Golf is great, but spa treatments are special

Sometimes the best part about going to a golf resort isn’t the golf ? even if the golf is excellent – but the spa.

And there are few places better than the Scottsdale, Ariz., area to experience the best in spa treatments, especially for golfers. For most of us, that means some sort of massage. Many resorts, like the famed Golden Door Spa at the Boulders Resort in Carefree and the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, offer massages, which are specifically tailored for golfers.

But if massages for you men have been the extent of your spa experience, I’m here to tell you that you’ve been missing out. At the Golden Door, they offer what’s called the “gentlemen’s facial.” Facials, pedicures, manicures, etc., are becoming more popular these days among men and even professional athletes. If it sounds like a lot of pampering, you’re right. This is exactly why I like it.

Men, of course, generally neglect the skin on their face. With the exception of shaving, they never exfoliate (remove dead skin), so in many cases, it’s the first time. A treatment consists of a scrub, a mud masque and an algae gel (seaweed) masque. They use steam, apply various lotions and gentle massages and voila, soft skin that feels and looks a few years younger. Plus, the whole experience is rather tranquil.

If I win the lottery, I’ll be adding the facial to my new list of weekly routines, and I doubt I could do better than Brandi at the fabulous Golden Door.

The golfer’s massage isn’t too shabby either, of course. At the Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, they really do get specific when it comes to preparing golfers for the course. The massage consists of lots of stretching of the golf muscles to give you more flexibility, which I hear is important in the golf swing. Getting the neck and shoulders worked on was particularly therapeutic and satisfying. My massage therapist Kristal also suggested a few exercise routines that would help with my tension in the calves and hamstrings.

Also, I’d be selling the spa experience short if I let it go at the treatments. Both the Golden Door and the Spa Avania have outstanding fitness facilities, Jacuzzis, saunas and relaxation rooms. It’s all about health and relaxation, the perfect salve to what is often a game that is anything but tranquil.