As the official hotel partner of the PGA TOUR®, Omni Hotels & Resorts ensures guests enjoy a premier experience at any of the 12 golf destinations across the United States. Learn more about golfing at Omni La Costa Resort from Club Director, Dustin Irwin.
Tell us about a guest’s experience golfing at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
“Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is a special place. Its friendly associates, relaxed environment and near-perfect weather year-around make golfing here ideal. We have two extremely walkable courses, a prestigious history and plenty of resort amenities to enjoy when you’re not on the golf course. In fact, the whole resort is the 19th hole! I recommend enjoying a beverage or meal at Bob’s Steak & Chop House or Bar Traza after your game.”
“Furthermore, we’ll start a full renovation of the Champions Course starting in early 2022 in preparation to host the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championship from 2024 through 2026. We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with the renowned course architect, Gil Hanse, who previously designed the Rio 2016 Olympic Golf Course, the East Course at the new Omni PGA Frisco Resort and many other prestigious courses around the world.”
What will golfers find here that they can’t find anywhere else?
“First, the club offers many modes of course transportation, including Golf Boards and Phat Scooters. These single-rider alternatives to golf carts allow you to social distance and can increase speed of play by hours because you can drive right up to your ball for your next shot.”
“Also, golfing at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is family-friendly. We offer a variety of special offers for kids and young adults. For example, kids under 15 play free in the afternoons [with a paying adult] and enjoy free club rentals. The courses also offer four-seater golf carts, perfect for carrying the whole family around the course.”
The La Costa golf course dates back to 1965, can you tell us about some of the most memorable moments that happened on the course?
“Back in the ‘60s, Hollywood stars like Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby were original members of The Club at La Costa. Clint Eastwood, William Powell, James Garner, Desi Arnaz and Andy Williams, to name a few, all frequented La Costa.”
“More recently, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa has hosted 37 PGA Tour events. The Par-3, 16th hole, is most known for the end of the rain-shortened 1997 Mercedes Championship when Tiger Woods, in a sudden-death playoff against Tom Lehman, stuck his tee shot just inches from the hole in one of the most memorable shots of his career.”
Tell us about the courses; do you have a favorite?
“I wouldn’t pick one course over the other because they are very different and challenging in their own way. There’s a lot of room off the tee on the Champions Course making it very forgiving for golfers. However, make sure you avoid the very deep bunkers and water features at all costs. On the other hand, the Legends Course plays differently and will test your precision. While the bunkers are less penalizing, there’s more rough and trees to avoid. My favorite hole is the 14th. There’s a canyon with a river running through it making it very peaceful. The final four holes on the Legends Course are dubbed the “Longest Mile” as it’s a long stretch played directly into the Pacific Ocean wind. It makes for a challenging finish.”
What additional amenities does La Costa offer for golfers?
“The resort offers a unique, comprehensive, one-stop-shop for golfers at all levels. The Golf Performance Institution offers a range of services to improve every aspect of your golf game. A.J. Avoili, one of Golf Digest’s “Best Young Teachers”, specializes in private lessons and golf clinics. Also, he’s trained on state-of-the-art technology, like the RoboGolfPro®, which precisely tracks your swing in order to identify necessary adjustments. The resort’s new partnership with Ryan Faust from Fausty Golf focuses on improving your swing speed through unique training methods like weighted ropes. And, you can hone your game from 100-yards in with Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools.”
“Additionally, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa offers True Spec Golf, a Golf Digest’s Top 100 Clubfitter, that handcrafts custom sets of golf clubs. The boutique’s approach combines clubs from top manufactures ensures that you’ll walk away with what you need on the greens.”
Ready to experience golf at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa for yourself? Book your tee time online.