Saddle up and head to The Boulders resort in Arizona for great golf, spa and dining

December is a great time of year to head to Arizona to play golf. More specifically, the Phoenix-Scottsdale area with its 200 courses and incredible conditioning (due to heavy overseeding) beckons. And the temperatures, while they can sometimes be surprisingly cool this time of year, are usually perfect, which means it’s about 30 or 40 degrees below the summertime highs.

One of my favorite resorts in the entire country is The Boulders in Carefree, Ariz., just outside of Scottsdale. The golf is pretty good at this Waldorf Astoria resort, but the overall experience is even more outstanding. It has two fun Jay Morrish-designed golf courses, which weave their way around these incredible giant boulders, some of which have been perched in the same precarious position for millions of years. But more than that, The Boulders is a true retreat. With its luxury casitas spread out a bit, you truly do feel like you’ve escaped it all. The stars are brighter, the nights are quieter and the air is fresher there, it seems. And then there’s the Golden Door Spa, one of the best places in the world to rejuvenate, along with excellent dining (awesome huevos rancheros among other Southwestern dishes), hiking and biking trails, tennis, horseback riding or even rock climbing.

Fortunately, The Boulders is running a pretty good package deal right now. Through September of next year, guests who book packages can get unlimited golf thrown in or $150 credit for spa services as well as a $25 food and beverage credit at any one of the resort’s six restaurants. Either way, it’s an attractive offer. If you can’t get enough golf, you’d be hard-pressed to find better courses to spend nine hours on. But personally, I’d take the spa credit. I’m usually ready for pampering after 18 holes.

For more information or to book a package, click here.