Though it opened only in 1997, the 18-hole, par 71 golf course at the Ballantyne Resort quickly established itself as one of the best in the Carolinas. You could say the same for the resort, which has the patrician air of a long-established gentleman’s club and every luxury that golf vacations would require. That includes a lovely outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and two lap pools (both of which flow with a current to make for a better workout); a swank spa and fitness facility; a leather-clad bar area perfect for closing multimillion-dollar deals; and one of the finest restaurants in Charlotte. As for the rooms, they start at a spacious 400-square-feet and go up from there, and they feature high ceilings, fine wood furnishings (often topped with slabs of even finer marble), and all-marble bathrooms. I suggest you ask for one with a comfy "garden" tub, which is oval and larger than the norm. The Ballantyne is a good 20-minute drive from downtown Charlotte and that makes it better for visitors who’ve come here to play, not work. As a part of Starwood, those who have loyalty points may be able to use them here; and the $15/day fee for children’s meals, a Starwood program, makes for a nice savings for families.