Destinations
Cutting-Edge Comfort
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa never stops enchanting — or innovating
By Joe Passov
For more than 20 years, hanging at the outdoor patio at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, meant elite-level relaxation in one of the area’s special settings. However, mid-December 2024 brought a change — called Antidote. The result? The Westin Kierland patio experience soared even higher.
After descending the hotel lobby’s grand staircase and stepping outdoors onto the patio, a kaleidoscope of appealing colors and textures awaits. Underfoot are stylish brick pavers, cris-crossing mostly in a herringbone pattern. At 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock sit Kierland’s signature golf holes, Acacia 7 and 9, each with ribbed and rolling terrain and studded with bunkers. A large lake separates the two holes and mountain views complete the tableau.
The patio features sensibly spaced bar tables and sofas, tall palm trees, and behind you, a massive, 300-square-foot, SkyWatch TV screen for can’t-possibly-miss, big-game viewing. And then there’s Antidote. It’s so perfectly conceived, one wonders how no one thought of it earlier.
The New Antidote
Situated at the back edge of the patio, overlooking the lake, the golf, and the mountains, Antidote is a stunning bar/gathering place. Its setting looks to be the obvious attraction, but there’s plenty more.
“We have three main pillars for Antidote,” said Karen Cahn, director of public relations and marketing communications for the Westin Kierland. “Great cocktails, craveable food, and community.”
The name, “Antidote,” reflects its theme: “We have the remedy for what ails you.”
Indeed, the unique, cleverly named cocktails — such as the “Anecdotal Old Fashioned” — dot “the Remedy List,” Kierland’s name for the cocktail menu. That one consists of Buffalo Trace Single Barrel, House Sasparilla Syrup, Nopal Cactus, and a Palo Santo Smoked Finish.
The eclectic array of sharable food items includes the Scottsdale Hot Chicken Wings, which are tossed in Arizona Citrus Garlic Aleppo Pepper, and the Brussels Sprouts accented with Jalapeno Bacon.
For all its dazzle and whimsy, however, Antidote is meant to bring people together. “With its beautifully landscaped pathway and inviting atmosphere, people are naturally drawn to this area,” said Cahn. “Now we have a wonderful additional amenity for our guests, and we look forward to continuing to welcome our neighbors and community to this new spot.”
A Golf Haven
To be sure, the community of golfers has always looked at Kierland as a wonderful place to stop. Before there was even a hotel, there was golf, and it remains the resort’s most cherished amenity.
Nancy Dickens has been an eyewitness to the Kierland golf evolution. She arrived at the resort in 2005 as director of agronomy and since 2013 has served as the golf club’s general manager. She’s weathered all the trendy bells and whistles, from golf bikes and Segways to Golf Boards, but these days she’s content to focus on course conditioning and the purity of the golf experience.
“I’m particularly proud that we retained our designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,” said Dickens. “We are in the heart of the city and the preservation of green space is so critical for everyone. People sometimes lose sight of how important a golf course can truly be in terms of air quality, noise reduction, and wildlife support. We first earned that designation in 2009 and our director of agronomy, Dan Figueras, has kept that going. Just today we posted a picture of some baby owls born over on Acacia No. 6. It’s a wonderful buffer as the hardscape continues to grow.”
Dickens is also justifiably proud of the 27-hole layout’s day-to-day conditions, which invariably rank at or near the top of courses in the region. A recent bunker remodel that began in 2019 and concluded in 2023 enhanced playability and maintainability as well as the conditioning aspects.
The latter phase saw the removal of aesthetic bunkers that were totally out of play, which upped the strategic shot values of the holes as well, notably at Acacia Nos. 7 and 9 and Ironwood No. 9. It also elevated the fun quotient, something Kierland folks take seriously.
To complete a superb golf experience, Kierland serves up Top 100 golf instructor Lindy LaBauve, state-of-the-art club-fitting with PING, and an award-winning golf shop. In the highly competitive world of golf retail, Dickens explained how Kierland’s is a perennial AGM Top 100 Golf Shop.
“It’s the logo, the variety of resort and golf wear, the great brands such as Johnie O, Titleist/Footjoy, and Lululemon,” said Dickens. “Having an engaged staff is important, too. I think what people want are selection, price point, and service, and that’s what we provide.”
It’s no wonder that late in 2024, The Westin Kierland Golf Club was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Golf Destination by BoardRoom Magazine, in partnership with Forbes Travel Guide. This esteemed accolade, recognized as the Hallmark of Excellence for golf courses, highlights exceptional golf experiences that set the standard in service, amenities, and overall guest satisfaction.
“We were thrilled to be recognized as a Distinguished Golf Destination,” Dickens said. “We strive for a fun, casual, hospitable service level, with a friendly staff that anticipates needs, plus a quality restaurant [Brittlebush] and fabulous course conditions. This designation speaks to the staff we have and the overall golf experience.”
Further Refinements
Antidote may be the show-stealer, but The Westin Kierland is brimming with other new attractions as well. Faro & Brag on the ground floor is the hotel’s new three-meal-a-day restaurant. Opened in February 2024, the emphasis is on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients, with food that not only looks and tastes great, but that also checks the “healthy” box. The Tamarind Braised Pork Shank and The Paella for two are dinner hits so far.
Another home run has been the comprehensive makeover to Agave, The Arizona Spa. All treatment rooms and the retail space were refurbished and modernized; the fitness facilities — weight room and workout area — were updated as well.
Particularly noteworthy was the introduction in December 2024 of Agave’s newest wellness offering, Comfort Touch Therapy, a specialized treatment including restorative massages and facials designed for individuals at various stages of a cancer diagnosis.
Agave, The Arizona Spa’s providers have earned certification from renowned wellness expert Christine Clinton’s award-winning Cancer Care program. Comfort Touch Therapy delivers much-needed relief and relaxation, addressing the unique physical and emotional needs and challenges of undergoing or recovering from cancer treatments.
More traditional healing comes in the form of the waters of life (or what the Scots call, “whisky”) found at The Scotch Library, off the hotel lobby. Fresh off its 12th birthday, the Scotch Library has benefitted from a recent boost in resources and acquisitions to cement its status as among the most distinctive venues in North America for sampling rare single malt scotch. Weekly tastings, monthly events, and expert guidance from The Westin Kierland’s team of Scotch Ambassadors make the whisky sipping experience an unparalleled treat.
Gesturing to the lake, the mountains and to Kierland’s signature golf holes while standing at the recently opened Antidote, Nancy Dickens smiled and said, “It’s such a beautiful place. You don’t want to leave.”
With so many new options for living and toasting to the good life, there’s no need to. ▪
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
(480) 922-9283 (golf)
(800) 354-5892 (resort)
www.KierlandGolf.com
