Pelican Hill golf course lauded for design, access

The Resort at Pelican Hill’s golf course received top-notch marks in Condé Nast Traveler’s April 2012 list of “Top 121 Golf Resorts,” according to a news release.

The Newport Coast property was the only resort in California to achieve a perfect score in course design and access. Pelican Hill’s overall score, based upon ratings in eight categories, was calculated as 96.6.

“The beauty of Pelican Hill’s coastal setting can be distracting for golfers, so I framed each hole to help keep their focus on the game,” golf course architect Tom Fazio, who designed Pelican Hill’s two 18-hole courses, said in a prepared statement. “I recommend Pelican Hill to golfers all the time, and they always say the experience exceeds their expectations.”

Pelican Hill is also Condé Nast Traveler readers’ top resort in the country, according to the results of the annual 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards released in October.

The resort, which celebrated its third anniversary Nov. 26, scored 96.3 in the annual awards that rank more than 1,120 top resorts and hotels worldwide.

— Sarah Peters

Twitter: @speters01