7 Must-Play Golf Courses in Puerto Rico
Are you dreaming of a Caribbean golf getaway in a destination where the greens are just the beginning? Yes, Puerto Rico offers great courses across the island, but it also provides affordable and direct flights, a major city, a rich history, a vibrant culture, lively nightlife, 300 miles of coastline, and more than 4,000 restaurants. And no passport or new currency is needed.
What Makes Golf in Puerto Rico Special?
“The setting, first and foremost. Many courses are framed by the ocean, mountain, or rainforest, and the tropical vegetation produces beautiful flowers and towering palms. So, the views are mesmerizing virtually everywhere,” explains Aaron Kelly, PGA, Golf professional at El Conquistador Resort.
“The mix of courses appeals to a wide audience as they range from luxury resort amenities to modest community clubs where the culture really shines through. Many top designers and icons of the game and golf architecture have authored layouts in the Island, including Robert Trent Jones Sr., Robert Trent Jones Jr., Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Tom Kite, Gary Player, Rees Jones, and Arthur Hills.”
Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club
Already known for its first-class service with luxury touches, even on the greens, this resort and golf club will become a Four Seasons property in late 2025. Robert Trend Jones II’s course is known as one of the best in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Over 100 GolfPass players have rated it a perfect 5/5 stars.
How many courses have you played with a comfort station? You can order lunch, and an attendant will bring it to you early in the back nine. To top it all off, the food is outstanding. What a way to start the stunning closing holes of your game.
Royal Isabela
A jewel on the island’s Northwest tip, this boutique resort offers standalone casita accommodations with private plunge pools, a lauded farm-to-table restaurant, stunning grounds, and a David Pfaff eco-friendly designed course. Say goodbye to the crowds and hello to unforgettable holes atop 150-foot-high cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
The Championship at Grand Reserve
Step on the same greens and play the same holes as Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, and local icon and musician Bad Bunny. Kept in immaculate condition, this 18-hole championship course was designed by World of Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kit and hosts the annual Puerto Rico Open. It is challenging yet stunning; the wind is constant, yet so are the beautiful views.
“People love playing and staying amid the Island’s swaying palm trees, teal-colored surf, and rainforest ridgeline,” said Glorianna Yamin, VP of Marketing, Discover Puerto Rico.
Dorado Beach East Golf Club
Forty minutes west of San Juan is a PGA Tour-operated 36-hole golf club. It’s so popular that only club members and Ritz-Carlton Reserve overnight guests can tee off. Originally owned and developed by the Rockefellers, it is the most famous golf course in Puerto Rico.
Plan a trip later this year to be one of the first to tee off on the West Course, which is currently undergoing renovations and reimagining.
El Conquistador
El Conquistador Resort, and its Arthur Hills course, is big on fun. Whether it’s taking the all-window incline plane to reach the marina, racing down the waterslides at the on-site waterpark, or setting sail for the resort’s spectacular private 100-acre getaway on Palomino Island, guests can have it all.
“The undulating terrain at El Conquistador is some of the most dramatic in Puerto Rico,” shares El Conquistador Resort’s golf professional, Aaron Kelly, PGA. “It is a roller coaster with holes going up, down, and around the undulating landscape. It’s best to dial back the driver on some holes and make sure to find the fairway. On the greens, everything putted toward the resort perched high above the course is into the grain and slower. Everything putted toward the radio tower and ocean in the opposite direction is with the grain and much faster. Remembering that can save you some strokes!”
Punta Borinquen Golf Club
If you ask the local golf pros what their favorite Puerto Golf course is, most will say Punta Borinquen. This parkland-style course, with ocean views from every hole, was the island’s first public golf course and remains a favorite for its affordable play.
El Legado Golf Club
Designed by Puerto Rico’s icon Chi Chi Rodriguez, the 18-hole course is between the La Cordillera Central mountains and the Caribbean Sea in a former horse valley on the island’s southeast coast. Book an afternoon tee time, followed by dinner at the well-regarded club restaurant, one of the best spots in Puerto Rico to watch a sunset.
READ NEXT: The 10 Best Caribbean Golf Courses
More than 15 million Americans go to the Caribbean a year. With the best beaches in the world, year-round warm weather, different cultures, and fabulous resorts, it’s no wonder it’s a go-to getaway. Add in courses designed by the greats, integrated into the tropical natural beauty, and it’s a no-brainer.
Take a vacation planning shortcut and book a trip to one of these 10 destinations, voted the best by fellow players.
The 10 Best Caribbean Golf Courses
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Finding a course that is accessible, affordable, and stellar is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, Golfer’s Choice lists do all the work spotlighting the game’s best playgrounds for everyday players. Created by recreational golfers, for recreational golfers, find out which greens in your state have been deemed the best by players like you.
The Top Public Golf Courses in Each State According to Everyday Players
