Like flowers and trees, spring is when golfers come out of hibernation and embrace warming temperatures as they rush to the lush greenery of golf courses. Puerto Rico is ideally suited to welcome them with tropical weather, 18 golf courses, and as an acclaimed traveler-friendly destination.
Puerto Rico is an American territory that does not require a passport for U.S. citizens, is bilingual, uses the U.S. dollar for currency, and is the air hub of the Caribbean.
In addition to wonderful golf courses and resorts, visitor trips are enhanced by Puerto Rico’s food. With more than 4,000 restaurants, the choices are tantalizing. Be ready to experience the distinctive spice that characterizes Afro-Caribbean cuisine.
Many after-golf activities complement one’s stay. Each Puerto Rico visit starts with a warm welcome (“Bienvenidos”) and continues everywhere you explore. The Island is rich in festivals, traditions, art, and music, and the people are gracious and hospitable. With 78 municipalities, many with unique customs and distinct “personality,” there’s always another interesting place to discover nearby after golf.
Ocean, mountain, and rainforest views await from many of Puerto Rico’s courses. El Yunque is a spectacular rain forest that can be seen from several Puerto Rico golf courses, including at Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve’s Championship Course, where the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open is played annually, and from the Ocean and River courses at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf & Beach Resort. Unfathomably beautiful ocean views await at Royal Isabela and Punta Borinquen, both perched atop seaside cliffs on the Island’s Northwest Coast. Near San Juan, Ponce, and Humacao, the courses in Dorado Beach, Bahia Beach, Costa Caribe, and Palmas Athletic Club are adjacent to the ocean, with holes parallel to the sandy beaches and turquoise surf.
Puerto Rico is ideally suited to provide traveling golfers with the things they seek. Here are two golf venues that are representative of the 18 diverse yet complementary courses and numerous resorts on the Island.
Located adjacent to the Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, Costa Caribe has 27 holes (three 9-hole layouts) that inspire the skills of seasoned golfers and provide a gratifying game for recreational players. The sun-washed courses are located on a former sugarcane field – and offer stunning views of the Central Mountains and the sparkling Caribbean Sea. The land is also home to towering coconut trees, charming coqui frogs and a kaleidoscope of birds.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach
The championship 18-hole course at The St. Regis Bahia Beach was designed by renowned golf architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr. It has two miles of beach, holds Audubon Gold Certified status, and has views of the rainforest from nearly every hole.
Not only are the Island’s courses fun and scenic, 4 are rated among the top 50 in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Costa Rica. They offer an array of options to suit each player’s tastes, with a range of price points, terrain features, and designs from some of the game’s greats. These include Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tom Fazio, Tom Kite, Rees Jones, and Gary Player.
