A Golf Lover’s Dream

Photos by Enrique Berandi provided by P.R. Golf Association

Puerto Rico’s combination of features—year-round summer weather, golf courses framed by tropical beaches, mountains, forests and lakes, and vibrant culture, food and nightlife—makes it an ideal golf destination. Add to that the eighth annual Puerto Rico Open at Trump International Golf Club in Río Grande on March 2-8— the only Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) Tour event in the Caribbean—and the island becomes a golf lover’s dream. 

Chesson Hadley

“The Puerto Rico Open has established itself as one of the most talked-about, fan-friendly and enjoyable stops on the PGA Tour. Each year, the tournament attracts an ever-stronger field of players, who are drawn to the island by perfect weather, a beautiful course at Trump International and exceptional Caribbean hospitality,” said Sidney Wolf, president of the Puerto Rico Golf Association and chairman of the Puerto Rico Open.

Last year’s event was won by 27-year-old Chesson Hadley of Raleigh, N.C. Witnessing his triumph was his wife, Amanda, and infant son, Hughes—who was promptly plunked into the winner’s trophy bowl! Thousands of golfers, spectators and staff attend the annual event. After each day on the links, the partying begins!

In addition to a $3.5 million purse, many local charities benefit from the event.Virtually every serious golfer knows—or knows about—Juan “Chi Chi” Rodríguez, the island’s most famous golfer with 38 career professional wins,  including eight PGA Tour and 22 Senior PGA Tour wins. He is the first and only Puerto Rican inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, and was elected to the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. “I love the fact that young golfers and their families come to Puerto Rico for its golf. We have many  wonderful courses, and the weather is almost always perfect,” he says.

To find the right course for you, see our Great Golf Course list in this issue. To learn more about the Puerto Rico Open and other major golf events, such as Puerto Rico Junior Open and the Puerto Rico Classic, visit www.gotopuertoricoopen.com and www.prga.com. For advance tee times, visit Caribe Golf’s website www.caribegolf.com, or call 787-278-3442 or 1-888-588-8670.

Un sueño para los amantes del golf

Su combinación de atributos—clima de verano todo el año; campos de golf enmarcados por playas, montañas, bosques y lagos; y vibrante cultura, gastronomía y vida nocturna—hacen de Puerto Rico un destino ideal para el golf. A esto se añade la octava edición del Puerto Rico Open en el Trump International Golf Club en Río Grande del 2 al 8 de marzo—único evento del PGA Tour en el Caribe—y la isla se convierte en el sueño de cualquier amante del golf.

“El Puerto Rico Open se ha establecido como una de las paradas más comentadas, amigables y agradables para los fanáticos en el PGA Tour. Cada año, el torneo atrae un grupo cada vez más fuerte de jugadores, atraídos a la isla por su clima perfecto, un hermoso campo de golf en el Trump International y la excepcional hospitalidad del Caribe”, comentó Sidney Wolf, presidente de la Asociación de Golf de Puerto Rico y del Puerto Rico Open.

El ganador el año pasado lo fue Chesson Hadley, de 27 años y oriundo de Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. Presenciando el triunfo estuvieron su esposa, Amanda, y su hijo recién nacido, Hughes. Miles de jugadores de golf, espectadores y personal asisten al evento anual. Después de cada día en el campo de golf, ¡comienza la fiesta! Además de los ganadores compartir un premio de $3.5 millones, varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales se benefician del evento.

 

                                  First Runner Up Danny Lee; Alex Alverio; Emiliano Grillo & Jonathan Byrd

Prácticamente todo golfista o entusiasta conoce a Juan “Chi Chi” Rodríguez, el golfista más famoso de la isla, con 38 victorias profesionales durante su carrera, incluyendo ocho en PGA Tour y 22 en Senior PGA Tour. Es el primer y único puertorriqueño exaltado al World Golf Hall of Fame, y fue elegido al World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame en 1994. “Me encanta que jugadores jóvenes y sus familias vengan a Puerto Rico por el golf. Tenemos muchos campos maravillosos y el clima es casi siempre perfecto”, comenta el golfista.

Para encontrar el campo más adecuado, vea nuestra lista Great Golf Courses en esta edición. Para conocer más sobre el Puerto Rico Open y otros eventos  importantes, como el Puerto Rico Junior Open y el Puerto Rico Classic, visite www.gotopuertoricoopen.com y www.prga.com. Para horas de salida anticipadas, visite www.caribegolf.com, o llame al 787-278-3442 o 1-888-588-8670.

Great Golf Courses

Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club—Río Grande. 787-809-8920 x 3000. Time: Daily 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 72/6,979. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18  holes): Call for details. Rental Clubs: Call for rates. Golf Director: Alberto Ríos

Bambúas Golf Club, Las—Gurabo. 787-712-0018. Time: Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 36/3,315. Green Fees  weekdays/Weekends (9 holes): $20-$35. Rental Clubs: $15. Head Golf Pro: Rey Caballero.

Caguas Real Golf & Country Club—Caguas. 787-653-4653. Time: Tue.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Par/Yard: 70/6,900. Green Fees (18 holes): $37-$55. Rental Clubs: $30. Head Golf Pro: Arnaldo Valentín.

Club Deportivo del Oeste—Cabo Rojo. 787-851-8880 or 787-254-3748. Time: Mon.-Sun. 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 70/6,400. Green Fees  weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Members $21-$37; No-members $37-$47. Rental Clubs: $32. Pro: Dennis Cabán.

Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club—Ponce. 787-812-2650. Time: Mon.-Tues. 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sun. 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 72/6,474. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): $56-$69. Rental Clubs: $38. Head Golf Pro: Ellie Rodríguez.

Dorado Beach Golf Club—Dorado. 787-796-8961. Time: Call 24 hours in advance. Par/Yard: Pineapple 72/7,030: Sugar Cane 72/7,119 & East 72/7,000. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs: $75. Director of Golf: Jeff Willenberg.

El Conquistador Golf Club—Fajardo. 787-863-6784. Time: Reserve tee times in advance; Nonresidents 30 days and P.R. residents 1 week. Par/Yard: 72/6,746. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): hotel guests $120-$180, P.R. residents $55-$75, nonresidents $145-$200. Rental Clubs: $50-$75. Director of Golf: Seth Henrich.

El Legado Golf Resort—Guayama. 787-866-8894. Time: Tues.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: Call for details. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (9-18 holes): $46-$60. Rental Clubs: $45. Golf Director:  Carlos Matos.

Palmas Athletic Club—Humacao. 787-656-3015 or 787-656-3016. Time: Mon.-Sun. 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Par/Yard: Flamboyán 72/7,117; Palm 71/6,675. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (Twilight/18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs & Shoes available. Golf Director: Seth Bull. Assistant Golf Professionals: Eduardito Figueroa & Juan Velázquez.

Punta Borinquén Golf Club—Aguadilla. 787-890-2987. Time: Mon.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 72/6,870. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends/Holidays (18 holes): $20-$35. Rental Clubs: $10-$25. Head Golf Pro: Ángel Núñez.

Río Bayamón Golf Course—Bayamón. 787-740-1419. Time: Mon.-Sat. 7:00 a.m.-8:45 p.m.; Sun. 7:00 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Par/Yard: 34/2,546. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes) $45. Rental Clubs: $25. Director of Golf: Carlos Crespo.

Royal Isabela—Isabela. 787-609-5888 or 855-609-5888. Time: Mon. 12 p.m.-5:00 p.m.; Tue.-Sun. 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 73/7,667. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends/Holidays (18 holes): Available for resort guests or by invitation, call for rates. Rental Clubs: $65. Director of Golf: Miguel Suárez.

TrumpInternational Golf Club P.R. (Coco Beach)—Río Grande. 787-657-2000. Time: Mon.-Sun. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: Call for details. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs: $60. Golf Director, PGA Class A: Brian Shaver.

Note: Schedules and rates are subject to change; please call to confirm.