|
Golf
Although
only 10 courses serve the entire country, each has its own
distinct character, and you can expect a golfing experience
in Jamaica to be a departure from the typical North American
links experience.
A
trip to Jamaican courses can guarantee, among other things,
stellar service.Caddies in Jamaica are expertly trained and
very familiar with the nuances of their courses. Each golfer
receives individual attention from his or her own caddie,
unlike busier golf locations where caddies may be serving
one or two golfers at once.
One
of Jamaica's most serious golf locations is the Tryall
Golf Club, about an hour west of Montego
Bay. Founded by Texans in the 1950s, the resort is a collection
of upscale homes owned by North Americans and Europeans. Tryall
is a private resort area, and many golfers are also renters
or owners of the resort's villas. If you opt out of staying
at Tryall, a visit to their course may be arranged through
hotel concierges. Staying at Round Hill Hotel, a small upscale
hotel just east of Tryall, increases
the ease with which such a visit can be arranged.
Another
main golfing area in Jamaica is the hub of Negril's
all-inclusive resorts. Be warned, though, when considering
golfing in Negril,
the predominant players here are not expert golfers. Rather,
you'll encounter many first-timers, or once-a-year types.
Regardless, golf at Negril Hills Golf Club
is a rare and novel experience, as you travel up and down
the elevated tees to the valley fairways, twisting and turning
around the guango trees.
Some
of the best golf on the northern coast of Jamaica is at the
Sandals Golf and Country Club. This
golf area, formerly known as the Upton Country Club, was in
a sad state of disrepair until about two years ago, when Sandals
purchased and revamped the area.
Manchester
Club is home to the Caribbean's oldest golf course. This
golfer's treasure is found in the city of Mandeville on Jamaica's
South Coast.
Only nine holes, it is set in luxurious rolling hills and
is worth a visit for aficionados.
Other
resorts in Jamaica, such as Half
Moon and Ironshore in Ocho Rios, Wyndham Rose Hall
(also known as the “White
Witch” course), Breezes, and Sandals, include
challenging and fun courses and cater to the golfer
with a family. These resorts
are all-inclusive and will include, among other things,
water-sports, meals, and spa time for family members
less interested in golf.
Golfing
on the island of Jamaica is a relaxed activity that
generally does not require reservations or advanced
booking. Making an impromptu decision to hit the links
should be easy and can help open your leisure-activity
options.
|
|
Caymanas
Golf & Country Club
18
Caymanas Estates
P.O. Box 61
Spanish Town
Tel:876- 922-3388
Fax:876-922-3394
Conceived in the early 1950's the Caymanas Golf Course opened
for play in 1957 and since that time has developed into a
magnificent parkland thanks to the tropical climate of Jamaica.
Caymanas is now regarded by many to be the finest in Jamaica
and ranked amongst the best in the Caribbean.
It offers an enjoyable and exacting test for golfers of all
abilities.
Cinnamon
Hill Golf Club
Robert Von Hagge Associates
18
at Wyndham Rose Hall Resort
Queen's Highway, Rose Hall
Montego Bay
Tel:876-953 2650
Fax:876-953 2617
18-hole Championship Ocean-side course
Par 71, 4 sets of Tees, large practice area
6637 yards Rated 72.4 USGA Slope 133
6215 yards Rated 70.2 USGA Slope 128
5864 yards Rated 74.4 Women Slope 133
5162 yards Rated 70.5 Women Slope 122
Elevations from Sea Level to 391 feet !
Constant
Spring Golf Club
Stanley Thompson
Constant Spring Road
P.O. Box 743
Kingston
Tel:876-924-1610
Fax:876-931-7741
Located in the heart of one of Kingston’s nicest residential
areas, Constant Spring was built in 1920 making it one of
Jamaica’s oldest golf courses. It is a tight, short
course with a breathtaking view at the 13th tee, and the challenge
of driving to a narrow plateau of fairway beyond a steep valley.
Grand
Lido Braco Golf Club
Grand Lido Braco
Rio Bueno
Tel:876-954-0000
Fax:876-954-0021
Located in Trelawny, between Duncan and Rio Bueno, this compact
but challenging 9-hole course is designed to sharpen your
short game. Water hazards, sand traps and deep grass bunkers
punctuate the fairways, making each approach tricky. The Bermuda
Tifdwarf greens can be cut to 3/16 of an inch, making them
very fast and challenging to read.
Half
Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club
Montego
Bay
P.O. Box 80
Montego Bay
Tel:876-953-3105
Fax:876-953-8089
Consistently
ranked one of the top golf courses in the world, the classic
Robert Trent Jones Snr. course is sculpted out of the foothills
of the western Jamaican coastline, and has an international
reputation for being challenging and breathtaking. A member
of Jack Nicklaus’ “Great Golf Resorts of the World,”
Half Moon has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments including
the Jamaica Open Golf Championship, the Dunhill Cup Final
of the Americas, and the Red Stripe Pro-Am.
Manchester
Golf Club
Caledonia
Road
P.O. Box 17
Mandeville
Tel:876-962-2403
Fax:876-625-6746
Located in the historic resort town of Mandeville, more than
2,000 feet above sea level, Manchester Country Club was built
over 100 years ago in the rolling hills of Manchester, this
is Jamaica’s oldest course, and one of its most popular.
Set on 55 acres, it has 9 greens and 18 tee boxes, enabling
you to play 18 holes.
Negril
Hills Golf Club
18
Sheffield
Negril
Tel:876-957-4638
Fax:876-957-3890
Today, our commitment to our guests is as strong as ever!
Our guests enjoy the best in golf club privileges, from the
elegance and charm of one of Jamaica's finest golf courses.
The breathtaking scenery, the challenging multi-rise golf
course, and a tranquil atmosphere attracts new and returning
visitors each year.
Located
just outside of the resort town of Negril, the Negril Hills
Golf Club is one of international golf's best kept secrets.
Our
staff has been carefully chosen to ensure our promise of total
guest satisfaction. Our caddies have been selected to help
enhance your experience at Negril Hills Golf Club... Crown
jewel of Caribbean golf courses.
Sandals
Golf & Country Club
Sandals
Golf & Country Club
18
P.O. Box 771
Upton District
Ocho Rios
Tel:876-975-0119
Fax:876-975-0196
In June 1992, Sandals Resorts International purchased Upton
GC and set about creating the MOST ELITE GOLF COURSE
RSE
IN JAMAICA. All the greens were rebuilt with Tifdwarf Bermuda
grass and the fairways resurfaced with Bermuda grass removing
all the existing crab grass and weeds. Sandals now boasts
one of the finest Golf Courses in the Caribbean.
Golf Digest Magazine granted a four-star rating for courses
to play whilst on vacation.
Complimentary
Green Fees to all Sandals Guests.
Complimentary transportation to all guests of Sandals/Beaches
Resorts within
Jamaica's Ocho Rios
area.
Complimentary golf lessons Monday - Saturday. Lessons are
bookable through the resort's Tour Desk.
Caddy is mandatory at $18 per caddy for 18 holes; $12 for
9 holes
Carts are optional at $40 per cart for 18 holes; $25 for 9
holes
Club Rental: Precept: $25 - Callaway - $45 (all rentals available
in ladies and gents, left & right handed)
Shoe rentals (includes free socks) $16.
Putting Green, Teaching Pro, Chipping Green
SuperClubs
- Ironshore Golf Club
45 holes
Montego
Bay
P.O. Box 531
Montego Bay
Tel:876-953-3681
Fax:876-953-8628
Jamaica's largest golf provider with 45 holes on 3 courses.
With its crisp breezes, rugged topography and breathtaking
scenery, Jamaica may well be the best kept secret among golfers.
The resident pros at Breezes Runaway Bay have created a special
package for that let's you sample up to five of Jamaica's
most challenging courses - for one fixed price. And that includes
everything from green fees to roundtrip transportation from
Breezes Runaway Bay.
Teaching Pro, Golf School
SuperClubs
Golf Club
British Naval Commander J. Harris
45 holes
Main Street
Runaway Bay
Tel:876-973-7319
Fax:876-9737320
This course has hosted many championship events, including
the Jamaica Open and the World Cup of Golf Qualifier. Legendary
for its breathtaking views of the Caribbean
and notoriously fast greens, many have tried, but few have
truly conquered this course. Learn how to play golf at our
golf school; our golf director and several professionals are
there to assist you. For beginners to advanced golfers, approximately
20 hours of instruction are available each week. The school
has a lecture room with video equipment, a 10-bay golf range,
large practice green, sandtrap and chipping area. Green fees
and golf school instruction are all included in your stay
at Breezes Runaway Bay.
Teaching Pro, Chipping Green, Golf School, Practice Bunker
Tryall
Club Jamaica
The
Tryall Club
Ralph Plummer
18
Sandy Bay P.O.
Hanover
Tryall
Montego Bay
Tel:876-956-5660
Fax:876-956-5673
Golfers in search of the ultimate thrill need look no further…
Tryall's 6,221-yard, par 72 course - considered the finest
in the Caribbean
and the pride of Jamaica - attracts the game's leading players
and prestigious international events like the Johnnie Walker
World Championships, Mazda Champions, Jamaica Classic and
Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.
Designed
by Ralph Plummer, the course's sculpted fairways and manicured
greens meander through forest-green hills, between stands
of coconut palms and fruit trees, round lily-padded ponds,
down to a one-and-a-half mile long shoreline.
The
Tryall Club's course enjoys both spectacular views and challenging
golf. The course winds along the beach and into the hillside;
while some of the holes seem wide open and ready to accept
your longest drive, beware of the trade winds. As the Johnnie
Walker players discovered at Tryall, strategy and position
are the keys to a successful round.
Putting Green, Teaching Pro, Chipping Green, Golf School,
Practice Bunker, Driving Range
White
Witch of Rose Hall Golf Course
1
Ritz-Carlton Drive
Rose Hall
Montego Bay
Tel:876-518-0174
Fax:876-518-0143
Winding through the mountains of Jamaica's historic 5,000-acre
Rose Hall Plantation, The White Witch golf course is carved
out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside
featuring panoramic views of the Caribbean
Sea from 16 of its 18 holes. As part of Jamaica’s premiere
golf resort - The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort - the
par-71, 6,719-yard course was so named by its creators, golf
course architects Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril, in reference
to the 19th century beauty, Annee Palmer, who owned the 5,000-acre
sugar plantation on which the course is built. The White Witch
features a clubhouse complete with men's and women's locker
rooms, a proshop, The White Witch Clubhouse restaurant
and complimentary services of the resort's exclusive golf
concierge
Wyndham
Rose Hall Golf & Beach Resort
(Montego
Bay; tel. 876/953-2650): This has been called one of the
top courses in the world. It's a challenging seaside and mountain
course. The 14th hole passes a waterfall.
Links
& Sources:
|
