Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/80982
Phoenix, Palm Springs and Las Vegas top many lists but a relative newcomer to the scene that is starting to make many golfers "must play" list is Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Texas. The Lone Star state is teeming with fabulous golf courses and offers sun starved Canadians mild temperatures and a direct flight to stave off golf "cabin fever" in the winter months. The premier golf resort in DFW is the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. It is a 400-acre oasis located minutes from the airport. It boasts a total of 431 exquisitely appointed rooms and suites featuring Spanish Colonial style architecture and is the only AAA Five Diamond resort in Texas. The grounds are immaculately maintained and offer walking paths throughout the resort. Every golfer will stop in their tracks when they encounter the nine and a half foot tall bronze statue of golf legend Byron Nelson dedicated in honor of his 80th birthday in 1992. This impressive fixture located near the clubhouse is a wonderful tribute to a golf legend. A stone's throw from there is the entrance to the Four Seasons Spa. This 12,500 square foot facility offers pure decadence including 16 treatment rooms, private lounges for men and women and an outdoor spa pool. The quite serene environment instantly puts guests at ease and a full menu of treatments and services are available, even those with a Texas flair such as the Old Fashioned Cowboy Soak. There are 5 delectable dining options available on property with the featured restaurant being Café on the Green. Perfect for a gourmet breakfast or lunch buffet if you need extra time at the range before your tee time or for those that have time to sit and enjoy the meal, this restaurant offers elegant dining at all hours of the day. Meals include fresh ingredients drawn from their on-site herb and vegetable garden, and an emphasis is placed on items including prime beef and fresh daily seafood. The feature of the resort is the world class golf. There are two 18 hole tracks on property. The premier course is the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, home of the HP Byron Nelson Championship held annually on the PGA Tour. The course was originally designed in 1982 by Jay Morrish, with player consultants Byron Nelson and Ben Crenshaw. Needing to make it a track to challenge tour players almost 30 years later, in 2008 the course was redesigned by PGA Tour player D.A. Weibring and his partner architect Steve Wolfard. Some of the major changes included moving to a year round Bermuda grass course to better fit the local climate and eliminate over seeding with rye grass in preparation for the tournament and the addition of stark white bunkers contrasting the rolling green fairways. Other architectural changes include softer mounding and square tee boxes. The improved course conditions and general sight lines on the holes from the tees have been well received by recreational and tour players alike. The course is challenging with water coming into play on half of the holes and the tree lined fairways force you to keep it between the trees. Continued On Next Page 88 ALL IMAGES CREDIT LISA VLOOSWYK EXCEPT WHERE NOTED PHOTO CREDIT BUFFALO COMMUNICATIONS IMAGE COURTESY COWBOYS GC IMAGE COURTESY FOUR SEASONS RESORT AND CLUB DALLAS AT LAS COLINAS.