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South Carolina golf vacation hotspots Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Hilton Head know a spa visit is an essential part of a golf trip for women golf travelers. With that in mind, we pair up golf courses women love with nearby spas.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - It’s obvious since the first gutta percha golf ball was struck - a bad slice, by the way - that men and women view the game of golf very differently.

For men, it’s all about out-driving your buddies for bragging rights, humiliating your opponents and maybe winning some money along the way. For women, it’s all about the outfits.

Just kidding. But it is true that women often consider factors different from men when choosing a golf course. For the most part, women don’t like beastly long courses or forced carries.

The same is true for post-round pursuits. Women want to refresh and rejuvenate. Men want to drink and make excuses.

This story is for the women and many of the men who are getting into spa treatments. Here are some of the best combinations of golf/spas in South Carolina:

Myrtle Beach

Women-friendly courses

• Willbrook Plantation on Pawleys Island.

• King’s North at Myrtle Beach National.

• Willard Byrd Golf Course at Sea Trail Resort & Golf Links in Sunset Beach.

Spas

• Mystic Garden Day Spa (5903 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, tel. (843) 449-2247) gets good reviews from women who have experienced it. The spa offers shiatsu, which is rhythmic pressure three to 10 seconds on specific points along the body’s “meridians.” They also have synchronized massage, co-ed therapists, foot reflexology and paraffin treatments.

• VanEpps Rejuvenation (417 79th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, tel. (843) 497-9699) was started by a retired physician who wanted to combine traditional spa amenities with a professional medical practice. That became known as “aesthetic medicine.”

It’s a “non-surgical, medical approach to beauty and anti-aging.” That includes “threadlifts,” non-surgical facelifts, mesotherapy, injections for fat dissolution and skin rejuvenation as well as more traditional spa techniques like massage, manicures and pedicures and waxing.

Charleston and Kiawah Island

• Osprey Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

• Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms.

Spas

The Spa at Charleston Place• The Spa at Charleston Place (205 Meeting St., Charleston, tel. (843) 722-4900) in downtown Charleston - you don’t have to stay at the hotel to go to the spa. Guests get to use the health club, with its indoor/outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and steam room.

The spa has massage, manicures and pedicures, facials and other customized treatments.

Plus, when you’re through, you have all of those great, downtown Charleston shops.

• The Earthling Day Spa (245 East Bay St., tel. (843) 722-4737), located on Ansonborough Square in Charleston’s historic, newly renovated east side, has pilates, which for those of you who aren’t hip to new spa trends, involves exercise designed for long, lean muscles while enhancing strength, agility, tone and flexibility.

The Earthling has the usual array of massage techniques, like therapeutic, aromatherapy and hot stone, as well as an “Eco Venus sugar glow” and “milk and honey envelopment.”

Hilton Head Island

• Golden Bear Club at Indigo Run.

• Palmetto Dunes, Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course.

• Okatie Creek at Sun City Hilton Head.

Spas

The Heavenly Spa• The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa (2 Grasslawn Ave., Hilton Head Island, tel. (843) 681-4000) has the Heavenly Spa, set amidst gardens, fountains and lagoons.

The Heavenly Spa “celebrates the revitalizing benefits of the region’s herbs, minerals and customs.” It has nine treatment rooms, a couple’s suite with whirlpool, including a women-only, beauty salon, locker room with steam and sauna, and men’s, women’s and co-ed relaxation rooms.

• The European Spa has an oceanside massage at Marriott’s Surf Watch resort (5 Grasslawn Ave., tel. (843) 682-3915), close to the beach at the Barony Beach Resort.Experience distinctive decors, imaginative dining, and attentive service at Renaissance Hotels & Resorts.

The spa has the usual assortment of massage, plus “balancing bliss,” a deep massage for face, scalp and body with visualization and relaxation techniques. It also has the “medi-spa” massage, which is unique to the European Spa, and is designed for people who are suffering from chronic or acute muscle or joint pain, inflammation, stiffness swelling or other injuries.

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North Carolina Resort Spas • North Carolina Medical Spas • North Carolina Day Spas

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Massachusetts Day Spas • Massachusetts Resort Spas • Massachusetts Medical Spas

• Massachusetts Destination Spas

For the past 15 years, Mary Lee has trusted her pale, allergy-prone skin to the firm hand of facialist Rosaline Lowe. “I just ask for whatever is good and new and listen to her,” the Brookline artist said. “I’m older, so I’ll use anything that works.”

So when Lowe first suggested adding décolleté treatments to her regular facial regime, Lee happily and immediately acquiesced. “The area became smoother and less wrinkly,” Lee said. “Your skin is alive and young, and it’s fabulous. It pops.”

Heaving bosoms may be the stuff of romance-novel legend, but the décolleté, or upper chest area, tends to be a cosmetically neglected part of body. Skincare zealots usually quit their cleansing regimes once they hit the jawline, and while facials often include a shoulder massage, few attend to the neck and chest in any meaningful way.

But now some local salons are offering décolleté treatments for this oft-exposed bit of body geography. Exhale Mind Body Spa in the Back Bay recently introduced its Bodice Facial, a 30-minute treatment designed exclusively for the neck and chest. Red Zoe, director of skin care development, added the regimen to address the needs of an area she calls the “Aphrodite part of the body.”

“The décolleté is one of the most beautiful and feminine areas of the body and should be treated in the same manner that one treats one’s face,” Zoe says. “It ages at the same rate as the face and should be nurtured in a similar fashion.”

During the treatment, the décolleté is treated with an enzyme mask to slough off dry skin, then hydrated with a softening mask. A cool laser treatment then tightens the skin. Zoe says the $85 treatment, which can help fade sun and liver spots, is most popular with baby boomers reluctantly owning up to years of sunbathing. (A facial is an additional $65.)

The Equinox Spa at Boston in the Back Bay offers the 45-minute Décolleté Boost, which spa manager Judilyn Green describes as “almost like a facial.” Steps include cleansing, toning, steaming, a botanical enzyme peel, and a moisturizing mask - plus lots of massage. Green explains that dehydration - due to one too many cocktails or dry air - causes fine vertical lines to appear on the chest. The Boost, at $35, helps plump the skin, she says, resulting in “that really glowing finish.”

Lowe, the owner of Rosaline’s Skincare & Spa, is emphatic when discussing the importance of proper neck and chest care.

“I have clients come in for facials, and I have to tell them how important it is to keep that area moisturized,” she says. During her 40-minute Neck & Eye Boost, she treats the neck and chest to both collagen (for moisture) and elastin (for firmness), then covers the area with plastic wrap for up to a half-hour to let the ingredients take effect. The cost? $70. If sun damage to the chest is significant, she might also suggest a light microdermabrasion or glycolic peel.

At the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Patrycja Crzarnecka, owner of the Estetika at Royal Treatments Spa, offers a 25-minute Neck and Decolletage Treatment that includes cleansing, exfoliation, massage, and an alpha hydroxy mask. She says the $40 treatment is most popular with women concerned with early signs of aging. “The face you can cover with makeup, but not the neck, chest, and hands,” she says.

Which is why dermatologists contend that prevention is the best way to keep neck and chest looking youthful. That means using sunblock daily.

“People are better at putting sunscreen on their face, but people who want to look their best should use sunscreen in both areas,” said Dr. Mathew Avram, director of the Dermatology Laser & Cosmetics Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. In terms of treatment for the skin, he said: “We want to use lasers that can treat the underlying damage.”

A visit to the spa can’t hurt, either. Estheticians say the results of a décolleté treatment can be extended by staying hydrated, protecting the neck and chest with scarves and sunblock, and using products such as Clarins Super Restorative Decollete and Neck Concentrate and Bliss’s Thinny Thin Chin.

All of which help assure bodice-ripping appeal for years to come

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Complementary therapy continues to grow in popularity as people search for alternatives to ‘traditional’ medicine. There is a rise in popularity of the holistic approach to health as a way of combating the negative effects from our everyday lifestyles

At the start of 2008, many of us would have vowed to eat a more balanced diet, cut down on alcohol, join a fitness class or take up a new sport.

Whether or not these New Year’s resolutions have been strictly followed, many of us will still be thinking about ways to address our work-life balance.

Whether it is cutting down on overtime, switching off the BlackBerry or setting aside an hour of “me-time” each evening, it’s no wonder that many people are turning to different kinds of complementary therapy to help them keep the balance just right.

With today’s working patterns, stress is a condition that affects more people than ever.

It’s becoming a widely used term, and more people are waking up to the damaging effects it can have on our health.

Increasing numbers of people are turning to complementary therapy to combat stress, as well as a number of other conditions that can be aggravated by stress.

Used on their own in some cases, and complementary to Western medicine in others, the benefits of ancient holistic practices such as aromatherapy, reflexology, Indian head massage and an array of other therapies are being shouted from the rooftops.

Complementary therapy is a great way to help address our work-life balance either by kick-starting a healthy lifestyle or by providing a means to switch off from a long working week.

Complementary therapy encompasses a range of treatments that can be used on their own or as a supplement to Western medicine if required, to encourage a balanced state of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

It can benefit everybody in a variety of ways, but it can be especially effective in alleviating conditions associated with stress such as muscular tension, pre-menstrual stress (PMS), tension headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

There are many benefits of complementary therapy depending on which ones are right for you, but generally a course of complementary treatments can help alleviate stress, promote relaxation and eliminate toxins.

After a treatment, patients can feel invigorated and energised or relaxed and calm.

Reflexology

Working with the reflexes in the feet that correspond to all parts of the body, this treatment aims to re-balance the body’s energy paths by eliminating toxins, encouraging a harmonious state of health.

The therapist performs a treatment on the feet which many say can feel like a firm yet relaxing foot massage.

Reflexology is an excellent treatment for relieving stress and conditions associated with stress such as IBS.

Aromatherapy

This massage treatment uses aromatic essential oils that have been extracted from different parts of plants. It is a practice that has been used for thousands of years to promote natural healing. Each oil has unique properties that are used to enhance health.

The therapist can blend a particular combination of oils or pre-blended oils to suit the patient’s needs.

For example, lavender essential oil is used to promote relaxation and black pepper oil is particularly useful for muscular aches and pains.

Aromatherapy can work to relax and uplift physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is well-known for its effectiveness in reducing stress-related problems and it can be beneficial for sufferers of nervous tension, anxiety, and depression.

As well as being used in massage, a few drops of aromatherapy oils can be used in the bath or in oil burners to enhance the aroma of a room.

Swedish massage

Swedish massage relieves stress and muscular tension as well as improving circulation by using deep stroking, kneading, friction and percussion movements to relax and revitalise the body.

Massage aids lymphatic drainage and boosts the immune system leaving the patient invigorated and energised. By increasing the oxygen flow in the blood and eliminating toxins from the body, massage can improve energy levels and enhance overall health and well being.

Reiki

Reiki is a form of touch therapy that evolved in Japan. The therapist uses hand placements over or on the patient to encourage the flow of energy through the body.

The patient may sense warmth or a tingling sensation during treatment.

This non-intrusive treatment works with the body’s chakras (energy centres) and realigns the mental, emotional and spiritual self encouraging a total sense of well-being.

Indian head massage

This massage focuses on the scalp and face but can also include the upper arms, upper back, neck and shoulders. It is used to help alleviate tension and promotes a deep sense of relaxation. As well as easing headaches and stress, this therapy can also have significant effect on the higher chakras of the body, encouraging a calmer mind, body and spirit.

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Meeting the Swiss naturopath, Dr Alfred Vogel, changed pharmacist Jan de Vries’ life forever – and in turn has improved the health of more than 100,000 people.

As the youngest ever pharmacy graduate in his native Netherlands, he was “doomed to be swallowed up by the big (drug) companies”.

Instead, when he met Dr Vogel at a homeopathic conference in 1959 and made a disparaging remark about complementary medicine, the great man told him not to be so small-minded. This tiny response started him on a long, difficult, often impecunious, but ultimately hugely rewarding, road for Jan. Because of the lack of practitioners, he had to train all over the world and he lost many friends, and he says everybody thought “he’s going to be a quack doctor”.

This came on top of the dire wartime deprivations he suffered with the rest of the Dutch population. Aged 10 he weighed two stone and used to eat grass as he was so hungry.

When his emaciated father returned from the concentration camps he passed on the crucial advice that it wasn’t the physically strong that survived, but the mentally and spiritually strong.

With Dr Vogel, Jan set up the first naturopathic clinic in Holland, in 1960. Having married a girl from Edinburgh, Jan is now based in Scotland, where he set up a health farm, in 1970, as Dr Vogel suggested. Jan is one of Europe’s leading experts on the subject, with seven clinics in the UK and Holland, and will visit Liverpool next week.

“There’s been a tremendous growth of interest in the whole field of natural medicine and rightly so, because it was neglected for years in favor of what I call the more aggressive method. Natural methods may take a bit longer, but they’re better in the longer run,” he says.

He has treated thousands of smokers inexpensively by acupuncture, as he wants to clean up the environment. Acupuncture breaks the habit and breaks the desire. Earlobe studs can also fill the need. Acupuncture is also used as a slimming aid to stimulate particular acu-points to increase metabolism and burn up fat. Within his practice, acupuncture, osteopathy and homeopathy are the most frequent methods he uses.

The philosophy is not to treat disease, but patients’ immune systems. There has been a terrific decline in health worldwide, because of poor environment, food, drink and air pollution, he believes.

“They’re the reason for the huge rise in degenerative diseases. Conditions like asthma, bronchitis, heart-problems, migraine, arthritis and rheumatism are the main things we treat,” he says. To him, the huge rise in respiratory problems amount to an epidemic. The emotional body’s state is related to a lot of “modern” diseases like cancer and ME.

At the heart of his treatment is naturopathy, a multi-disciplinary approach to health care that recognizes the body’s innate power to heal itself. Often the body needs assistance to function properly and naturopaths are skilled in tailoring natural health programs to the individual’s requirements.

They use a variety of treatments which may include dietary advice, nutritional supplements, detoxification, hands-on work such as osteopathy and massage, exercise, herbs, homeopathic remedies and hydrotherapy.

Speaking from personal experience, I experienced terrible problems with kidney stones in my early 20s and a post-operative malaise which I couldn’t throw off.

After trying all sorts of mainstream drugs, it was a very gifted naturopath who turned my life around. I can’t believe the general resilience in life and health that I now enjoy, compared to my state 30 years ago.

Incidentally, as evidence of alternative medicine providing the best means of healthy living, Dr Vogel is now aged 95 and still ski-ing.

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Although spring is around the corner, many people are falling prey to colds and upper respiratory tract infections. What can you do to avoid these seasonal illnesses? The best defense is keeping your body strong and healthy with a top-notch immune system.

One of the first and crucial steps is getting enough high-quality sleep. We tend to expect our bodies to do all they do in a day without getting adequate time to recover. Lack of sleep is a sure way to invite the latest germ to step in.

Quality sleep includes not only the length of time you are dreaming away, but how deeply you sleep. Caffeine and alcohol can both interfere with quality sleep, even if they are consumed hours before bedtime. Try not to consume caffeine after about mid-afternoon.

Stress can also steal away precious sleep time. Practice relaxing activities an hour or so before bedtime. It is not the time to do intense exercise, read an emotionally stimulating novel, or watch an action-packed or disturbing TV show or movie. Soft music and maybe a warm bath or shower can help calm you down after a busy day.

Stress is also a direct contributor to a weak immune system. Look at your day and how you can reduce stress. This could mean delegating responsibilities to others, taking on fewer commitments, becoming more organized, or letting go of the little stressors of the day. Find ways to relax more often. Regular exercise is a great stress buster.

Plan each day to do something special for yourself — a “self-nurturing” activity. This is anything that can make you feel like you are on a mini-vacation — like reading a fun magazine or a good book, taking a walk in the sunshine, doing yoga, planning your next vacation, taking a bubble bath. Getting a massage is a real treat for relaxation and self-nurturing.

Getting adequate fluids throughout the day is very important for fending off the latest flu bug. Our bodies have mucous secretions in the mouth, nasal cavity, eyes, throat, lungs, and intestinal tract that are part of the body’s defense system. When these are dry, they are more likely to let invaders in.

Shoot for at least 64 ounces of fluid a day, more if you are exercising. Do not wait until you are thirsty, as by this time you are already somewhat dehydrated. Drink adequate fluids with any medications or supplements so they are better absorbed.

Another immune system booster is a healthy intestinal tract. The “good bacteria” that hold residence there can assist you in keeping the “bad bugs” at bay. To expand this army, you can consume active cultures (as in yogurt or other fermented foods), or probiotic supplements. You can also change your diet by limiting sweets, fats, refined grain foods, and high amounts of animal proteins, while increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds. These latter healthy foods promote the beneficial bacteria. Studies on children showed that the addition of active cultures reduced their risk of upper respiratory tract infections.

The helpful foods noted above also contain nutrients, such as antioxidants, that protect your body directly. In addition, they contain numerous other vitamins and minerals that are part of a healthy immune system. Make sure that at least half of your dinner plate is vegetables. Use fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds as snacks. The more variety in your diet, the more likely you are to be getting the many nutrients needed for health.

Adequate but not excessive protein is important for optimal immune system function. Choose fish, lean meat/poultry, low fat dairy products, eggs, beans, tofu, tempeh, nuts, and seeds. Unfortunately, many older adults do not get enough protein or fluids, and because of aging, may be more at risk of having a compromised immune system.

Look at the pattern of your eating throughout the day. A great plan is to eat three meals with healthy snacks between. This gives your body consistent fuel to do its job. It also provides more opportunity to get in all the foods needed in a day.

Supplements can be helpful as a addition to a healthy diet — not to replace it. Look for a multiple vitamin that has about 100 percent DV of most nutrients. Taking megavitamins with large amounts of some vitamins and minerals can actually create imbalances and do more harm, than good. Vitamin D is a hot topic at the moment and among other benefits, may be related to our body’s defense system as well.

Besides helping with stress, regular exercise can keep the body strong and healthy. The recommendation is to get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days and to add activities to maintain or increase muscle 2-3 times a week.

Now step back and take a look at what actions you may want to take to improve your immune system. Make a list and decide where you want to start. Pick out one or two goals and make them a priority this week. Then work your way down the list.

Enjoy good health!

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