Jamaica's True Colors: Red, Green and Golf

Jamaica is blessed with all the qualities of afairways and mildly sloping greens. It also reveals
world-class golf destination. In addition to excellentfleeting views of Negril's distant golden sands and
year-round weather, the topography, lush vegetationcalm seas. Along the fairways, coconut and other
and scenic beauty of our tropical island alsotropical trees dance in the soft sea breezes wafting
encourages creative golf course designs byin from the coast. This course is characterized by
imaginative golf course architects. Jamaica is alsowater hazards, boasting nine ponds that all come into
famous for its caddies: lively, entertaining,play. Marshlands and sandtraps also lurk throughout
experienced, dedicated - with an uncanny ability tothe course, waiting to claim wayward balls.Runaway
track down wayward shots and to read the breaksBay GCThe par 72 course was designed by Major
on even the trickiest greens. We invite you to playJohn Harris from Britain and opened in 1960. From the
our courses for yourself for an unforgettable golfingBlue Tees, the course measures a long 6,870 yards
experience:Montego Bay is the island's golf capitalwith a slope rating of 124. The combination of the
boasting five championship golf courses, premiumwind gusting up to 35 miles per hour, long rolling
hotel accommodations, an international airport servedfairways with large flat greens and breathtaking
by several major airlines, beaches and otherviews of the Caribbean Sea, guarantee that golfers
recreational, shopping and entertainmentcan expect an exhilarating experience whether they
facilities.SuperClubs IronshoreThe former Ironshoreare beginners or accomplished players. The
Golf & Country Club is a links-style, par-72 course.PGA-quality golf course has hosted many an
Once referred to as Jamaica's gem in the rough, it's ainternational event including the MatchPlay games
demanding course with plenty of doglegs andbetween the United Kingdom and the West Indies,
bunkers to challenge your A-game. Since Januarythe Jamaica Open and the World Cup of Golf
2000, SuperClubs has been polishing that gem. ASuper-qualifier tournaments.Sandals Ocho
beautifully decorated new clubhouse was built and aRiosFormerly known as Upton Golf Club, the Sandals
massive course renovation completed. The greensGolf & Country Club was established in 1951 as a 9
are in their best condition in 20 years, locals say. Thehole course located 700 feet above sea level in
6,570-yard layout delivers what is expected - anUpton, a few miles east of Ocho Rios. The original
entertaining golf experience, with several water9-hole layout which, designed by P.K. Saunders, was
encounters and a number of interesting blind shots.expanded in the early 1960s to 18 holes. In June
Fairways are separated by tall, frilly Australian pines,1992, Sandals Resorts purchased the property and
as well as flowering hibiscus and bough.Halfset about creating one of the most elite golf courses
MoonDesigned by the renowned Robert Trent Jonesin Jamaica. The greens were rebuilt with Tifdwarf
Sr., the course opened in 1961 and since has firmlyBermuda grass and the fairways resurfaced with
established itself as one of prized courses that theBermuda grass. Although comparatively short- 6311
Caribbean has to offer. Measuring a massive, 7,119yards, par 71 from the Blue Tees, the course makes
yards from the back tees, it has been selected asfor a challenging 128 slope.ManchesterCarved into the
host venue for several professional and amateurrolling hills near Mandeville more than a century ago,
tournaments, including the Jamaican Open and thethe Manchester Country Club is Jamaica's and the
Dunhill Cup. The course boasts some of theCaribbean's oldest golf course. Boasting 140 years of
trademark Jones features, including runway tees andhistory, it is easily the most unique in Jamaica with it's
use of the land's movement or the 'figure eight'nine greens and 18 tee locations. Founded as a
routing that cleverly changes angles just enough toCountry Club in 1865 and soon after the Scots
cause bewilderment on the windy days. The greensinvented the game of golf, a golf course was built on
also demand special attention: while they are verythe site. It is situated in the middle of the town of
playable, their shape and contour often force theMandeville, the capital of Manchester and has one of
better golfer to work the ball to get their approachesthe most breath-taking scenic wonders, provided by
close to tucked pins, while leaving an opening for thethe course's 2201 foot elevation. Although it is a
novice player to run the ball in.Cinnamon HillOneprivate members club, it is open to the public and is
instinctively marvels at the parcel of land on whichone of Mandeville's main tourist
Robert von Hagge-designed Cinnamon Hill GCattractions.CaymanasLocated 9 miles outside
(formerly Three Palms), at the Wyndham Rose Hall.Kingston, Caymanas GC rests in the foothills of St.
On an island blessed with lushness and topographicalCatherine and overlooks the parish's verdant cane
character, and short on acreage, the layout movesfields, stretching all the way to Kingston Harbour.
from an open, windswept front nine into the lowerDesigned by well-known Canadian architect, Howard
elevations of the Blue Mountains on the back nine,Watson, in the 1950s, the course's hilly environment is
where dense foliage traps the fairways of thebrilliantly incorporated in the layout. Several of the 18
incoming holes. Boasting interesting, serene,tee boxes are elevated while the fairways undulate in
descriptive and sometimes downright intimidatingaccordance to the topography of the craggy
names each hole has its own intriguing characteristicslimestone hills. Stately Cotton and Guango trees line
and is sure to leave behind a memorable experience.the fairways and guard the greens throughout the
The surrounding scenery at #15 "Mountain Falls" is socourse's 6,844 yards, creating daunting natural
striking, that a scene was shot here for the Jameshazards. Strategically placed bunkers and ponds also
Bond film Live and Let Die. The course is built onmake for more challenging play. The Club, which
what was once a 400-acre plantation, and remnantshosted several Caribbean Championships, including the
of the area's history, including aqueducts,Jamaican Open, the Jamaica Classic and Shell's
gravestones, and ruins of historic homes, offer aWonderful World of Golf, is sloped at 123 from the
crumbling reminder of a land that once breathed a lifeBlue Tees and measures 6,844 yards.Constant
of its own, long before golf.White WitchLocals areSpringLocated in the heart of one of Kingston's nicest
quick to say that Annie Palmer still haunts the Roseresidential areas, Constant Spring was built in 1920 by
Hall Great House and the estate- including the courseScottish architect Stanley Thompson, a mentor of
built there on the grounds. The White Witch Course,Robert Trent Jones, making it one of Jamaica's
designed by the team of Robert Von Hagge, Rickoldest golf courses. It is a tight, short course with a
Baril and Mike Smelek, opened in August 2000 as thebreathtaking view at the 13th tee, and the challenge
centerpiece of the new Ritz Carlton Rose Hall Resort.of driving to a narrow plateau of fairway beyond a
Instead of traditional tropical terrain, the layout issteep valley. It has hosted all of the island's top
mountainous and rugged. The 6,718-yard courseplayers, many of the socially elite and more than a
sticks to the high ground where there are coolfew concerts during its long
breezes and ocean views on 16 holes. This elevatedhistory.The Jamaica Golf Association, comprised of
route can be intimidating, with its carries overindividual golfing members and golf clubs islandwide, is
jungle-like terrain, but the course intertwines with theat the forefront of the drive to develop the game of
mountains and provides golfers with some of thegolf for a better Jamaica.David Leadbetter Golf
best views of the coastline.TryallTryall's 18-hole, RalphAcademy - Half MoonThe Academy combines the
Plummer-designed championship course has playedfinest golf instruction available on one of Jamaica's
host to such prestigious international events as themost challenging courses. Created by one of the
Johnnie Walker World Championship, last won bymasters in the art of teaching the golf swing, David
Fred Couples in 1995. With holes that kiss theLeadbetter has a unique ability to communicate and a
shoreline and flirt with the edges of jungle ravines, itprofound dedication to the game. He is known for
is probably the most celebrated golf course in therebuilding Nick Faldo's fabled swing and has worked
Caribbean. The course stretches 6,772 yards fromwith Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Nick Price, and has
the ocean-side up into forested hills, past coconutdeveloped an exclusive group of teaching
groves, and back down to the sea along a route linedprofessionals to give "tour-proven" advice to
with flowering plants and magnificent trees. Theambitious golfers at all stages of development.Cable
signature par-three 4th hole incorporates the natural& Wireless National Golf AcademyKingston's bustling
challenges of the Caribbean Sea and the Flint River,business and entertainment hub, New Kingston, is also
while the memorable par-four 7th hole provides afast becoming the capital city's recreational sporting
dramatic tee-shot through the stone pillars of thecenter thanks in part to the addition of Cable and
historic aqueduct that feeds the adjacentWireless' National Golf Academy. Located on lands
waterwheel. Tryall's homeowners, many associatedwith a view of New Kingston's towering buildings and
with the club for generations, have preserved thethe distant Blue Mountains, the National Golf
atmosphere of charming gentility that has beenAcademy is the island's first public driving range and
"modernized out" of many other historicputting green. Spanning an impressive 240 yards, the
properties.Negril HillsNestled in the hills minutes awaydriving range plays like a real golf course with
from Negril's famous seven-mile white-sand beach,undulating fairways, 6 manicured greens and
golf enthusiasts will find this relaxed resort's hiddenwell-placed holes, bunkers and ponds. From the
gem- the Negril Hills Golf Club. Famous for its elevatedAcademy's 23 bays you may practice your swing and
tees and greens, undulating fairways and emeralddrive, or on the adjacent putting green, you can
ponds, this layout promises an enjoyable round that'shone you short game skills.**for more information
a perfect break from Negril's sand and sea. Built invisit Jamaica's visitor website, the complete source
1993 by Robert Simmons, this 18-hole course spansfor travel and tourism information featuring
6,333 yards, cut into Negril's low, rolling hills. Thishand-picked deals on vacation packages, hotels, villas,
topography makes for fast play, with snakingflights and car rentals**Jam-boree.