Nakoma Resort and Spa, Graeagle, Calif www.nakomaresort.com (800) 368.7786 

Located in the High Sierras of Northern California near Reno, this golf-and-spa resort residential property features the luxury villas of Gold Mountain, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Designed by Taliesin Architects, the extension of legendary Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture practice founded in 1898, the Villas of Gold Mountain cost $575 to $900 a night in which to stay and feature off-the-charts serenity and amenities, including the charming, soothing boutique spa. Rental and fractional ownership privileges can also be purchased at The Villas. Wright's brilliant organic architecture is evident everywhere at Gold Mountain, including the Nakoma clubhouse, a 24,000 original Wright design built authentically some 70-plus years after Wright conceptualized it.  Also included is the Dragon Golf Course, a fire-breathing Robin Nelson design considered one of the most visually stunning and challenging layouts in the American West. ! He likes: Testing his mettle against one of the toughest tracks west of the Pecos. She likes: Sampling the Dragon, then soaking up the architectural and design nuances of the unique property and taking luxurious afternoon spa treatments.  

Saddle Creek Resort, Copperopolis, Calif. www.saddlecreek.com (888) 852.5787  

One of the state’s top-10 courses (Golfweek, March 2005), Saddle Creek is the centerpiece of a 900-acre gated community in California’s “Gold Rush” foothills 2 ½ hours from San Francisco. The Carter Moorish design features more than 100 white-sand bunkers, bordering scrub oak trees, serene streams and a dramatic landscape. Amenities include superb cuisine, distinctive homes, course-side bungalows, fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, tennis, bocce ball, nearby historical sites and boutique shopping. He likes: Dodging bunkers and streams while going low on at one of California’s highest ranked courses. She likes: Miles of hiking, biking and walking trails and a good night’s sleep in the Lodge Bungalows.

SouthWood Golf Club, Tallahassee, FL www.stjoegolf.com (850) 942.4653 

Located at the heart of Tallahassee’s SouthWood Community, this Fred Couples/Gene Bates design has quickly become one of the nation’s most heralded new courses. Gracefully capturing the charm of the Old South, SouthWood was the only club in Florida to be ranked as one of “America’s Best New Courses” by Golf Digest (January 2004). Meandering through low country, high country, secluded woods and open land, the layout is dotted by ancient, Spanish Moss-draped oak trees and provides an unforgettable golf experience for players of all skill levels. He likes: Eighteen holes in the morning, catching a Florida State Seminoles game in the afternoon. She likes: Woman-friendly course design and quaint SouthWood cottages.

State of Louisiana Audubon Golf Trail  www.audubongolftrail.com  

The trail features Louisiana at its finest with great golf, exquisite seafood and its inimitable Cajun culture. Eleven courses dot the environmentally-sensitive trail. They include the TPC of Louisiana (the brand-new Pete Dye design near New Orleans, which made its debut hosting the PGA TOUR’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans this May*), Carter Plantation (Louisiana native David Toms’ award-winning design near Baton Rogue), Hal Sutton's Olde Oaks (Shreveport), and the critically-acclaimed Gray Plantation (Lake Charles). He likes: Playing David Toms’ “field-designed” Carter Plantation Course, followed by some of mouth-watering, Cajun-seasoned seafood gumbo. She likes: A night on the town in New Orleans, steeped in the tastes and smells of the local cuisine and soaked in the sounds of jazz and blues. (*TPC of LA is currently offline, a result of Hurricane Katrina, and there is speculation that it may not come back online.)  

State of Mississippi: Great Golf and Much More http://www.visitmississippi.org/ , www.magnoliagolftrail.com

If golf and gaming is your cup of tea, Mississippi is hard to beat. From Gulfport-Biloxi on the Gulf Coast to Tunica and Tupelo in Northern Mississippi near Memphis, Mississippi features five distinct regions with five distinct golf destinations and experiences. Regions include the Delta, Coastal, Pines, Hills, and Capital-River, with no two offering the same local culture and all offering different golf terrain and course types. Courses are designed by the likes of Fazio-Pate (Dancing Rabbit, rated the No. 34 best course in the U.S. by Golf Magazine), Nicklaus (Grand Bear), Palmer (The Bridges), Davis Love III (Shell Landing), with a $33 million sensation coming on board later this year near Biloxi by Fazio (Fallen Oak). Mississippi is also home to the value-laden Magnolia Golf Trail. With 14 courses clustered around the state providing high-quality fun during the day, a smorgasbord of Southern hospitality and sparkling new resort casi! nos covering the nightlife, the Magnolia Trail is an unsung standout. He likes: Golf course variety coupled with brand spanking new casinos. She likes: Playability of courses and superb beaches of Gulfport/Biloxi.  

Victoria Hills Golf Club, DeLand, FL www.stjoegolf.com (386) 738.6000 

Recently named the No. 7 course you can play in all of Florida by Golfweek, Victoria Hills is tucked away in the historic college town of DeLand, just north of Orlando. Designed by Florida native Ron Garl, this majestic layout boasts more than 50 feet of elevation change, taking advantage of the area’s natural rolling hills, foliage and wetlands. Tall pines and hearty oaks frame the course while sandy waste areas and pristine lakes make for inspiring sight lines. Other accolades for Victoria Hills include being named to GOLF Magazine’s prestigious list of the “Top 10 You Can Play,” selection as the “No. 2 Florida Public Course of the New Millennium” by Travel + Leisure Golf and receiving a 4-1/2 star ranking from Golf Digest. He likes: Visually stunning Ron Garl design that ranks as one of Sunshine State’s best. She likes: State-of-the-art practice facility with double-sided range and unlimited balls where she can w! ork on! her game.

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