CARLSBAD, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2012) – La Costa Resort and Spa has won the prestigious Gold Medal Resort Award from GOLF Magazine, joining elite company from throughout North America as the only Southern California destination on the Gold Medal list of honorees for 2012-2013.
Part of the magazine’s “Premier Resorts” issue, the biannual rankings are based on four criteria: golf, lodging, food and drink and service. Forty percent of the resort recognition is based on golf, where voters considered factors such as challenge, playability, scenery, history, facilities and service. The rest of the score was equally weighed among lodging, food and drink and overall service at the resorts.
“We are honored and proud to be ranked by GOLF Magazine as the premier golf resort in Southern California,” said Paul McCormick, vice president and general manager at La Costa Resort and Spa. “This award, along with recently being ranked the No. 1 Wellness Spa in the Nation by Spa magazine, puts La Costa in a class of its own.”
One of only two California resorts on the Gold Medal honor roll, La Costa has recently unveiled the completely renovated Champions Course. The distinctive new layout is part of an ongoing $50 million resort-wide investment by La Costa ownership, KSL Resorts – a makeover that is leaving no area of the expansive, Spanish mission-style resort untouched.
“The extensive renovations elevate the sophistication of the property and enhance the guest experience at every touch point,” McCormick said. “The transformation of the resort has surpassed our expectations.”
Synonymous with the top echelon of golf for more than 40 years, La Costa’s history and tradition includes hosting 37 PGA Tour events, the LPGA Tour and a variety of celebrity pro-am events. La Costa has been tested by the legendary names in the game, from Palmer and Nicklaus to Mickelson and Woods. The golf resort’s championship spirit is being rekindled with the return of the LPGA Tour’s Kia Championship in March, as well as the star-studded Drew Brees Celebrity Championship in May.
In recognizing the 100 greatest golf destinations in North America, GOLF magazine lists only properties that excel in course design and playability, while providing luxurious accommodations. Scores produce winners in three separate levels – Platinum, Gold and Silver. No resort from Southern California was on the Platinum list. GOLF has been ranking resorts around the world for more than 20 years. The “Premier Resorts” issue is now available in print and online at www.golf.com.
About La Costa Resort and Spa
Fresh from a $50 million renovation and nestled among the beautiful coastal foothills of Carlsbad, Calif., north of San Diego, La Costa Resort and Spa boasts a new look from the 43,000 square-foot Spa at La Costa and 611 spacious and well-appointed guestrooms and suites, to a Clubhouse with fitness center, and two championship golf courses. Acclaimed restaurants – Legends Bistro and BlueFire Grill present an updated take on locally inspired cuisine. The Spanish mission-style resort has a village-like ambience with whitewashed stucco buildings framed by vibrant and lush Southern California landscaping. For more information on La Costa Resort and Spa, call (800) 854-5000 or visit www.lacosta.com.
About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages seven time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Az.)
For more information, call (866) KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com
Contact:
Karen Moraghan Ed Vyeda
Hunter Public Relations-East Hunter Public Relations-West
(908) 876-5100 (831) 375-1747
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com evyeda@hunter-pr.com
