2010 PGA Show - Hot Destinations


February 18, 2010. Three locales stood head-and-shoulders above the other exhibitors as the hottest for traveling golfers at the 2010 PGA Show: Celtic Manor, Fox Harb'r and Cape Breton. By far, the most attention was on Celtic Manor - the five-star resort in Wales and host of the 2010 Ryder Cup. With glorious links courses in addition to the parkland masterpiece, Wales is now ready to take its rightful spot as a premier golf destination.

Roman Road at Celtic Manor

Celtic Manor Resort

Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort will host golf's 2010 Ryder Cup and is the UK's foremost luxury retreat. Featuring 1,400-plus acres of panoramic parkland and wooded hills, it is recognized as the "Gateway to Wales." A popular destination among business and leisure travelers, golf-tour operators and corporate incentive agents, five-star Celtic Manor offers myriad amenities. These include three championship golf courses (the Twenty Ten, Roman Road and Montgomerie), two lavish hotels (the majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House), five savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails. A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events. The world will soon come to the same conclusion as did the Ryder Cup selection committee - Celtic Manor is at the top of golfing world. www.celtic-manor.com

Fox Harb'r Golf Resort and Spa

A scenic 90-minute drive from Halifax or Moncton, Fox Harb'r is located on the picturesque north shore of Nova Scotia. The oceanfront destination beckons with amenities for every desire. Voted the Best New Canadian Golf Course by Golf Digest in 2001, the Graham Cooke design is a magnificent blend of Scottish links and parkland golf. The acclaimed layout includes fairways set amid forests of tall spruce, rock-lined lakes, extensive wetlands and the Northumberland Strait's rugged seacoast. Activities on the 1,000-acre resort property include mountain biking, kayaking, hiking and beach volleyball. For relaxation, one can laze around the junior Olympic pool or on a private beach. To further appreciate the beauty of region, excursions are offered aboard a luxury cabin cruiser, a nine-passenger aircraft or five-passenger helicopter. Stays at Fox Harb'r are as active or as relaxing as you choose. www.foxharbr.com

Cape Breton

In addition to exceptional Fox Harb'r, Nova Scotia's Cape Breton offers five golf courses on or near The Cabot Trail, which The Lonely Planet calls one of North America's best road trips and most scenic drives. Cape Breton is rugged and relatively untouched and perfect for an adventurous escape. The golf is superb. Dundee Golf Club is a demanding layout nestled in the richly forested hills on the shores of beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes. Le Portage Golf Club offers stunning looks of the Cape Breton Highlands on one side and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the other. The Lakes Golf Club has dramatic elevation drops and remarkable vistas from the splendid Graham Cooke design. Bell Bay Resort is world-class with manicured bentgrass fairways and greens and one of the largest practice facilities in Eastern Canada. Last, but not least, is Highland Links - a Stanley Thompson masterpiece with awe inspiring views of the nearby ocean and national park. Highland Links is a "must play." www.golfcapebreton.com

Wales and Eastern Canada are the big winners of the 2010 PGA Show. Great golf, glorious vistas and sterling amenities - what more does a traveling golfer need?