By Tom Crosby

(March 2008) For motorists using I-85 south of Greensboro, the 11-story Grandover, rises magnificently on the horizon between exits 119 and 122.

Opened in February, 1999, the Grandover sits amidst 1,500 landscaped acres of woodland that includes two show-piece golf courses designed by David Graham, winner of 35 international golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

Golf is integral to the Grandover, since all of its 247-rooms immediately overlook all or part of either the East or West golf courses, with rolling mountains completing the scenic view.

The massive Mediterranean-style structure and turreted, clay-colored roof, suggest luxury. The front lobby confirms it with a 40-foot high ceiling, Spanish marble columns, white Italian Travestine marble floor interspersed with Tasmanian gold limestone - complemented with wrought iron and textured woods. The look is of a Mediterranean palazzo.

Past the front lobby is the atrium lobby, the hotel's public gathering place, with windows placed high on the walls allowing streams of light to enhance the feeling of openness and nourish strategically placed plants, trees and flowers.

During winter, two one-story Tennessee fieldstone fireplaces bracket the lobby (both work), and provide visual and actual warmth to those sitting nearby at the serpentine marble bar with textured wood trim and leather/brass bar stools. Between are chairs and sofas for lounging. Paired staircases winding between ornate banisters and light posts reach the second floor walkway overlooking the lobby.

Walking through both lobbies brings diners to the hotel's main restaurant, Di Valletta (a AAA rated Four Diamond restaurant), with giant windows overlooking a manicured lawn and the East golf course's 18th hole. It also has an interior oyster bar.

Cafe Espresso, with a deli-style showcase of food and drinks, can be found on the north end of the resort next to the game room with billiards and hand-manipulated soccer tables. Two television sets keep weary golfers mesmerized.

For children (and adults), there is a heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool with an indoor waterfall. Nooks and crannies and curves in the design replace the old rectangle pool design.

36 holes of golf, two racquetball courts and four tennis courts offer alternative sports.

The Grandover Spa includes five treatment rooms, a 1,800 square foot fitness center with weight room and aerobics area, Swedish massages, facials, reflexology, mens and womens steam rooms, saunas and lockers.

Guest Rooms
All guest rooms have a marble entry foyer, marble bathroom, custom tapestry designed exclusively for Grandover and a warm and eclectic blend of custom furnishings and upholstery. Each room has its own area rug inset in the carpeting to make guests feel more at home.

• Guest rooms elegantly renovated in July 2007, include spacious Kings and European themed suites. Most accommodations have panoramic views of the golf courses and our magnificent landscaped terrine.
• Accommodations include luxurious décor and new elegant bedding and linens.
• Each guest room includes coffee maker with complimentary coffee, mini refrigerator, hair dryer, iron, ironing board and bath robes,
• New 42” HD flat plasma television, Premium cable channels.
• Wireless Internet access, Computer data port. Dual line telephone with voice mail.
• 21st Century electronic features, including data ports in all meeting and guest rooms and easy Internet access via our T1 server.
• On site audio visual company

Bathrooms include a deep European tub, glass wall showers, heavy terrycloth towels, a cushioned wrought iron make-up bench, gold colored towel racks for the 100% cotton towels and Lord and Mayfair amenities (mouthwash, body lotion, conditioning shampoo and bath gel.) Soaps include glycerine, almond oatmeal and fresh scent. There is a wall mounted hair dryer and a speaker to hear the television. The sink top is marble.

Each floor has its own ice and coke machine.

Special features: A free copy of USA Today delivered to the room daily; background noise on the radio (choose between ocean, forest, birds, brook or rain sounds); billiard tables in Cafe Espresso; cross-cut lawns; Grandover branded chocolates on the pillow after turn-down; two extra pillows per room; outside benches scattered about the grounds; guest room views; indented, heavy drinking glasses for a better grip; data ports and a second room phone for business travelers.

Have no doubts about it. The Grandover wants conferences and groups, with expansion plans for another 500 plus rooms, yet it offers plenty of enticement for couples and families. (Updated March 2008

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