Written by: Jordan Fuller, True Beach Lover and the golf expert behind Golf Influence
When people hear the words “tropical paradise,” the Caribbean is almost always what comes to mind. White sand beaches, crystal-clear blue water, swim-up bars, and endless sunsets highlight any trip to the area, but the perfect year-round weather also means that the Caribbean has a bevy of incredible golf resorts glistening in the sun. Here are four of the best golf resorts in the Caribbean.
1: Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort: Curaçao
Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort offers all the beauty and amenities you’ll find at the best resorts in the Caribbean, with the added benefit of a world-class championship golf course designed by the legendary Pete Dye. The opening holes at Old Quarry Golf Course hug the oceanfront, inviting you into the round with calm breezes and wide, lush fairways. As you move inland, the mountainside vistas take center stage, and the closing holes feature brilliant routing around the Spanish Water Harbor. While you don’t have to stay at the resort to enjoy the golf course, it’s an amazing oceanfront experience perfect for golfers and non-golfers alike.
You can't just play one round of golf with a view like this. (Photo by: @ek_crawf)2: Westin Golf Resort & Spa Playa Conchal, Costa Rica
This secluded resort delivers the incredible hospitality that the Westin is known for around the world, with an idyllic location between the tropical forest and virgin beaches of Costa Rica. On top of that, the Reserva Conchal Golf Course meanders around the resort with forested Costa Rican hillsides in the background and numerous beachfront holes. The Robert Trent Jones II design fits naturally into the landscape, with challenging water hazards placing a premium on good iron play–oh, and keep your eyes open for all the interesting wildlife living in the on-site refuge!
This tranquil course is the perfect place to spend your next vacay. (Photo by: @charmed_imsure269)3: Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Herradura, Costa Rica
This gorgeous, open-air resort features some of the best dining you’ll find in the Caribbean, as well as an out-of-this-world golf course. The attached La Iguana Golf Course is a challenging Ted Robinson design with a course rating of 73.4 and a slope of 145, so bring your A-game or plenty of golf balls. Beginner golfers should make use of the white tees, as they bring the course down to a manageable 5,900 yards. Banana trees, tons of native plants and rampant wildlife give the feeling of playing golf in the middle of a nature preserve, which adds to the already memorable experience.
Golden hour view from Los Sueños Marriot Golf Course. (Photo by: @rajrkrishnan)4: Newstead Belmont Hills Hotel & Golf: Bermuda
This centrally-located hotel offers the best of both worlds in Bermuda: it’s a short water-taxi ride (provided by the hotel) to the popular town of Hamilton but also just minutes from the South Shore beaches that adorn many a Bermuda tourist guide. A stay at the resort includes a complimentary round of golf at the attached Belmont Hills Golf Course, but you’ll want to come back for more than just one round. A relatively short course that underwent a full redesign in 2002, the course requires accuracy to navigate the tree-lined fairways and numerous water hazards. The slick, multi-tiered Bermuda greens will challenge your putting skills, and the lovely views of the Sound will stick in your memory long after your trip is done.
Nothing better than a round of sunset golf. (Photo by: @gotobermudagolf)Whether you’ve been a golf pro for years or you’re a novice who plays for fun, there’s no denying these courses are outstanding. With our 2019 Noble Beach Prize winner for Most Swingin’ Greens in Cancun to these lush courses in Costa Rica, we don’t see what’s stopping from you booking your next vacay! Check out these amazing deals to see more than just a golf course!
