A guide to the best golf courses in the Caribbean.
Published 20 六月 2023
Combine perfect temperatures with stunning courses and incredible scenery. Discover the best golf courses in the Caribbean with a Burgess yacht charter now.
Caribbean yacht charters bring variety at every turn, with cuisine, culture and activities changing from island to island. For golf lovers looking to tee off into the palm-fringed sunset or rise to a different green every day, the assortment of incredible golf courses on offer is strong enough to plan an entire charter itinerary around.
Punta Espada, Cap Cana
As the first of three Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses to be developed at Cap Cana, Punta Espada is a destination course on a Caribbean superyacht charter. Opened in 2006, the challenging par-72 course includes eight holes that are played along and over the sea. Few courses offer the combination of challenge and scenic beauty, where emerald fairways sit alongside azure ocean. This is one to enjoy in the glow of the setting sun, to round off an idyllic day at sea.
Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo
The world-renowned Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic is home to three of the best golf courses in the Caribbean, one of which is the memorably named Teeth of the Dog. Conceived by American golf course designers Pete and Alice Dye, the hand-carved course is widely considered to be the best 18-holes in the region, and ranks 27th in the world, thanks to seven of its ocean-fronted holes, dramatic seascape vistas and sheer cliff faces that the pristine fairways skirt.
Corales Course, Punta Cana
When Tom Fazio penned the Corales golf course in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, he planted a sting in the tail. The 18-hole course enjoys six oceanside holes, but it is the final three – known as the Devil’s Elbow – that bring players out in a sweat. It features the striking eighteenth hole with a dramatic forced carry over the cliff-lined Bay of Corales. Set among 700 acres, with many of the fairways routed around a residential development, Punta Cana opened in 2010 and continues to keep even the best players tested with its large waste bunkers and glorious water-side location.
Iberostar Bavaro, Bavaro
The Iberostar Bávaro golf course in Punta Cana – another piece of craftsmanship dreamt up by the prolific Pete Dye – is popular with players on two fronts; just a 20-minute drive from the airport and open every day of the year, guests can go from runway to fairway in a heartbeat, before hopping aboard their yacht. The 72-par, 18-hole course features all the hallmarks of a Caribbean course with lakes, white quartz bunkers and desert-like areas providing some welcome variation to the game.
Playa Grande Golf Course, Cap Cana
A jewel on the north-eastern shores of Dominican Republic, Playa Grande is as much a destination for its golden sandy beaches as it is its course. Flanked by sweeping farmland and verdant rainforest, it’s as tropical as courses get, with waves dramatically crashing at the foot of the fairways and palm-trees casting tall shadows in the afternoon. Designed by Rees Jones, players can even cap off 18 fun-filled holes with a seasonal humpback whale sighting if lucky.
The Links, Casa de Campo
Another of Pete Dye’s imaginative courses, The Links at Casa de Campo makes for a beautiful pairing with a luxury yacht charter to the Caribbean. Defined by wide far-reaching fairways, undulating putting surfaces and a hilly layout, 18 complex holes wrap around The Links’ resort ground, set against a Caribbean backdrop. Tall grass and sculpted bunkers test golfers of all abilities, though it’s praised for its playability. For a real test of endurance, follow a round at The Links with a Teeth of the Dog afternoon chaser, located nearby.
La Cana, Punta Cana
Not for the faint of heart, Dominican Republic’s La Cana golf course in Punta Cana offers 27 holes of straight up stamina. It contains three nines – Tortuga, Hacienda and Arrecife – and 14 ocean-view holes. Designed by Pete Dye, it draws players from all around the world, all of whom are keen to test their agility and skill on its famous fairways. As an extra layer of eco appeal, La Cana was the first course in the Caribbean to use paspalum, a grass seed that can be watered using sea water, making the course as sustainable as possible.
Dye Fore, Casa de Campo
Totalling 27 long and arduous holes, the Dye Fore at Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, spreads across 7,000 acres. The nine-hole Dye Fore Lakes course was added at a later date, connecting all the fairways to create one mammoth course. It bears all the hallmarks of its namesake designer – Pete Dye – with a quartet of par threes offering up some surprisingly short holes. Don’t be fooled, though, as they still tests skill and bravery, with the fifteenth requiring a heroic carry over native flora and fauna to reach a sand-protected green.
Championship Course, Puerto Rico
As one of the largest islands, it’s unsurprising that Puerto Rico has one of the best golf courses in the Caribbean. Coco Beach, developed by Bruce Basse and the first Tom Kite design outside of the US, enjoys 18 testing holes. The front nine offer up elevation changes with a few water hazards thrown in for good measure. Having hosted the Puerto Rican Open on the PGA Tour, playing on this international provides a chance to step into the shoes of golfing champions.
Royal St. Kitts, Basseterre
For over 25 years, Royal St. Kitts golf course at Basseterre has been a sporting beacon for all visitors to the dual Caribbean island. St. Kitts is a popular yachting destination, known for its cloud-shrouded mountains and underrated beaches. When twinned with 125-acres of a revamped McBroom course, it presents the best of a golfing charter. Comprising 18 holes flanked by both the Atlantic and Caribbean Seas, the course is planted with paspalum seagrass. From hole three, the highest part of the course, the neighbouring islands of Saba, St Maarten and Nevis can be seen.
Talk to Burgess today and start planning your Caribbean golfing holiday. Enquire now.
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