Let’s Tee-Off: Five of the Best Golf Courses in the Caribbean
by Karen Rollins May 16, 2022
Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world.
It’s
suitable for men, women and children and offers you a chance to socialise, exercise,
have fun, and hit a small ball really hard and (hopefully) really far.
One of the additional alluring aspects of golf is that almost every course offers spectacular scenery. This is particularly true in the Caribbean, where some of the world’s most beautiful golf courses can be found hugging the coastline.
If you fancy
playing 18-holes with blue skies overhead, an ocean backdrop, and palm trees
swaying, here are five of the best courses in the Caribbean.
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The Green
Monkey course on the luxurious Sandy Lane estate is one of the most prestigious
18-hole golfing venues in the Caribbean.
Designed by
Tom Fazio, the 72-par course is “carved from an old limestone quarry” and was opened
in 2004 after extensive renovations costing an estimated $25 million (US).
The signature 16th hole is where you’ll find a bunker surrounding grass which is sculpted into the shape of an iconic Bajan Green Monkey. This course provides a golfing experience that is unique and unforgettable.
The Mid
Ocean Club is a private member’s club that welcomes the public onto its first-class
golf course for an 18-hole round on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
A fixture on
the golfing scene since the 1920s, the Mid Ocean was originally designed by
Charles Blair Macdonald and his associate Seth Raynor before being slightly rejigged
in the 1950s by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The par 71 course
offers plenty of bunkers, elevated tees, lightning fast greens, and an
unmatched view of the ocean.
Dominican Republic – Teeth of the Dog
Casa De
Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course, designed by Peter Dye, is widely regarded as
the number one golf course in the Caribbean.
“Hand carved
from the rugged rock and coral of the Dominican coastline”, Teeth of the Dog
has 18 incredibly beautiful holes, including seven along the dramatic cliff edge,
and is labelled one of the most exhilarating golfing venues in the world.
The trade
winds from the Caribbean Sea ensure that this course offers a constant challenge
even for the best golfers.
The Tryall
Club is an 18-hole, 71-par course measuring just over 6,836 yards, situated
close to Montego Bay.
Opened in
1958, the course’s terrain is varied and includes tropical ravines, coconut
groves, and forested hills, as well as unrivalled views of the Caribbean Sea.
The first
six holes are relatively flat but after the 7th hole, which features an
18th-century water wheel that used to power sugar mills on the estate, the
course becomes more challenging with frequent troughs and peaks.
The Tryall
Club has hosted a few major tournaments including The Johnnie Walker World
Championship and the Mazda Championship.
Dorado Beach
Resort is home to two top-class golf courses, including the par 72 East Course,
which was named the number one golf course in Puerto Rico by Golf Digest in
2016.
Originally designed
in 1955 by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr, the East Course was
Puerto Rico’s first-ever golfing venue. It stretches for 7,200 yards and offers
panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
A stern
challenge for most players, especially because of the ever-present Caribbean
trade winds, the East Course is a ‘must-do’ for golf enthusiasts visiting
Puerto Rico.
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So, next
time you’re planning a Caribbean holiday, don’t forget to pack your clubs because
what can be better than playing a round of golf in a tropical location, with a
rum punch waiting for you at the 19th hole!
