The world’s most exceptional golf resorts operate in a similar manner. Nemacolin, set in the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania about a 90-minute drive southeast of Pittsburgh, is perhaps the best example of an esteemed property that—ironically, given its location—never rests on its laurels. It’s been almost 30 years since Pete Dye created the resort’s dramatic and demanding Mystic Rock golf course. Similarly, it’s been almost two decades since that flagship course has hosted a PGA Tour event. Yet, the property is just as focused on the layout’s 7,550 yards today as it was during the mid-2000s when some of the world’s best professional golfers were competing there.

Designer Tim Liddy recently updated and softened the course, removing 40,000 square feet of bunker coverage and eliminating several waste areas. In doing so, he made the previous PGA Tour venue more playable for the average amateur, while creating interesting new angles into greens. But that’s far from the only improvements that the luxury resort has made.

Only a few years ago, the property unveiled a brand-new, 4,000-square-foot golf academy, one that features four customized indoor-outdoor hitting bays that are equipped with GC Quad launch monitors, the latest Trackman tech, as well as balance and dual force plates from Swing Catalyst. “As a day-or-night and any-season amenity for our members and guests, it’s such an energetic and social place to be,” said the resort’s director of golf when the facility opened in late summer 2021. A more recent visit proved that statement to be true. When it comes to purposeful practice, there may be no better place to spend some time dialing in your swing.

Across the resort, Nemacolin has invested even more into its diverse portfolio of guest accommodations. The Grand Lodge is the property’s newest accommodation, recently reopened following an extensive renovation and now featuring 56 suites, butler service, and a farm-to-table restaurant that highlights locally sourced ingredients. “The Grand Lodge marks an evolution in Nemacolin’s history,” says Maggie Hardy, Nemacolin’s owner and CEO. “The original Nemacolin lodge, built in 1968, was a wonderful accommodation and a great representation of the historic property my father and I fell in love with. Following our 35th anniversary, we began ‘The Grand Re-imagination,’ which is a multifaceted approach to bring the future vision of the resort to life.”

As proof, The Chateau—a neighboring hotel at the resort—is set to reopen this summer following a similar transformation. Each of the hotel’s 124 rooms include dedicated butler service and will showcase new wall, floor, and window coverings, not to mention bathrooms that are equipped with soaking tubs and high-end fixtures. However, guests who are familiar with the resort and the previous incarnation of The Chateau will be reintroduced to the chandeliers and the marble accents that exemplify the property’s Ritz Paris–inspired design. Additionally, a craft cocktail bar, Nightcap, will debut in early summer and offer cabaret entertainment, while an Italian restaurant—Gusto!—is set to provide an indoor-outdoor dining space with views that overlook nearby meadows and the resort’s private air strip

Nemacolin’s championship-caliber golf and luxuriously appointed accommodations aren’t the only amenities that lure discerning travelers to the Laurel Highlands. The Woodlands Spa and Salon offers more than five dozen treatment packages and individual services, some of which are enhanced by CBD oils, while others are rooted in Eastern practices of mindfulness and relaxation. In addition to that sprawling destination spa, Nemacolin is also equipped with a Holistic Healing Center that offers unique treatments such as float therapy, cryotherapy, and an infrared sauna.

It all points to the almost-40-year-old resort’s dedication to constantly elevate its offerings and consistently improve the experiences that guests can have on property. “As Nemacolin continues to be improved in so many exciting and captivating ways, it’s important that our guests feel the resort’s history and its timeless charms,” says managing director Trey Matheu. “Maggie Hardy’s vision and commitment to giving our guests never-before-seen experiences is what makes each day at Nemacolin a brand-new adventure.”

Photos: Jordan Millington Liquorice, Steven Busken and Evan Schiller