Winter is now just a month away, but on Thanksgiving Day here in Maryland, it already feels like Winter! Let’s warm things up a bit and talk about the best Caribbean golf destinations.
Jamaica
Jamaica is always a popular destination for Americans and Europeans alike. The all inclusive resorts there are the main reason.
Jamaica also offers some pretty solid golf options as well.
The Rose Hall resort near Montego Bay provides access to three of the top for golf courses on the island, namely Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon and the fabled White Witch course.
White Witch Golf Course
The White Witch course does not have holes along the coast, but its setting in the mountains offers some pretty incredible views, which makes it a popular choice among travelers.
Half Moon Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design that has hosted such events as the Dunhill Cup and the Red Stripe Pro-Am.
Another interesting layout on the island is the Tryall Golf Club, located at the Tryall resort to the west of Montego Bay.
Built in 1957, Tryall offers golfers a variety of holes in a tropical setting that combines ocean and jungle views. This course hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament from 1991 to 1995, won by the likes of Fred Coupes, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els.
Barbados – A must visit for golfers
Apes Hill Golf Club
While I have yet to make the trip, Barbados has been on my radar for quite some time. Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean, and this has enabled it to avoid some of the devastating hurricanes that have impacted other islands.
Barbados has also been the focus of some amazing golf course development over the last dozen years or so, which is not surprising considering the British influence there.
A discussion of golf in Barbados must start with the Sandy Lane resort in the Holetown area on the west side of the island.
Sandy Lane is home to 45 holes, starting with the Old Nine, constructed in 1961. Next up is the Country Club, a Tom Fazio design that hosted the 2006 World Cup.
Last, but certainly not least, is Fazio’s Green Monkey course, an ultra exclusive, par 72 track stretching out to over 7,300 yards carved out through an old limestone quarry. It will cost you a pretty penny, but having a course like that to yourself for a day may just be worth it.
Not to be outdone is the Apes Hill golf club located further inland.
Designed by architects Chris Cole and Jeff Potts, the course opened in 2009 as part of a community containing a golf club, polo club and tennis club. The golf course is a par 72 stretching to over 7,100 yards.
Rounding out the golf scene in Barbados are Royal Westmoreland Country Club, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that opened in 1995, Barbados Golf Club, and Rockley Golf and Country Club.
Puerto Rico – The Granddaddy of Caribbean Golf Destinations
Royal Isabela – Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has been flying under the radar for a number of years now as a top Caribbean golf destination. However, due to its history, it is clearly the granddaddy.
This in spite of a number of new courses that were built as recently as 2009. Unfortunately, the timing of those newer developments was adversely affected by the global economic meltdown 2008-2009.
Then, as the island was slowly trying to get back on its feet, it was slammed by Hurricane Maria last year. Just like many Caribbean destinations, tourism dropped off dramatically.
Puerto Rico is hoping for a rebound in 2019. All of the big resorts should be opened by March, while most will be opened by December, including the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club.
It doesn’t end there though. Golfers can find exceptional golf from the east coast of the island in Humacao all the way over to the southwest in Ponce.
If you are interested in a trip that includes great golf, plus other activities such as a hike in the El Yunque jungle, kayaking in bioluminescent bays, or a snorkeling trip by catamaran to Flamenco Beach, then El Conquistador in Fajardo could be a great selection.
One of your best resort values in Puerto Rico will be found at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar resort in Rio Grande. You’ll have great golf options there, but it is also in close proximity to Coco Beach Golf Club and Bahia Beach Golf Club.
Further to the west of San Juan you will find the fabled Dorado Beach resort, originally developed by Laurance Rockefeller in the late 1950’s. The East Course at Dorado Beach remains one of Puerto Rico’s top 3 courses.
Last, but not least, is the newest development in Puerto Rico, completed in the last ten years… Royal Isabela.
This may provide golfers with the best views in all of the Caribbean, as the Links at Royal Isabela are set upon cliffs that rise 200 feet above the Atlantic.
Best New Caribbean Golf Destination
Old Quarry
In my view, the best of the newer golf courses in the Caribbean (those that have opened in the last ten years), may just be the Old Quarry golf course at the Santa Barbara Plantation resort in Curacao.
This is another golf course influenced by an old limestone quarry.
Designed by Pete Dye and opened in April 2010, Old Quarry Golf Course takes on the shape of the naturally contoured site overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the sheltered bay known as Spanish Water.
Old Quarry has been getting rave reviews as it has matured over the last several years. In fact, it was listed as the top Caribbean golf course in 2018 by a USA Today survey.
While there is only one other course in Curacao worthy of play, the Santa Barbara resort offers a variety of other activities that make it a solid destination for golf travelers, including sailing, deep sea fishing, and incredible snorkeling.
Other Caribbean Golf Destinations For Consideration
As there are numerous islands in the Caribbean, you have plenty of golf options. And, we are not even considering the Bahamas or Bermuda, which are not actually located within the Caribbean Sea.
Below is just a list of other Caribbean islands with their top golf courses…
Aruba – Tierra Del Sol resort
Anguilla – CuisinArt Resort
Antigua – Mill Reef Club
St. Thomas USVI – Devil’s Triangle (still closed due to 2017 Hurricanes)
St. Croix USVI – Buccaneer Golf Course
St. Kitts & Nevis – Royal St. Kitts
St. Lucia – Sandals Golf and Country Club
Grand Cayman – Ritz Carlton Golf Club
Top Caribbean Golf Destination – Dominican Republic
Hands down, the Dominican Republic is the top golf destination in the Caribbean.
Punta Espada
With high quality newer courses such as Punta Espada and Corales Golf Club developed in the last dozen years, and, in my view, the granddaddy of them all, Teeth of the Dog, it’s no wonder that the Dominican Republic tops the list.
The east side of the Dominican Republic, around Punta Cana, is where most of the golf action can be found. There, you will find about a dozen or so golf courses.
Starting with the Punta Cana resort, where you will find the fabulous Tom Fazio designed Corales Golf Club, you can then head up a little further to the north to find the Jack Nicklaus design at the Hard Rock Resort, or head south to find Jack’s fabulous Punta Espada Golf Club design at Cap Cana.
A golf trip to the Dominican Republic can’t be complete, however, without a trip down to the Casa De Campo resort in La Romana, where you will find Pete Dye’s legendary Teeth of the Dog.
Don’t worry though, the golf course is not as difficult as the name suggests, but it remains one of the top five courses in the Caribbean.
Final Thoughts
I haven’t even discussed the Mexican resorts along the Caribbean or other destinations such as Panama. However, you can see that there are numerous options for golfers who want to escape to paradise, and not have to deal with the crowds in Florida.
Golf in these destinations is not cheap, but if you just want to get away, enjoy the sunny weather, and play a round or two, they are well worth it.
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