7 great golf resorts (where you don’t even have to like golf)

You’re not into golfing, but your significant other is? Or vice versa? We’ve been there. For many golfers, the sport is a zen experience, but if hitting a ball sounds like a hassle, how can a golf-oriented vacation satisfy all parties? Turns out that many resorts these days offer something for everyone, so whether you’re a foodie, a gambler or have kids in tow, we have 7 great golf resorts (where you don’t even have to like golf).

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For scenery: Banff Springs Golf Club, Alberta, Canada
Not only is this 125-year-old “Castle in the Rockies” itself an exercise in architectural wonder, but the entire resort is set in the middle of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Alpine wonderland just steps from plunging Bow Falls, the Bow River and numerous hiking trails, and only a short drive from enchanting Lake Louise. But if you never leave the resort—and why would you?—you can still revel in the scenery via guestrooms and public areas that reveal sweeping mountain views.

For kids: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: Kona, Hawaii
The Four Seasons never skimps on the little ones, and while mom and dad hit the links at the 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed course (main image top, courtesy of Joey Terrill/Four Seasons Resort Hualalai), kids can run wild with a variety of activities tailored just to them, including traditional Hawaiian arts, crafts and games, lessons in making a flower lei, sand sculpting, snorkeling, tennis, a state-of-the-art entertainment center with video game stations, a children’s pool, a teen rec room and more. If they still complain, remind them how damn lucky they are just to be in Hawaii.

For foodies: Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
There’s enough gastronomy and golf at this legendary Dominican Republic resort to satisfy everyone. For the golfer there are three challenging courses including The Links, Dye For and Teeth of the Dog, plus the Jim McLean Golf School to improve your game. Eating options, however, is where things really gets interesting. There are a dozen dining and drinking options including a traditional Dominican Grill, a chic wine bar and store with light bites and the Caribbean’s only outpost of Le Cirque located on private Minitas Beach.

Casa de Campo Resort and Villas

For thrill seekers: Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand
If you don’t think adventure awaits in coastal New Zealand, think again. Not only are beaching and relaxing daily activities at this luxury ranch located on 6,000 acres of pristine land, but activities both inside and out of the resort abound including quad biking 90-mile Beach, scenic helicopter excursions, guided tours of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, night forest walks, sailing, diving, salt water fishing and more—all while your mate idles the day away on the par 72 championship golf course.

For romance: Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf and Spa Resort, Cancun
Looking for a resort that gives new meaning to the word fore-play? After prying your sweetie off the palm tree-studded golf course, swing into a day of indulgence at this adults-only resort in sun-bleached Cancun. Features include poolside canoodling under a cabana, strolling hand-in-hand along the sugar-white beachfront, barefoot dining under the stars, morning coffee on your own private terrace overlooking the sea and perhaps even the clang of wedding bells with the promise of not a single crying child in sight.

Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf Resort

For gaming: The Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas
The only golf course attached to a resort on the Las Vegas Strip, this 18-hole, par-70 course—designed by Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn—was designed to emulate the rolling hills of South Carolina and Georgia. But who cares about that? For the gambler, the Wynn is a mid-Strip luxury paradise featuring a half dozen upscale restaurants from the likes of chefs Paul Bartolotta and Ming Yu, the Shops at the Wynn Esplanade including Manolo Blahnik and Dior, the fabulous pool at Encore Beach Club and an elegant casino floor.

For relaxation: Makul Luxury Resort and Spa Hotel: Manzillo Beach, Nicaragua
Golfers will revel in this 18-hole course surrounded by Nicaragua’s sun-drenched Emerald Coast, but the rest of us will rush to slacken under the spell of Makul’s indulgent spa offerings, including the aroma- and hydrotherapy focused Rain Forest Signature Ritual, treatments set in a domed crystal temple, a five-step detox and cleansing regiment set in a Turkish Hammam and many others. But if a massage isn’t your thing, book a beach villa and chill out beside your own private swimming pool and secret garden.

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