Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests what they call “The Wonder Of It All” as the premier resort destination in the Northeast.
As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods has a wide variety of gaming in seven casinos, AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games at FoxwoodsONLine.com.
Across the street from the gaming and lodging facilities owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation are two award-winning golf courses designed by renowned architect Rees Jones, who has built or renovated 240 courses worldwide and earned the moniker “The Open Doctor” for changes that he made to numerous layouts that hosted the U.S. Open.
The Lake of Isles North (public) and South (private) courses in North Stonington, Conn., are located on more than 900 acres of picturesque landscape that includes a 90-acre lake that comes into play on each of the four nines on the 36-hole complex. The two courses have natural topography with rolling hills, island greens and tees and scenic views, all blending into the natural landscape.
“There isn’t really anything else like it,” said Jones, whose renovations include Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., site of this year’s PGA Championship. “It’s pure golf courses, and with all of the acreage we had to work with, we could go wherever we wanted. Sure it was really rugged in some areas, but there was so much land, we could build classic natural courses.
“I’ve been lucky to have some of the best pieces of real estate to work with, and this is definitely one of them. The Pequots were dedicated to having two of the best courses possible, and I constantly get all kinds of comments about people like being on the site and playing alone (on holes). We found the holes instead of building them, so there’s a natural flow to everything. People tell me that they keep going back for the course and ambiance, which is why they have weddings in the clubhouse overlooking the lake.”
The South Course opened in April 2005 and offers members and guests the chance to test their skills on a layout that can extend to championship tees at 7,300 yards. The North Course opened a month later and can also stretch to 7,300 yards, but multiple tee locations give a different level of players a chance to pick distances with which they feel comfortable. Golf fees include 18 holes with a cart, range balls, yardage book, bag tag, divot tool, tees and refreshments and snacks. Call 860-312-3636 for current rates for the courses annually ranked among the top public and private courses and the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” by Golf Magazine.
The property is managed by Troon, the worldwide leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing. An elegant, 50,000-square-foot, two-story clubhouse designed by Architectural Design Group, Inc., of Lakeland, Fla., has turn-of-the-century rustic craftsmanship with cedar shake siding, stone pillars and entry towers. It also has the Matches Tavern that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has six large-screen televisions, a banquet facility that seats as many as 300 people, a members-only dining room, an award-winning golf shop, men’s and women’s locker room and a lakefront deck that overlooks Lake of Isles and the beauty of the surrounding woods and often acts as a wedding ceremony site. It’s the reason that Lake of Isles received the 2015 “Couples Choice” Award from Wedding Wire magazine.
“It has been very rewarding over the last 18 years to see Lake of Isles evolve,” Lake of Isles general manager and Regional Director of Operations for Troon Archie Cart said. “The North and South Courses are always ranked among the best nationally, our membership continues to grow and our golf academy has produced some of the top juniors in the areas.
“Through the years, course modifications, which would not have been possible at the time of original construction, have really allowed both courses to improve over time. The modifications are better for golfers and have been easier to maintain premium course conditions our guests have come to expect and deserve.”
The Troon Golf Academy is the most advanced teaching facility in the Northeast. The state-of-the-art year-round teaching and practice facility features enclosed instructional areas, Trackman, an indoor practice area and classrooms. The outdoor facility offers 60,000 square feet of teeing, putting, chipping and bunker areas. A staff of qualified and award-winning PGA professionals are available for instruction and clinics for resort guests, group outings and members.
An all-inclusive golf fee of $120 to $160, depending on the day of the week and availability, includes 18 holes with a cart, range balls, yardage card and bottled water. Foxwoods Golf Package is popular and includes golf on the North Course, one-night accommodations at the Fox Tower starting at $203 per person, double occupancy. Fall is an especially awesome time to play Lake of Isles with views of the foliage from every tee. You can book a tee time online at wwwlakeofisles.com or calling the golf shop at 860-312-3636.
The Lake of Isles website is www.lakeofisles.com or call 1-888-ISLESGOLF (475-3746).
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