Latest news with #CasaDeCampo
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Pickleball Paradise: These 6 Resorts Are Great For Traveling Players
Rancho La Puerta hosts pickleball weeks for serious players. Rancho La Puerta / Scott Draper From infinity pools to rooms with swoon-worthy views, every traveler has their go-to amenities when booking a resort. But for die-hard pickleball players? Access to a good court while on vacation is non-negotiable. The pickleball obsession is still going strong: It remains the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fourth year in a row. While it's long been beloved by retirees, the average player age is now 34.8, with younger generations picking up paddles and joining the fun. Pickleball-centric travel is even becoming its own thing, with travel agents booking court times, organizing tournaments, and yes, even planning pickleball cruises. In honor of National Pickleball Day (it's Aug. 8), here's a half dozen resorts that serve up epic pickleball courts and are ideal for booking if you're the type who never leaves home without your paddle. Casa de Campo Resort and Villas Casa de Campo Resort and Villas As one of the Caribbean's premier sporting resorts, Casa de Campo Resort and Villas is a playground for active travelers who can spend their vacation golfing, sailing, fishing, playing polo. But the newly rebranded Casa de Campo Racquet Center makes the 7,000-acre stand out as it bills itself as the largest facility of its kind in the Caribbean. In addition to 11 fast-dry tennis courts and a hard surface tennis court, the center has four pickleball courts. Pickleball-loving guests might also love to try out padel, a sport that's wildly popular in Europe and is garnering more interest in the United States. The resort's team of 25 pro and junior instructors can lead private or group lessons catered to various levels. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in Rancho Santa Fe, California The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe Angela Conners Treimer / The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe A high-design hideout in the country's ritziest zip code, there's many ways to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Lounge under green-and-white umbrellas at the tucked-away pool or enjoy lunch before a Mila Moursi spa treatment on the secret garden-like patio. Then, soak up some of that famous Southern California sunshine on the tree-lined pickleball courts that resort guests can reserve for free. The Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona The Scottsdale Resort & Spa The Scottsdale Resort & Spa Fresh off a renovation, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa added brand-new pickleball courts to accommodate the sport's boom in popularity. After a friendly match (or a competitive showdown), guests can tee off at the nearby McCormick Ranch Golf Club or wind down at Luna Spa with a Southwest-inspired cactus blossom body wrap or a knot-kneading massage that's perfect for post-pickleball recovery. Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico Post-pickleball, retreat to your private plunge pool. Rancho La Puerta Pickleball enthusiasts of all levels will find fun and competition on the courts at Rancho La Puerta, where you can play matches with your travel companions or sharpen your skills on outdoor courts with expert-led instruction. The courts' exterior lighting means p.m. pickleball matches don't have to stop when the sun goes down. Serious pickleball players should especially put this Mexico resort on their radar in 2025. For players rated 2.5 to 4.0, the resort's Specialty Pickleball Weeks—running December 6–13 and December 13–20, 2025—offer an immersive experience with 15 hours of small-group coaching led by renowned pros Mario Boschi, Rick Witsken, and other guest instructors. Pickleball weeks will include hands-on instruction, unlimited open play, three spa treatments, on-court refreshments, and a curated welcome gift bag. Bobby Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee Rooftop pickleball at The Bobby in Nashville The Bobby A boutique stay tucked in the heart of the city's buzzing Printer's Alley, Bobby Nashville brought back a second season of its Rooftop Lounge Dinkville Pickleball in collaboration with the city's popular Dinkville pickleball community. The rooftop court with skyline views is open through October. In between rallies on the customized pickleball court, enjoy cocktails like aptly named Pretty Big Dill tequila drink with pickle brine and habanero. San Diego Mission Bay Resort in San Diego, California San Diego Mission Bay Resort. San Diego Mission Bay Resort Gather your fellow pickleball pals and plan a stay at San Diego Mission Bay Resort, where eight waterfront courts border Mission Bay and are surrounded by palms. The courts are open to resort guests and members on a daily basis. Pickleball fans can book the Paddle and Play package that comes with two custom resort-branded paddles created in collaboration with On Holiday, plus two fresh-pressed juices and two electrolyte mixes to help you recover from a day of play in sunny San Diego.
National Post
02-07-2025
- National Post
Casa de Campo's Dye Fore course is ready to shine ... and ready for Canadians
Standing on the first green high atop cliffs looking down into the serpentine Chavon River from the 27-hole Dye Fore golf course, you feel a world away from the trademark tropical paradise of Casa de Campo. Article content Variety and vastness might be the secret of this 7,000-acre golf resort that started it all in the Dominican Republic. I frequently get asked about my favourite spots in the world of golf, and I usually break my answer up into sun destinations or, well, rain destinations (because Old World links golf is just different), and Pete Dye's Casa de Campo has for years been at the top of my sunshine list. Article content Article content Article content Last year, Casa de Campo celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the resort just keeps getting better. Since 2023, as part of a $90-million expansion, it has added an absolutely world-class 18,000 square-foot spa and wellness centre that is already winning awards, as well as a new Premier Club complete with 58 new suites and a dedicated reception building with exclusive bar and lounge areas. Article content The elephant in the room for 2025 at Casa de Campo is that the world-famous Teeth of the Dog course is closed for restoration, and we'll get to that in a minute. But what it means for the golfers is that this finally should be the year that the resort's tremendous Dye Fore course gets its due. Article content Meanwhile, the elephant in the room for some Canadian golfers is that they are looking for somewhere other than the U.S. to travel this year. That's a personal decision for everyone, but if that's you, checking out Casa de Campo is a great idea. And there are special rates for golfers this year with Teeth of the Dog closed. Article content Article content Article content Dye Fore's Chavon-Marina combo (the third nine is called Lagos) was the 18-hole mix for our first round, and it's an absolute stunner. With five-cliffside holes featuring 300-foot drops to the river, more than one PGA pro at the resort has told me that the Chavon nine is their favourite stretch of golf onsite, and that includes Teeth of the Dog. Article content Article content The wide, rolling fairways and dramatic landscape of Dye Fore's Chavon nine have a Kapalua vibe, although the river below adds some intrigue and mystery which makes sense considering it was the scene for the famous helicopter raid in the Francis Ford Coppola classic, Apocalypse Now. Article content During the Teeth of the Dog restoration, Casa de Campo still boasts the 27-hole Dye Fore course as well as the 18-hole Links course, and a 21-acre learning and instruction facility. I'm currently reaping the benefits from an excellent lesson with swing coach Jose Junquera. Article content The Links course doesn't boast the same dramatic views as Dye Fore or Teeth of the Dog but it's wonderfully designed by Pete Dye and provides the stiffest challenge of the bunch.
