If an early tee time leaves you feeling stiff, consider opting for a later one and heading to a spa first. Spas offer several services - massage, especially - that can leave the golfer feeling limber. From the gentle and relaxing Swedish massage to the more rigorous and therapeutic deep-tissue massage, golfers can expect improved blood circulation and range of movement, according to local spa experts, as well as an improved mental outlook. Here on Cape Cod, the demand for such services has led at least one spa to develop a special "golfer's massage."
Once found only at resorts and in major metropolitan areas, spas have been springing up in outlying areas as demand has grown. Day spas account for the largest segment of the industry, according to the International Spa Association. Hotel and resort spas remain popular with travelers. An ISPA survey conducted last year found that day spas in the U.S. attract about 25 million visitors, while hotel/resort spas attract about 16 million. Cape Cod offers both day spas and hotel/resort spas.
Sol Spa, a relatively new day spa in Chatham, introduced the golfer's massage in the spring of this year. "We see a lot of golfers," says owner Janelle Brown, a massage therapist for 13 years who opened Sol Spa about 1-1/2 years ago.
Brown explains that the golfer's massage focuses on specific muscles used during the game. It targets the lumbar region, the shoulders, forearms and wrists. A golfer might consider getting a massage before the game to warm up the muscles or after the game to keep the muscles supple. "The golfer's massage is a deep-tissue massage taken a step further," Brown says.
In the world of massage, experts say, one size does not fit all. A massage can require anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the technique, and can cost from $45 to $190. Brown points out that the variety of massage is as great as the variety of apples: there's one for every taste. A Swedish massage, for example, feels great, she says, but is not very therapeutic. Because of its light touch, the Swedish massage is recommended for beginners. In contrast, a deep-tissue massage, with its firm and direct strokes, works the core muscles to relax them and increase blood flow.
Ingrid Haselbach, co-owner of Summerfield Spa in Mashpee, cautions that a deep-tissue massage could prove too rigorous for some. A golfer might not be up to hitting the links immediately after treatment. She recommends a more flexible sports massage or La Stone therapy, a massage that incorporates the use of warm stones. "La Stone therapy would be great for a golfer," she says. "It restores balance in the body. And golfers need to be centered."
After 18 holes, you might be looking to relieve tired hands and feet, especially if you've shunned the golf cart. A reflexology therapeutic foot and hand massage would be beneficial, Haselbach says, because it reduces tension and increases circulation.
In business for 11 years, Summerfield Spa was one of the first on Cape Cod. Owned by Haselbach and Elizabeth Prunier, this day spa serves golfers from nearby Ballymeade Country Club, the Country Club at New Seabury and Willowbend Club, as well as a loyal clientele from the general public.
Bellezza Day Spa in Falmouth Village, another newcomer to the Cape Cod spa scene, opened about a year ago. Owned by Vera Newell and daughter, Melissa Mason, Bellezza Day Spa offers a full range of services, from hair and nail care to body treatments and massage therapy. In fact, the spa employs a massage therapist who specializes in sports massage.
Golfers playing and staying on the Cape might be able to obtain spa services through their hotels. Several resorts, like the Chatham Bars Inn, the Sheraton Hyannis and the Cape Codder Resort and Spa, offer spa services for guests. Smaller inns and bed-and-breakfast establishments sometimes offer such services, as well. The Captain's House in Chatham, for example, recently opened an on-site spa for its guests, in conjunction with Sol Spa's Janelle Brown.
While the spas at the Chatham Bars Inn and the Captain's House are open exclusively to guests, the Vista del Mar spa at the Sheraton Hyannis and the Spa at the Cape Codder Resort are also open to the public. Because of its proximity to Hyannisport, members of the Kennedy clan have been known to pop in to the Vista del Mar spa, co-owner Kristine Hogan confirms. She and business partner Marcie Andersen assumed ownership of the spa last December. Vista del Mar and the Spa at the Cape Codder Resort both offer a full menu of services, from massages and body treatments to facials, manicures, pedicures and hair services. The Spa at the Cape Codder Resort even offers services for children, such as the Tutti-Frutti manicure and the Chocolate Milkshake pedicure. Here, golf widows and widowers can pamper themselves, and their youngsters, with spa treatments, while the spouse is on the course.
"Stay spa" packages are available at the Sheraton Hyannis and the Cape Codder Resort and Spa. The Cape Codder offers one-, two- and three-night spa packages, starting at about $600. The "Mini-Seaside Escape" package, for example, includes accommodations for a single night, two 55-minute massages, two facials and vouchers worth $100 toward meals at the hotel's VJ's Grille Room and Hearth 'n' Kettle restaurants. The "Tranquility Retreat" package, starting at about $1,000, includes accommodations for two nights, two 55-minute massages, two facials, two body treatments and $200 in meal vouchers. The three-night "Mind, Body & Spirit Renewal" package includes two 55-minute massages, two facials, two body treatments, two manicures, two paraffin hand treatments, two paraffin foot treatments and $240 in meal vouchers for the hotel's restaurants. This package starts at about $1,300. The Sheraton Hyannis plans to unveil a new "Getaway" package this spring. It will include an overnight stay and a day of spa services, including a facial, full body massage, manicure, pedicure and a stress-relieving scalp treatment. The Sheraton Hyannis offers the added attraction of an 18-hole, par-54 golf course (Twin Brooks) behind the hotel. Prices for this package had not been set at press time.
While women still constitute the majority of spa goers, statistics show that the number of men using spa services is on the rise. According to the 2003 ISPA study, about 29 percent of spa goers are male. This represents a 5 percent increase over the year before. Hogan says that a surprising 40 percent of her customers are male. "A lot of men come in for massage and facials," she says. Overall, ISPA found, more than 44 million people visited spas in the United States in the 12-month period between June 2002 and 2003. The average age of the spa customer is 41, the survey found.
According to the same ISPA study, massage remains by far the most popular spa service, particularly among men, and managing stress was the top reason people gave for spa visits, followed by pampering and improving mental and physical health.
Perhaps you need to get in the swing and head to the spa for some therapeutic massage - or maybe just some pampering after a disappointing round.
If an early tee time leaves you feeling stiff, consider opting for a later one and heading to a spa first. Spas offer several services - massage, especially - that can leave the golfer feeling limber. From the gentle and relaxing Swedish massage to the more rigorous and therapeutic deep-tissue massage, golfers can expect improved blood circulation and range of movement, according to local spa experts, as well as an improved mental outlook. Here on Cape Cod, the demand for such services has led at least one spa to develop a special "golfer's massage."