Golf

From Costa Rica Travel Guide: Vacation and Travel tips

• Home Things To Do > Golf

Golf

When one thinks of Costa Rica, I would dare say that golf isn’t the first thing that pops into their head. Costa Rica is thought of as a paradise here on earth, full of lush rainforest, exotic wildlife, raging rivers, volcanoes and friendly people, which is EXACTLY the reason Costa Rica is a perfect destination to play a little golf. Costa Rica is not one of the world’s great golfing destinations, yet, but it will be. Golf courses are modern, beautifully landscaped and maintained, with extraordinary natural surroundings. Temperatures average in the 70’s year-around in many areas and only get into the 90’s on the coast in the summer. Many courses are either under construction or in the planning stages, with some serious golf shaping up in the Guanacaste Province.

Costa Rica has over a dozen championship courses, designed by some of the legends in the field like Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones II, with even more are under construction.

Here’s a few:

Parque Valle del Sol – 2282-9222. An 18-hole course in the western suburb of Santa Ana making this course a great option for golfers staying in and around San Jose. Currently (’08), green fees are $85. including a cart.

The layout of this course is challenging and fair but when the winds come swirling about, it can be tough. It’s diverse and you will need all the clubs in your bag to make a go at it. The setting is nice with its rolling hills, mature trees and surrounding mountains.

Cariari Country Club – 2293-3211. This is a private golf course just outside of San Jose and is not open to the public. Although, guests at the Marriott Costa Rica and neighboring hotels can play. If you can manage an invite, or are staying at a hotel with an arrangement with the club, greens fees are $60, including a mandatory caddy. Tip your caddy at least $10. but expect to pay an additional $25. for a cart.

The Cariari is a must play when arriving in Costa Rica. This course is considered one of the best in Central America. It is densely wooded and the fairways are narrow with few fairway bunkers. The greens are usually large with many sand traps lurking about. This course has been the site of many PGA sponsored events.

Garra de Leon - 2654-4123. This course is located at the Paradisus Playa Conchal resort in Guanacaste. Greens fees will run $160. including a cart. When available and a little advanced warning, this course is open to guests at other hotels in the area.

This course is destined to replace the Cariari Country Club as the number one golf course in Central America. The architect, Robert Trent Jones 2, spared no expense to create a spectacular course. Just try to concentrate on your game with the beautiful vistas, sweeping fairways, large undulating greens, and plenty of water at every swing of the club. It took 4 long years to build this course…. but boy was it worth it.

Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort (La Iguana) - 2630-9028. This course is located in Playa Herradura. Greens fees, including cart, are approximately $125. but $155 for the general public.

Ted Robinson Jr. designed this course and few courses can rival the natural beauty and challenge of this course. It’s easy for a golfer to get distracted by the picturesque scenery of dense canopy teeming with exotic plants, trees and wildlife. You’ll enjoy this course and it’s definitely worth taking more than one ‘swing’ at.

Hacienda Pinilla – 2680-7000. An 18-hole links-style course south of Tamarindo, which just may be the most challenging course Costa Rica has to offer and the facilities are first rate, but limited. With reservations the course is open to golfers staying at hotels around the area. Greens fees will run you around $150. including a cart.

With its coastal layout and wide, open fairways, the prevailing winds come into play on almost every hole. This course is a must for conservative play with its many pot bunkers that are well-placed around most greens and the bump and run is recommended for most approach shots as greens are normally hard and fast.

Playing a round of golf in the dry tropical forest will lead to a memorable round of golf.

Four Seasons Resort – 2696-0871. One of the newest and most spectacular courses in Costa Rica is currently open only to guests of the hotel and greens fees will run you around $185.

There’s also:

Barcelo Los Delfines - A par 35- 3,178 yard course used mainly by vacationers at the all inclusive Barcelo Resort in Puntarenas.

Tango Mar Hotel Beach & Golf Resort – Located along the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast, Tango Mar is an all inclusive resort boasting a 9-hole Executive golf course.