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  • A Mediterranean motif encompasses much of The Fairmont Grand Del...

    A Mediterranean motif encompasses much of The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, which also has a Tom Fazio-designed golf course on its sprawling property.

  • Each fairway on the Tom Fazio-designed Fairmont Grand Golf Club...

    Each fairway on the Tom Fazio-designed Fairmont Grand Golf Club is like a course in itself because of the hills, canyons and secluded nature of the property.

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Except for signage, letterheads and business cards, not much has changed at The Grand Del Mar since Fairmont assumed management of the property in April.

In this case, leaving well enough alone appears to be a sound business strategy.

“You can never be stagnant in the hotel business, but this is not a property that needs a lot of attention as far as renovations and upgrades,” said Christof Luedi, the resort’s regional vice president and general manager. “The conditioning and service levels are known as outstanding, and the property is widely perceived as one of the premier resorts in the country. It’s a spectacular hotel. We have a tremendous opportunity to build on the legacy of the property.”

With golf, tennis, pools, an equestrian center, hiking, mountain biking, a spa and several dining options at The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, guests seeking solitude can find it at the tucked-away resort and its architectural design that is Mediterranean at heart with Moroccan, French, Spanish and Portuguese elements enhancing the palette. The 249 guestrooms have patios with golf course or canyon views. Most are 600 square feet, while 31 others range from the 1,100-square-foot Prado Suite to two Presidential Suites of more than 2,800 square feet.

Addison, the resort’s signature culinary venue, is the first in San Diego to earn the AAA Five Diamond Award and a Forbes Five-Star rating. The designations bolster the location’s status for elegance, as top Forbes designations for the resort and spa make The Fairmont Grand Del Mar the only triple Five-Star resort in California.

“We feel strongly that when you combine the hotel, spa, golf course, Addison, the location and the nature preserve and natural surroundings that we are both well-rounded and luxurious,” Luedi said. “We can fulfill all of our guest’s passions in life. We really have all the elements here for a memorable stay.”

Having good memories on the golf course will likely occur no matter your score. San Diego’s only Tom Fazio-designed course is a gorgeous accompaniment to the hotel due to its layout in the Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve. Each fairway on The Fairmont Grand Golf Club’s 380 acres is practically a course unto itself because of the dips, curves, mounding and Fazio bunkering that is as pretty as it is penal.

“Because the topography goes through canyons and hillsides and has a lot of elevation changes, most holes have you feeling like you’re on your own private course,” said Shawn Cox, the club’s director of golf. “Fazio did a masterful job. He really enjoys this layout.”

As will most golfers, mainly because of a design that allows ample room for driving and has banked fairway edges that can direct errant shots toward the fairway. As a package, the four par-3s are a fun test, with the 198-yard 17th hole requiring special attention because of a lake that juts in front of the tee box and abuts the left and back of the green.

The course, which opened in 1999 as Meadows Del Mar, became The Grand Golf Club in 2006. Renovations in the past nine years have included adding 1,000 pine and pepper trees, refurbishing a few fairways and greens and lengthening the 16th hole to a par-5 to make the course the 7,160-yard, par-72 beauty it is today.

“As an overall resort, the golf course was a big part of the appeal because it adds another destination element to the equation. Golf is a big part of some of our resort’s identities,” Luedi said of the growing number of Fairmont resorts with golf courses on property. “The course here is perfect because it’s so natural and fits nicely into the landscape.”

The pairing of the once privately managed resort and Fairmont is a natural fit as well, according to the new boss.

“Guests know they’re getting the best of service when they come here,” Luedi said. “What we can do as a company is give The Grand more global exposure. We’re happy to have it in our portfolio.”