Good to great courses are a must on trips and often determine the quality of a golf getaway. But if you value great resorts on top of superb golf, Puerto Rico has to be on your bucket list.
Not only is the island bilingual, receives dozens of flights daily including many non-stop from the Eastern Seaboard, but no passport is required for U.S. citizens, and American currency is used.
The island is filled with rich history and culture, exceptional food, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, relaxation, adventure, inclusivity. Puerto Rico is full of people who are kind and welcoming.
You’ll feel like you are family instead of just a visitor. Around every corner, you’ll find a celebration of life, a vibrant cultural experience, food for the soul, and a captivating rhythm.
Here are some of Puerto Rico’s top golf resorts:
Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club, Hilton Ponce Golf and Casino Resort, Ponce
This 27-hole links-style championship golf course features several oceanfront holes offering breathtaking Caribbean views, 14 beautiful lakes, Puerto Rico’s first island green, and manicured course conditions year-round. Play a round at the championship golf courses that wrap around and over 14 man-made lakes. Views of the Caribbean and the Central Mountains frame the three 9-hole layouts.
The beachfront location is conveniently located 11 kilometers from Mercedita Ponce International Airport and adjacent to Hilton Ponce Golf and Casino Resort. With two outdoor pools, two whirlpools, a children’s play area, 27 golf holes, mini-golf, tennis courts, casino, and four restaurants, one need never leave the property.
Many guests like to explore Ponce, nicknamed “the Pearl of the South” for its many historical and cultural attractions. It is the second-largest city after capital San Juan.
El Conquistador Resort, Farjado
Perched on a 300-foot cliff overlooking the ocean, El Conquistador Resort, is a peaceful oasis offering 375 rooms and suites. The amenity-rich Puerto Rico resort offers a variety of lodging options – from hotel rooms with virtually limitless views to a marina-side enclave next to the spa, “El Con” has long been a favorite resort of discerning golf travelers.
Guests can enjoy an array of activities including the resort’s private Palomino Island. One takes a ferry boat over to the island, which has a bar and restaurant, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and more. The Arthur Hills designed 18-hole golf course is a thrilling experience that traverses dramatic elevation changes with surreal views. The resort has seven pools, tennis courts, the oceanfront spa, and numerous restaurants, bars, and lounges.
El Conquistador Resort is ideal for large events, personal or business, boasting over 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, two large conference rooms, and dozens of breakout rooms.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, TPC Dorado Beach, Dorado
There are six Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world and only one of them in the Western Hemisphere. This is it. It’s a special place, where ordinary doesn’t apply. Consider Spa Botánico, a place as stunningly unique as it is deeply satisfying. You must make your way around a 100-year-old tree at its center to begin your blissful journey.
And if trees inspire you, enjoy a Tree House Massage in the breezy canopy of tropical foliage. The suites and residences feature Island “signatures”: the ocean just outside your door; the personal attention of an Embajador; outdoor living space; an open-air shower and artwork capturing the colors of nature. The newly transformed Su Casa, built in the 1920s, offers a two-story, five-bedroom villa along the coastline.
In the history of golf, pairing spectacular land with a top-notch course designer has resulted in many of the world’s best and most iconic golf courses. Pebble Beach and Augusta National are prime examples. This time-proven formula holds gloriously true with the East Course at TPC Dorado Beach, one of the property’s two championship 18-hole layouts (soon to be three).
Robert Trent Jones Sr. created a classic seaside course that maintains a modern championship layout but is still fun for players of all skill levels. Panoramic sightlines of the ocean, bunkers filled with native beach sand, immaculate course conditions, and knowledgeable and affable caddies enhance your game and experience.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club, Rio Grande
St. Regis Bahia Beach includes 483 gated acres of lush maritime forest on the island’s northeast coast. The soothing oceanside setting and panoramic turquoise sea views welcome visitors, and the resort’s Iridium Spa and Bahia Wellness Center rejuvenate and inspire. An immaculate Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed 18-hole course ranks among the Caribbean’s best places to play golf. Palm trees frame fairways, and the oceanside 18th hole is a stunning climax. The course is a certified Silver Signature Sanctuary by Audubon International for enviro and sustainability best practices.
After a fulfilling round, refresh yourself in a luxurious room or suite, then discover delicious dishes prepared with fresh ingredients at the resort’s beachfront restaurants. The dedicated garden offers just-harvested produce daily and accents the local flavors and fresh seafood.
The exquisitely designed property is located between the El Yunque National Forest and Espíritu Santo River State Preserve, and it is home to two miles of secluded beach and two private bird sanctuaries. It is the Caribbean’s first and only certified Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary, Puerto Rico’s first AAA Five Diamond-rated resort, and a Forbes Travel Guide Five Star rated resort.
Royal Isabela, Isabela
Blessed with stunning Atlantic Ocean views, dramatic cliffs and a lush landscape, Royal Isabela is an epic backdrop for romantic escapes, exclusive golf getaways, milestone celebrations, or family excursions. Each villa style accommodation, charmingly named a Casita, is a private hideaway with its own plunge pool and terrace. The Links Golf Course at Royal Isabela combines dedicate conservation, breathtaking sea views, and astounding golf holes that are inspiring as they are unforgettable.
Farm-to-table dining in the resort’s restaurant provides remarkable tastes, and the Croquet Bar entices with stunning views and fresh breezes. Enjoy the library, swimming pool, tennis, fitness center, trails and two miles of sandy beach. Royal Isabela is located near where many world surfing championships have taken place‑a lavish, beachy vibe and first-class waves proliferate. Venture down to the beach towns for a day trip and complementary activities.
There are few golf course locations as mind-blowing as at Royal Isabela, perched atop 200-foot-high cliffs and buffeted by robust ocean breezes. If “unforgettable” places are your muse, add Royal Isabela to the list.
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, Grand Reserve Golf Club, Rio Grande
Framed against the backdrop of the beautiful El Yunque rainforest on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on the other, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico is a family-friendly luxury resort. Refreshed with a multi-million-dollar renovation that was completed in December 2019, the former site of the Gran Melia Hotel has been transformed. Guests can enjoy beachside suites only steps from the water and a couple of inspiring golf courses nearby.
Both courses were designed by Tom Kite; named Championship and International, Grand Reserve hosts the Puerto Rico Open, a PGA Tour event, each year.
Stay in one of 579 spacious suites with a balcony or terrace overlooking the resort’s gardens, pools, or the ocean. After you’ve unpacked and you’re ready to eat, options abound. Whether you’re craving sushi, steak, or Puerto Rican specialties, you’ll find it among the resort’s five restaurants and three bars. Wake up to a Caribbean buffet, grab snacks at food trucks, then enjoy an elegant dinner at Nami, the Asian fusion restaurant.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort, Rio Mar Country Club, Rio Grande
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar believes that variety is the spice of life, which can be found in its superb collection of activities and amenities. Guests can relax alone on the oceanside resort’s beach and drift off into a blissful haze, or they can explore everything from salsa lessons and sand sculpture to aqua aerobics, yoga, and Mandara Spa. A casino, two golf courses, multiple pools, and several restaurants and eateries provide something for everyone’s tastes.
The resort’s River Course was designed by Greg Norman, and the Ocean Course by Tom and George Fazio. Ocean Course comes by its name honestly, with views of the sea and beach on the back nine. Likewise, River Course features the Mameyes River snaking throughout the property.
Wyndham Palmas Resort, Palmas Athletic Club, Humacao
Two 18-hole courses beckon at Wyndham Palmas Resort – the Palm Course (designed by Gary Player) and Flamboyan Course (Rees Jones). They weave through the property and adjacent to the beach gloriously at a pair of par-3 holes.
A variety of lodging options – all close to the pools and beach – include King Rooms, Two Queens, Studio, and Suites. Trova Coastal Kitchen is filled with health-conscious, mouth-watering flavors from James Beard-nominated celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, brought to life by Puerto Rico’s own Chef Julio Cartagena.
Whether it be golf at one the two championship golf courses, tennis at the largest facility in the Caribbean, or any number of other activities, Palmas Athletic Club has long been the center of entertainment and recreation for the Palmas Del Mar community.
