The 2015 Golf Resorts of the Year

The International Association of Golf Tour Operators has named PGA Catalunya Resort, Pinehurst Resort, and Casa de Campo as the 2015 Golf Resorts of the Year as part of the golf industry’s “Oscars” – the IAGTO Awards. The honors are awarded in three regional categories: Europe, North America, and the Rest of World.

Voted for by more than 500 IAGTO’s golf tour operator members from 62 countries, criteria for the awards include customer satisfaction; quality of golf courses and accommodations; value for money; support from suppliers, tourist boards and airlines; professional conduct of suppliers and accessibility to tee times.

Europe — PGA Catalunya Resort, Spain

The spectacular Stadium Course is consistently ranked among the best ten golf courses in Europe since it’s opening in 1999, and was recently voted #1 in Spain, #3 in Continental Europe and #77 in the world.

The equally beautiful but kinder Tour Course is slightly less challenging. Dominated by towering pine trees and lakes, most of the holes feature wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers, which can be forgiving of a less than perfect shot.

North America — Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina

In the heart of the North Carolina Sandhills is Pinehurst, the cradle of American golf, according to the resort’s website. “Walk beneath the whispering pines and you’ll understand the wonder Donald Ross experienced as he first surveyed the property in 1901…and the exhilaration Payne Stewart felt in his stunning 1999 U.S. Open victory on No. 2.”

Pinehurst No. 2, the centerpiece of the resort, remains one of the world’s most celebrated courses. It has served as the site of more single golf championships than any course in the United States, and, in 2014, hosted 14 days of championship play with back to back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships for the first time in their history. The U.S. Open will return in 2024.

Rest of World — Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

Renowned golf course architect, Pete Dye, along with his wife, Alice Dye, created three of the most challenging courses in the game for Casa de Campo — Teeth of the Dog, The Links, and Dye Fore.

Teeth of the Dog — "The opportunity to carve out Teeth of the Dog was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Pete Dye wrote in his book, Bury Me In a Pot Bunker. "Without proper heavy machinery to crack the coral, the tireless Dominican crew used sledgehammers, pickaxes and chisels." The result was a true masterpiece.

Dye Fore — The numbers are staggering — 7,740 yards, 7 cliff-side holes dropping 300 feet below to the Chavon River — with 40 m.p.h. gusting winds and breathtaking 360 degree views.

Of all the picturesque holes on the course, #12 and #15 are two of the greatest par three holes in the world, according to the resort’s website. "Dye Fore has spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea, the Dominican mountains, the Chavón River, and the Casa de Campo Marina.

The Links — “This beautiful inland links course may not seem as exciting or challenging as its sea-side and cliff-hugging siblings,” according to the resort website, “but don’t be deceived. With its spectacular views of the Caribbean, its moderately hilly track with tall bahia and guinea grass roughs plus multiple sand traps, and its several lagoons and even lakes with wading birds, the Links will keep you on your toes.”

For more information, see www.pgacatalunya.com, www.pinehurst.com, www.casadecampo.com.do and iagto.com.