The new trend among affluent golfers is toward building and joining golf retreats. These are super exclusive clubs where the wealthy play golf for days at a time and only come up for a vintage wine or a gourmet meal. Golf Digest INDEX, a new golf lifestyle publication appearing this month, ranks “America ’s 50 Greatest Golf Retreats. ” The full list can be found now at www.golfdigestindex.com.

Augusta National Golf Club, the revered site of the Masters Tournament, took the top spot among “America ’s 50 Greatest Golf Retreats, ” finishing first in almost all of the judging categories. World-class golf courses are at the center of all the clubs in the ranking, but it takes more to crack the list of “America ’s 50 Greatest Golf Retreats. ”

In determining the ranking, Golf Digest polled its Course Ranking Panel —a group of more than 800 low-handicap players —on their overall experiences at a club, the club ’s accommodations, food, wine, caddie programs and service. Ballots were completed and tallied to form the list. In order to make the ballot, a club has to be included in the magazine ’s “America ’s 100 Greatest ” and “Best in State ” rankings or be a finalist in Golf Digest ’s annual “Best New Courses ” survey, as well as be able to accommodate a few groups of members and guests for overnight stays.

From Augusta ’s famed “Crow ’s Nest ” and Pine Valley ’s turtle soup to the private wine lockers for members of Mayacama G.C. in Santa Rosa and the full-service spa at Sage Valley in South Carolina, each of “America ’s 50 Greatest Golf Retreats ” has a special distinction that separates it from other golf clubs across the country.

Golf Digest INDEX is a lifestyle publication being sent to 300,000 select Golf Digest subscribers. The magazine covers all the things that comprise a privileged golf life —elite travel, prestigious club memberships, luxury apparel, premium accessories, rare wines, fine dining and more.

The debut issue of Golf Digest INDEX features the work of esteemed writers and photographers, such as three-time Pulitzer Prize winner (and a 3.9 handicap index) Thomas L. Friedman, who has a lengthy conversation with Deutsche Bank Americas CEO Seth Waugh on how to balance the passions of family, business and golf. Other Index pieces include a fashion portfolio with golf buddies Matt Lauer and Bryant Gumbel —shot by renowned fashion photographer Brian Doben —a travel feature on Dubai written by The New Yorker ’s David Owen and a trip inside the private jet of Herb Kohler, the plumbing magnate who built several prestigious golf courses in Wisconsin and bought a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland.

The Top 25 retreats are listed below. The full list can be found at www.golfdigestindex.com.

	                 The Top 25 Greatest Golf Retreats