A $40 Million Transformation At The Monarch Beach Resort In Dana Point Offers A Luxurious Golf Escape
Now, more than before, the Monarch Beach Resort has solidified its position as one of the top luxury golf resorts in Southern California along the Pacific Coast, and is a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awarded resort.
This spectacular destination features 400 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites, and the 6,600-yard Par-72 Monarch Beach Golf Links that sits on the bluffs overlooking the ocean next to the hotel. Designed by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the Monarch Beach Golf Links was designed much like a Scottish links course with tight fairways and rolling greens that meander along the California Coast in one of the most picturesque settings in this part of the world.
In June of this year, Denver-based KSL Resorts, the company synonymous for luxury properties, such as Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage, the La Quinta Resort in La Quinta and the La Costa Resort and Hotel del Coronado in the San Diego area acquired the development formerly known as the St. Regis Hotel. The revamped property now includes a fabulously redesigned lobby, with five new dining concepts, a more expansive pool area and bar, renovated public spaces and also has an exclusive spa partnership with Miraval, a global leader in spa and wellness.
Each recently restyled guest room is awash with natural light through expansive glass doors that lead out to a private open-air balcony
Each recently restyled guest room is awash with natural light through expansive glass doors that lead out to a private open-air balcony. Inviting and hard to leave plush bedding, lounge seating and a quiet and well laid out work table, completes a setting to make you truly at ease in the suite. The master bathroom is elegantly designed to provide spa-like comforts: deep soaking bathtub, which enjoys daylight through plantation shutters; rainfall shower and a spacious amenity-rich vanity. Each of the resort’s premium suites also features their signature Monarch Beach Resort Host Services, for intuitive or on-demand services, any time of day or night. Guest accommodations range from 535 square feet in a guestroom to over 991 square feet in the Pacific Suite.
Monarch Beach Resort’s beach location in Dana Point affords its guest access to many entertaining activities.
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- Surf lessons
- Whale watching
- Marine adventures through the Ocean Institute
- History and architecture tours of the surrounding area (Historic Mission San Juan, etc.)
- Art tours of the top galleries in Laguna and neighboring towns
- Exotic car rental with coastal driving tour (self-guided)
- Complimentary PCH Summer Trolley service between Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point Harbor, and Laguna Beach
The resort has a variety of special offers and packages which can be found on their website at www.monarchbeachresort.com. Monarch Beach Resort is a pet-friendly hotel.
Privacy is a huge drawing point. Their private beach is a great place to get the morning started with the Rise and Shine Yoga classes that are taught on the sand with the soothing sound of the waves as a background. More privacy is offered at the “guests-only” Monarch Bay Club on the sand where breakfast overlooking the ocean is a great way to end a yoga session.
For health conscious and fitness devotees, the resort’s association with Miraval, The Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort, offers in excess of 70 of the signature treatments developed at the company’s flagship Miraval Resort & Spa near Tucson, Arizona. Each designed to “awaken the senses, create balance and promote a sense of well-being.”
The new facility encompasses 24 treatment rooms, spa suites, boutique, Drybar, Deborah Lippmann Nail Salon and relaxation and tranquility zones. The Miraval expansion program includes development of full-service Miraval resorts that offer immersive wellness experiences in key destination markets like Monarch Beach and Miraval Life in Balance Spas that offer many of the brand’s signature wellness programs, such as Miraval Tucson’s NÂGA and Shamana-Karma treatments; Ayurvedic, energy and body renewal rituals; and new treatments that incorporate coastal-inspired ingredients, including sea salt, crystal salt stones, algae and marine muds.
Other Miraval Tucson signature wellness programs are offered, including Mindful Stress Mastery, Mindful Eating and Mindfulness at Miraval. Custom yoga and body movement studios in the spa’s new Body Mindfulness Center feature the brand’s Cardio Drumming, Mindful Spinning, Aerial Yoga and Floating Mediation programs.
Miraval-inspired healthy menu items are also available at Monarch Beach Resort’s restaurants, including the new Miraval Spa Café that is among the restaurant offerings—six of them with ocean views, including Chef Michael Mina’s lauded Stonehill Tavern, Club 19 and the Aveo Terrace.
The Monarch Pool, facing directly towards the Pacific, has been expanded to include 150 additional lounge chairs and new, private cabanas. Two new infinity edge whirlpool spas seemingly spill into the stunning seascape. The kid-friendly Family Pool has also been enhanced with a graduated entry and new cabanas around the perimeter.
Access to the 8 lighted hard tennis courts is complimentary for resort guests. A ball machine can be rented for $25 per hour. Loaner racquets are available upon request and guests can purchase tennis balls for a nominal fee. Private and group lessons are available. Tennis lessons are $160 per hour and $70 per half hour. Clinics for groups of 3 or more are also available.
The golf experience at Monarch Beach equals the luxury experience of the hotel
The golf experience at Monarch Beach equals the luxury experience of the hotel.
Under the expert direction of GM, Eric Lohman, PGA, a pro’s pro, the Links at Monarch Beach is an excellent test of golf that requires players to use all of the clubs in the bag. The views and layout make a round simply exhilarating and more importantly, memorable.
Shifting winds constantly making club selection critical, the undulating greens really separate the good from great putters.
The Par-4 third is the signature hole and measures only 315 yards from the back tees, but this dog-leg that runs along the beach necessitates exact shot-making to make a good score.
The Par-5 seventh is the most unique hole on the course with accuracy required more than length—even for a hole that can stretch to 612 yards. Two shots are required over hazards on this hole that dog legs left—and the ways to play it are endless. Par is a good score here— your playing partners will definitely attest to that after finishing the hole.
The club’s forecaddie program is outstanding and the service all around is exceptional. This is taken to another level with the “Fit Fore a King” experience that the resort is offering through the remainder of 2016, as a golf package for those interested in the experience of a lifetime. “The “Fit Fore a King” golf package is an ultimate guys’ golf getaway, as well as an ideal vacation for avid golfing couples, either for a weekend trip or an extended stay.
Available throughout 2017, the awesome package includes:
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- Private limousine service (to and from airport)
- A luxurious suite for two nights at the Monarch Beach Resort (double occupancy)
- Personal Butler Service throughout the stay
- Club-fitting at world headquarters of Callaway (cost of new equipment is additional)
- Unlimited golf daily on the Monarch Beach Golf Links
- “FlexSet” golf club rental (while the new set is being built)
- Golf cart and Monarch Beach “Waterman” personal forecaddie service for each round
- Access to the resort’s private beach and “guests-only” Monarch Bay Club
- Breakfast daily
Lohman notes that guests will be guided throughout the experience by a PGA golf professional from the Monarch Beach Golf Links staff.
“About the only thing missing is an actual castle — but our renovated resort is even better,” said Lohman, who is personally coordinating each “Fit Fore VIPs” golf experience. Guests will be chauffeured to and from Callaway Golf’s elite full-service facility — exactly where the tour pros go for their club testing. After a personalized club-fitting using the latest technology, the golfer can order custom-made clubs that will be shipped to their home.
The Monarch Beach Resort—a great destination has just become the standard for luxury golf resorts.
Average daily rates are $400.00. For more information, visit www.monarchbeachresort.com.
About the Writer
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association, and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers”, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf” which is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His latest book, “The Right Mind for Golf,” released last year, is now in its 8th printing. He can be reached at www.pgtaa.com or drlotz@cbsgolf.net.