horse riding and squash. A recent addition is the Wellness Centre which consists of a sauna and plunge pool, two jacuzzi’s, two steam rooms a 24 jet hydrotherapy bath (heated) as well as a fully equipped gym with cardiovascular circuit, weight training and juice bar.

The Wellness Centre also includes the Body and Soul Spa which offers 5 treatment centres (booking is essential). The resort also offers two fully equipped conference / function venues with a maximum seating capacity of 200 delegates.

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