Top Five 19th Hole Experiences

Veranda view Sun Valley Resort

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My taste in 19^th holes is quite eclectic, ranging from sipping a single malt in Wales to chugging a frosty brew in Florida.

Here is my top five:

The bar at Royal Porthcawl

Royal Porthcawl (Porthcawl, Wales, England)—Adorned with black and white pictures of past club presidents, plaques listing club champions and appointed with rich wood tables and leather chairs and sofas, the bar is a phenomenal place to drown your sorrows or celebrate your victories after playing one of the world’s great links courses. A great collection of beers, ales and whiskies, makes this simple bar a spectacular experience.

Duel in the Sun Bar at Turnberry Resort (Ayrshire, Scotland)—More of a sports bar than a traditional Scottish pub, this comfortable room in the heart of the hotel has several big screen televisions, an antique snooker table and bar food like fish and chips with mushy peas, peppered pork hot pot with potatoes and carrots and a Scotch lamb and mint burger.

Flora-Bama Lounge (Perdido Key, Florida)—If you venture to the Gulf Shores, Alabama area to play courses like Kiva Dunes, Craft Farms and Lost Key, by all means conclude your day with a few rounds at the Flora-Bama Lounge. It gets its name from its location on the Florida-Alabama border.  Former Oakland Raiders quarterback and serious partier in his day, Kenny Stabler, once called it “the best watering hole in the country.” A combination oyster bar, juke joint and seafood shack, the Flora-Bama is an authentic American roadhouse. Don’t miss the Mullet Toss Festival staged the last full weekend in April (this year 27, 28 and 29).

Sun Valley Resort (Sun Valley, Idaho)—If you’re looking for pure bliss after a round of golf, this clubhouse has a wrap-around terrace with an outdoor fireplace, postcard beautiful mountain panoramas and an excellent menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads.  Doubling as a Nordic ski center in the winter, the clubhouse has perfected the idea of providing the “good life” for its patrons, whether they’re playing golf or swishing down the slopes.

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club (Nairobi, Kenya)—High vaulted ceilings and a long hardwood bar create a comforting ambiance after a round on the 7,277 yard course that weaves its way through coffee farms and indigenous forests. Ice cold brew on tap and a good selection of whiskies and spirits make it a superb experience.