Place of birth
St Andrews
Fife, Scotland
Why is it special?
St Andrews is literally “The Home of Golf”. It was from here in the 15th century that the modern sport evolved. In early 1764, the Society of St Andrew’s Golfers, decided that the original 22 holes in the Old Course were too much and by combining some of them, they eventually settled on an 18-hole course, the standard that’s played today.
What can you do there?
Perfect for a teambuilding event, take guests on a group tour of the Old Course. Witness the greens from a player’s perspective as you soak in the Scottish fairways during the 40-minute scenic walk.
For more in-depth knowledge of the course, opt for an extended tour out to The Loop, where you’ll see landmarks like Hell Bunker and The Coffin.
The newly renovated spa of the Old Course Hotel Golf and Spa Resort (www.oldcoursehotel.kohler.com) is another must-try feature at St Andrews. Engage your team in putting competitions then settle down for a traditional Friday afternoon barbecue at Eden Clubhouse.
Contact
email: enquiries@standrews.org.uk
Mission possible
Mission Hills Golf Club
Shenzhen, China
Why is it special?
With a string of awards and accolades under its belt, it is no surprise that this well established facility is labeled the “World’s Number 1 Golf Club”.
Fresh from hosting this year’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November, the resort is brimming with activity.
What can you do there?
The Nicklaus Lounge can host a meeting of up to 20 delegates, while the Peony and Bamboo rooms can accommodate approximately 100 people in a dinner setting. Opt for the Grand Ballroom for a theatre-style conference for 300 delegates.
As a teambuilding activity, get professional coaching from the David Leadbetter and Cindy Reid golf academies. The mini-lessons are excellent for golf neophytes trying their hand at the game as well as for accomplished players trying to perfect their swing.
For a more adrenalin-packed activity, ditch the clubs and whip out the guns when you take your team to the Mission Hills War Game facility. At RMB$130 (US$19) per person, break into teams and fire paintballs at opposing team members in a game of strategy and teamwork.
Also in this complex, the club prides itself on having some of the largest spa facilities in Asia, while its Mission Hills Resort Wing offers unmatched luxury accommodation.
Contact
email: info@missionhillsgroup.com
No sand trap
Emirates Golf Club
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Why is it special?
Just off the Persian Gulf, step into an oasis in the middle of a desert when you visit the Emirates Golf Club (EGC) and its championship course designed by Nick Faldo. Having earned the position as the leading golf club in the Gulf, it’s within a stone’s throw of the majestic The Burj Al Arab, the iconic hotel of Dubai.
What can you do there?
Mini-golf competitions at EGC foster a sense of camaraderie and fun among corporate group delegates. The club can host small and large corporate groups in two golf courses. Non-golfers can also attend clinics to attempt to build their interest in this age-old sport.
Meeting venues, conferences and dining facilities come in unique fashion at the EGC. The Majlis suite has a capacity for 60 guests and offers a stunning view, the stylish Le Classique outdoor terrace can handle a 200-strong cocktail party. Chef Francois is at the top of his culinary game so corporate guests are in for a gustatory feast.
Meanwhile, for companies hosting a big bash, EGC lawns can hold a cocktail party of 3,000. Alternatively, a formal sit-down dinner for up to 2,000 guests can be booked on request.
Contact
email: egc@dubaigolf.com
Open door
Pebble Beach Resort
California, US
Why is it so special?
The stage is set for the venue of the 2010 US Open Championships. Besides its scenic coasts and historical milestones, Pebble Beach has an array of meeting and conference facilities to host partners and customers before and during the championships.
What can you do there?
The 250-capacity Council Room can host a formal reception but it can be transformed into a casual venue complete with a dance floor for an evening party.
On a smaller scale, the Stanton Room at The Lodge offers the ideal setting for a private dinner with guests overlooking the 18th green at one of the most established courses in the world – the Pebble Beach golf links.
Leave the comforts of the meeting rooms and delve into a world of nature.
Go on the 17-Mile Drive Tour where you and your team will see waves crashing into massive rocks at The Lone Cypress and cliffs at Point Joe.
Watch the interaction of wildlife along the coast that is teeming with sea otters, pelicans and seals.
Surely, the anticipated US Open is bound to be a drawing factor for corporate functions and get-togethers at the resort. And the Pebble Beach has designed a number of hospitality packages whose main goal is to make an impression.
Contact
Star turns
Golf legends’ special appearances
Athlete Promotions
Why is it special?
Thinking about something bold and totally different for your meeting or conference? Imagine having a golfing legend, say Tiger Woods or Gary Player, enhance that meeting with a speech, a coaching clinic or even a meet and greet.
What can you do?
Founded by Ryan Totka and Sherman Brown, Athlete Promotions offers a service that tracks down the agent and managing companies of professional athletes – retired or otherwise – and invites them to be a guest at various events.
Don’t waste the celebrity wattage by just having the pro golf athlete standing idly at your cocktail party. Seize the opportunity to have the high-profile sports celebrity boost company morale by holding a golf workshop. Better yet, have your VIP guest join a friendly round of golf with clients and partners. Just imagine the thrill of pitting pledging golf talents with pros like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman on courses that they themselves have designed.
Contact
tel +1 888 2467141
Go wild
Sun City
South Africa
Why is it special?
Sun City offers a delightful blend of golf, resort facilities and meeting opportunities against the backdrop of African wildlife. Take a group for a corporate teambuilding event during one weekend for one of the life’s most extraordinary experiences.
What can you do there?
The greens in Sun City is world renowned for hosting the Nedbank Golf Challenge and for being the home of The Gary Player Country Club Course that offers VIP guests a spectacular view of the savanna as they wait for golfers to reach the crocodile-infested waters near the 13th hole.
The various conference facilities in the city are very flexible and can be tweaked to accommodate group size and required room layout for stage design and production. Every one involved in the event – from logistics to audiovisual production – will find it easy to set up.
Lastly, team-building activities in Sun City will leave you catching your breath. Break up in teams for a race to spot different animals during a Pilanesberg wildlife safari while sitting on a jeep or looking down from a hot air balloon. Get even closer to the action on quad bikes or even on the back of an elephant.
Contact
email: natsales@sunint.co.za
History course
Club Intramuros Golf Course
Manila, Philippines
Why is it special?
Look to the Philippine capital for a company-focused golf trip. Located on the South Bank of the Pasig river, the greens that span a lengthof 4,326 yards is considered as a “short course” by normal standards.
But Club Intramuros Golf Course is not short venues and facilities for a half-day or full-day of corporate teambuilding or brainstorming session.
What can you do there?
Take a group of 30 to enjoy a promotional package at US$33 per head and have one round of golf, inclusive of caddie and pull-cart use. Also part of the deal is a meeting room as well as a choice of either buffet lunch or dinner.
The Green Dining room can host up to 80 people. The open veranda, which can seat 45, can also serve as a meeting venue.
Get a glimpse and feel of Old Manila with Fort Santiago as a backdrop. The golf course is built on what was the old moat that protected the fortifications.
Contact
tel: +63 632 5276612
www.philtourism.gov.ph/club_desc.html
Ferry to fairway
Bintan Lagoon Golf Resort
Bintan, Indonesia
Why is it special?
Located a mere 55 minutes from Singapore by ferry, Jack Nicklaus’ eye for designing quality golf courses has taken him as far as the Bintan Lagoon to create the Jack Nicklaus Sea View Golf Course.
What can you do there?
Besides the 18-hole course the club has to offer, corporate events can be held in the most creative of locations. The various function rooms that can hold a party of 12 to 400 people.
Consider out-of-the-box dining setting to impress guests. Host a barefoot dinner on the sand or a French-themed buffet at the ninth hole.
Meanwhile, the Adventure Training Centre is available for booking to run teambuilding programmes.
Teams can also engage in jet ski and snorkelling tours in the ocean or go karting and take cocktail-mixing classes on land.
Lastly, give your team a well deserved break with a relaxing Javanese or hot-stone massage at the Bintan Spa for an hour of pampering to soothe body and soul.
Contact
email: reservation@bintanlagoon.com
Royal splendour
The Empire Hotel & Country Club
Brunei Darussalam
Why is it special?
A Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on the island of Borneo, the Empire offers a thrilling game for enthusiasts. Even Bill Clinton has played a round here without getting into trouble. However, look beyond the fairways for a complete corporate experience with meetings, dining and teambuilding events galore.
What can you do there?
Meetings and conferences can be held in various locations, with the Empire Theatre holding up to 700 delegates, the Bunker Café Meeting Room with 50 or the Board Room with a capacity of 10 to 12 persons.
Besides the restaurants in the club such as Li Gong and Spaghettini, that can seat up to 100 guests, why not have a unique dining experience for guests with a meal on the golf course?
Other dining experiences involve guests decked in traditional sarongs and floral shirts, with a barbecue on the beach. Perhaps, practice your swing on the driving range and enjoy mini-tournaments while the food is heating on the grill.
Reward your high-performing staff at The Empire with specially-design nature tour. Spend the morning in the rainforest and go sea snorkelling in the afternoon. End the day with a sumptuous dinner.
Contact
email: events@theempirehotel.com
Tiger’s lair
Blue Canyon
Phuket, Thailand
Why is it special?
“One of the best I’ve ever played on,” said professional golf superstar Tiger Woods of the Blue Canyon on Phuket Island.
As his mother’s native country, Thailand has a special place in his heart. Playing to a ardent hometown crowd in Phuket’s Blue Canyon in 1998, Tiger Woods claimed his now world-famous victory at the Johnny Walker Classic Tournament.
Today, Blue Canyon is also an all-round meetings venue and teambuilding get-away for groups out for an island retreat.
What can you do there?
Besides teeing off at the Canyon Course or the Lake Course, indulge in the Blue Canyon’s award-winning spa and treat you and your guests to a heavenly experience.
Rub all the stresses and strains of the office away with a Swedish massage or a relaxing spa treatment.
Meetings and banquet facilities can be easily arranged with the Golfers Terrace and the Canyon Grill Room is available for cocktail and al fresco dining.
Contact
email: events@bluecanyonclub.com
Island dreams
Island Golf Resort South Carolina, US
Why is it special?
Off the coast of Kiawah Island, an impressive venue for meetings and conferences lies hidden by a scenic golfing exterior and a wide array of sport and leisure facilities.
What can you do there?
Hitting the greens is easy with a number of famous courses at your disposal. You and your guests have a choice of world-class courses designed by Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus to name a few.
Corporate guests have a breathtaking view of the coast, so a meeting on this island resort is a sure-fire hit among attendees. The Grand Oaks Ballroom totals 567sqm of function space and the Terrace Ballroom leads up to the coastline. It is fabulous for gala receptions to welcome important guests. The executive meeting rooms and the Calhoun Boardrooms offer a private retreat for up to 22 guests, ideal for small-scale meetings and intimate cocktails.
After a full day of discussions, take an evening to unwind with crocodile, fishing and land exploration tours to wake your inner adventurer.
Contact
Pampered guests
Macau Golf & Country Club
Macau
Why is it special?
The golf course on the island of Coloane is just 20 minutes’ from the heart of Macau’s casino lair. Ten minutes away from the airport, it is easily accessible and offers corporate travellers an array of activities, from dining to golf tournaments.
Take some golf lessons and then tee off at the 18-hole championship golf course.
What can you do there?
A lazy weekend at the club can be the ideal reward companies can give to their hard-working staff.
Group guests on an incentive trip may opt for a good sleep-in followed by an hour of calming spa treatment just before lunch.
The Bar and Golfer’s Grill offers great dining experience, while the Sakura Japanese Restaurant has private function rooms that allow for dinner meetings for groups of up to 20 people.
Sports as entertainment is the order of the day. Companies can arrange for a mini-golf tournament, an on-course golf coaching by qualified professionals, and introductory courses for beginners and golf clinics.
After a day of golf, paint the town red bar-hopping around the trendy watering holes on Macau’s famed Cotai Strip.
Contact
email: seniormanager@mgccmacau.com
www.macaugolfandcountryclub.com
