Recently, resorts historically known for golf have started luring visitors and residents with footgolf, glow golf, snowshoeing and other activities.
This article is part of our latest special report on International Golf Homes.
The traditional 18-hole round of golf may be for those who play the game, but the recent spins on the sport and ways to enjoy a course are options for anyone who doesn’t.
Recently, residential developments where golfing is usually a highlight amenity are offering alternatives — often on the course itself or at the driving range — such as glow golf and footgolf. Disc golf, a game usually played on a dedicated course, where players aim for a target with a Frisbee-like disc, is another popular option. Some communities are also repurposing their courses in the winter as venues for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and other winter sports.
WINTER SPORTS
Golf communities in destinations that have snow during the winter are transforming their courses and driving ranges into wonderlands for seasonal activities: snowshoeing, snow biking,cross-country skiing and even snowmo-biling.Case in point: Tributary, a 1,500-acres residential resort in Driggs, Idaho,started grooming its 18-hole course lastwinter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Residents can trek through the snow along more than seven miles of trails and are treated to views of the Teton mountains along the way, said Ulla Rasche, the resort’s general manager. Tributary also has plenty of space for disc golfing and fat biking, in which cyclists ride bikes with wide,oversize tires that are designed to handle snow and uneven terrain. These winter sports are free for residents, who can also borrow equipment from the property to enjoy them, such as snowshoes and skis.Then there’s Tributary’s driving range that offers snowmobiling for children between the ages of 7 and 16. The Resort has three sizes of snowmobiles and the cost to use them is $45 per child,Ms. Rasche said. “We want to be a year-round lifestyle club that’s inclusive to everyone, and these winter activities are a way for us to do that,” she said.
