Why Play Golf and Why Play it in the Caribbean

Posted by Lesley Haverford on October 1st, 2018

Using a metal stick to hit a miniature ball into a whole far away doesn’t sound like much fun. But this is precisely why golf is such a popular sport today. Originating from 15th century Scotland, it is nowadays played worldwide. This is because its leisure playing style has numerous advantages over other sports and because it is played against picturesque landscapes. Care for a game of golf in the Caribbean?

Sense of freedom

First things first, what differentiates golf from other, proactive sports? The sense of freedom, since it is not played on conventional pitches or stadiums. Golf courses can be large as 200 acres, necessarily including nature.  Many courses take pride in ponds, hillocks, sand areas and even animals on their property. It is a sport for those who wish to unwind, take a stroll and enjoy the competitiveness at the same time.

You can actually earn money

While other sports require the individual to be an all-star athlete to earn a fair buck, golf is open to everybody. In other words, even amateur players can earn money at local tournaments which are open to all participants. You can easily learn to play golf on your own today, as there are many courses and even gadgets to help you practice golf swing and improve your playing skills.

Individual or group sport? You choose

Enjoying the landscape is “mandatory,” but you can choose whether you want to play alone or against an opponent. Joining the crowd can have its benefits, as chatting makes time go faster. On the other side, walking alone at your own pace can be quite relaxing. But we won’t advocate any of the options, because guess what: it’s entirely up to you.

A treasure hunt

Whether a novice or a pro, players tend to over-swing and then balls get lost. What would be deemed negative in other sports, in golf is actually considered quite desirable. Once a ball goes MIA, you yourself embark upon a quest to find it. You might need to explore the local wood, scavenge the green grass, or even dip in water to retrieve the ball from the bottom.

Multitasking

Golf is such a loveable sport that even if you are not a fan of nature you can enjoy it. Remember the freedom factor? Well, it can be used in various ways. For instance, you can have a sandwich while traversing from one hole to another. Moreover, there is nothing better than a cold beer to combat the scorching sun out in the open field. Of course, be sure to check with the club whose grounds you are playing on that they permit alcoholic beverages on the premises.

Golf in the Caribbean

As previously stated, many think of golf as a rather dull sport, overseeing its main benefit: the surroundings. Imagine playing golf in the beautiful Caribbean region; no wait: you don’t have to, since golf is played here.  Actually, many tour operators now offer special golf-tours to those islands and the region even has its own golf association. There is a yearly calendar of tournaments both for senior and junior players. No surprise, the biggest advantage Caribbean golf courses have over their mainland competitors is the landscape.

Paradise Links

An artificial pond with a duck family can be soothing, but imagine that pond was the whole ocean with its marine wildlife. On the Caribbean courses, this fantasy is a reality as courses are bordered by the turquoise blue ocean. You can literally play golf on a sandy beach.

If pastel shades of blue and yellow were not alluring enough, you have to witness the colour green covering the courses. Due to the local tropical climate and good maintenance, it is lush throughout the year. Another attraction are the palm trees among which golfers swing their clubs. Most of the resorts are aimed at golfers and offer them many luxuries that other tourists do not get. In the Caribbean, your passion for golf and the need for a vacation elegantly meet up to form the perfect getaway.

When we say “The Caribbean,” that includes several island countries.  Most courses are located in the Dominican Republic, but Grenadines, Bermuda, Jamaica, Anguilla and Barbados do not lag far behind.  The later ones boast the most unique hole not only in the region but the entire world perhaps. Its 16th hole is called the Green Monkey since it is an island of grass elevated in the sand in the shape of a capuchin monkey. On the Grenadines’ gem, the Trump Internationals in Canouan, golfers play on the rim of an extinct volcano. The 13th hole takes players to the top of the island with a majestic view from it.

In the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana offers a unique experience of putting next to ocean cliffs. Yes, six holes are just meters from a cliff and waves crashing on it. But don’t worry, the rest of the 66 holes crisscross a less dangerous landscape full of inland lakes, beaches, luscious green patches, palm trees and natural rock formations. Anguilla takes pride in their Cuisinart Golf Course which opened in 2011. Complete with a nearby resort and spa centre built to serve the needs of golfers, it offers a unique playing experience. Golfers putt against the backdrop of white walls of the suites in the distance and on clearings bordered by groves and an odd lake or two. On no golf course are the colours white, green and blue so gallantly intertwined.

In Summation

In the end, golf is nothing to be afraid of as everyone can learn to swing a club. How well you do it should not mar the feeling of freedom offered by open space golf is played in. After all, location is everything today, so why not make the most of it and play golf in the Caribbean if in the possibility to do so. Palm trees, ocean waves crashing against cliffs in your vicinity, the smell of salt in the air and sand in your sandals. What more could a man wish for?