CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (May 1, 2006) -- Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus once said that to hit the ball farther, golfers need to keep their back to the target as long possible. Golf professionals agree that to achieve this goal flexibility is paramount.
Keswick Hall, a boutique hotel and country club in Charlottesville, Virginia, has put this theory to the test with the introduction of “Goga”. This weekly 60 minute class, based on the principles of yoga, is offered to guests of the hotel and members of Keswick Club. The class involves a series of yoga positions that focus on those areas of the body that are critical to a good golf swing. “In addition to an emphasis on twist poses to give more flexibility, I also include exercises for core strength, which help with distance; and meditative relaxation, which will help players stay focused and to relax through the swing,” said Diane Gregory, Keswick Hall’s yoga instructor.
“Preliminary results are encouraging,” says Eric McGraw, Head Golf Professional for Keswick Club. “I’ve talked to some of the players who have taken a class in the morning and then hit the course that same day and they’re thrilled -- they’ve noticed an immediate improvement in their swing and concentration and as a result a lower score.”
Classes are offered Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and are $18.00 per person. Private classes can be scheduled upon request for guests of the hotel and or members for a cost of $60.00 per person.
“Goga” classes can be combined with Keswick’s Limitless Golf Packages which include one night's accommodations and as many rounds as the golfer can muster during their stay. Mid-week rates for Balcony Signature Rooms start at $250 per person based on double occupancy or $365 for a single. Weekend rates start at $285 per person based on double occupancy or $395 for a single. Rates do not include applicable taxes and gratuities.
Arnold Palmer recently completed a renovation at the private 18-hole golf course at Keswick Hall including the expansion of several holes to bring the total yardage to 6700 yards, installation of stamped brick cart-paths, and the refurbishment of all bunkers and the practice facilities.
Ranked as one of the best hotels by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, Keswick Hall has an Eden-like setting of both formal and informal gardens on Keswick Estate. With 600 acres of lush Virginia countryside, the 48-room Keswick Hall features a country club, private 18-hole signature golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center complete with spa, pro shop, tennis complex and club house dining facilities. Fossett’s, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, has become a destination in itself, drawing gourmets from around the country to experience regional cuisine at this circa 1912 hotel. Keswick Hall is also home to the Keswick Vineyards tasting room. Part of the famed Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises collection, the resort provides a country estate experience, with plush furnishings and wood burning fireplaces throughout. Individually decorated guest rooms feature collections of French and English antiques. For more information visit www.keswick.com or call 1-800-274-5391.
Debby Harris
prassist@oeh.com
(407) 366-8783 for:
Audra Poole
(503) 764-9443
Public Relations for
Orient-Express Hotels
Representing: Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa(Tahiti/ French Polynesia), Bora Bora Cruises (Tahiti), Casa de Sierra Nevada (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico), Charleston Place (Charleston,SC), El Encanto Hotel & Garden Villas (Santa Barbara), The Inn at Perry Cabin (St. Michaels, MD), Keswick Hall at Monticello (Charlottesville, VA), La Samanna (St. Martin, French West Indies), Maroma Resort and Spa (Riviera Maya, Mexico), Windsor Court (New Orleans, LA)
