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| Luxury golf and accommodations on Florida’s beautiful Southwest coast. |
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I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, and playing the excellent Raptor Bay Golf Club. My stay was every thing I have come to expect from Hyatt properties. From the gleaming marble floors in the beautiful lobby, to the tastefully decorated and comfortable rooms, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point was great. The Raptor Bay Golf Club, which is adjacent to and associated with the Hyatt, was not only remarkably beautiful but was a challenging and enjoyable test for golfers of all skill levels. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa has been a AAA Four Diamond Resort for five consecutive years. The Resort is situated on 26 lushly landscaped acres, overlooking Estero Bay in The Bonita Springs/ Naples area near the Gulf of Mexico. The property is beautiful and wildlife sightings were plentiful. A testimony to the resorts commitment to co-existing with the environment. The Hyatt has managed to pull off a really great hat trick, they have skillfully blended luxurious adult pampering and a great experience for kids. Make no mistake, this is not a theme park property, but instead a four star hotel which recognizes that many of its patrons have children. Kids can experience the great Camp Coconut, which provides daily kid friendly activities on the hotel grounds. They can also enjoy several different pools. One great feature is the included Hyatt Vacation Club Access. The Vacation club is about two minutes away by convenient shuttle or car, and has multiple pools and an 800 foot “ lazy river”. Nothing like a little variety to keep everyone happy. While the resort is not beach front, it does have a beautiful private island which should afford you beach lovers a wonderful opportunity to get your Gulf of Mexico fix. The private island is not huge but is very nicely appointed with very friendly staff on hand to see to your needs. Did I mention the private boat shuttle to the island? A very nice touch. If huge expanses of White sand are a must in your itinerary, then Barefoot Beach is a short drive away and is all you could ask for in a pristine Florida Gulf beach.  The Raptor Bay Golf Club is not only beautiful and challenging, but can boast of something that no other resort course in the world can. The Raymond Floyd designed Raptor Bay course was the first resort course to be awarded Audubon International’s Gold Signature Sanctuary Certification. Once you play this impressive course, you will readily understand how deserved this award was. Raptor Bay not only winds through an incredible landscape, it also co-exists with it. The Course is not super tight, and is very evenly mowed. A nod to the resort nature of its primary use. Don’t let this fool you into thinking this is a boring, flat, non descript parkland. Raptor Bay can have very sharp claws. Water, extensive bunkering, and a lot of contouring make this a challenging and rewarding course to play. From the Back tees this course is a very good challenge, and you will need all of the shots in your bag. For a fantastic learning experience, I can recommend attending The Advantage Golf School at Raptor Bay. This independent 1st class golf academy offers a very unique teaching arrangement. They teach almost exclusively on a one to one level. In fact they were the originators of this concept for golf schools. Their experience and level of commitment was amazing. Each morning, for three days, I had one on one instruction at the practice facility. Following an insightful lunch with my pro, I had a nine hole playing lesson on the course. This was great! Practice range instruction is very important, but the individualized attention and instruction during an actual round was extremely helpful. I will boast a little here; my instructor actually got rid of an annoying inaccuracy problem with my driver. My regular foursome had better watch out. Do keep in mind that this school books up quickly, especially during the winter season. Advanced booking is required. After all the golf, tennis, kayaking, and any number of other activities a visit to the Stillwater Spa is pure pampering. Whether its for a massage, facial, skin or body treatment; Stillwater Spa offers pure luxury. Remember golfers, This is an excellent way to sell your spouse or significant other on a luxurious retreat. Everyone will enjoy this wonderful part of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point experience. Dining options at the Hyatt are plentiful. The resort has offerings for everyone, and all that we tried were very good. However, if a spectacular dining experience is in your plans, you can’t beat dinner at Tanglewood. This AAA Four Diamond Award winning restaurant is not inexpensive, but great food seldom is. It is a wonderfully intimate dining experience and the staff is top notch, The service was impeccable with the staff delivering attentive, refined service without hovering. Hovering is a personal pet peeve of mine, and great service without being intrusive is an art form. Tanglewood delivers both culinary and service excellence within a refined atmosphere. Braxton’s Bar and Grille, located at the Raptor Bay Golf Club, was a great mid day stop while on the Course. The menu featured all of the mainstays of grill food and all we tried were good. You need to try the Grouper Tomato Salad. It was truly a menu standout. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa’s website promises a upscale, fun filled, activity laden resort experience. They deliver on this promise. Not only is the property beautiful and the golf experience satisfying, but the staff was excellent. The attention to detail and quality of experience were just what you would expect from a four star resort. |
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