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2005-02-22
More Golfing In Jamaica Michael Chaiken - CaribbeanToGo.com Staff Writer
So, you think your golf game is good. You want to put it to the test. But, you have an itch to perfect your game in exotic locations under crystal blue skies not too far from the beach.

Then Jamaica is the place for you.

The island nation is home to some of the best courses in the Caribbean, and some critics rank the courses as among the best in the world.

In "Golf Resorts of the World: The Best Places to Stay and Play," author Brian McCollen calls Tryall Golf, Tennis and Beach Resort (just 12 miles away from Montego Bay) "quite simply the best course in Jamaica and one of the most beautiful in the islands."

The par-71 course, which sits across 2,200 acres, originally was a sugar plantation. The course, which was designed by Texan Ralph Plum, also played host to the 1991 Johnnie Walker World Championship of Golf.

McCollen wrote the fairways at Tryall are "generously wide... The difficulty is provided by ever-present breezes and by numerous forced carries over ravines, gullies, and dry creek beds... The back nine goes through rugged uplands... There is precious little flat land from which to hit, awkward side hill lies are the rule."

In an article for golfdigest.com, Matthew Brady wrote: " For those of a certain age, Tryall is Jamaican golf. Peter Alliss and Dow Finsterwald played a match here for the classic ‘Shell's Wonderful World of Golf’ series back in 1962, when Montego Bay was a sleepy fishing town with no paved roads. A series of big-budget Johnnie Walker World Championship tour events in the 1990s established Tryall's credentials as the Caribbean's preeminent championship course."

The website twoguyswhogolf.com also raved about Tryall. "(The course) is a stately and challenging layout. The course meanders along the Caribbean for the opening holes, before playing into the foothills with jungle ravines, dry creek beds and elevation changes challenging your shot-making ability. The rolling fairways have generous landing areas with few bunkers."

"Tryall is what it has always been -- a fun and fast thrill ride that demands every shot you know, and even some you don't," wrote Brady for golfdigest.com. "(T)he conditions befit the setting. The prevailing winds -- here, they prevail at 20 or 30 miles per hour -- taunt you during your club selection. Luckily, the club has the best collection of caddies on the island, including some that have been carrying there since the place opened in 1959. Don't get too cocky on the short par 4s, either."

"Caribbean Fodor's 2004" listed Tryall as a "Fodor's Choice" for your golfing vacation. And "Frommer's Caribbean 2004" wrote, "This is a top choice for vacationers who are serious about golf... (It's) one of Jamaica's grandest resorts."

Another Montego Bay staple for duffers is the Half Moon. The Half Moon, which is a member of Jack Nicklaus' "Great Golf Resorts of the World," offers 7,119 yards of difficult driving areas, plenty of bunkering and great undulating greens, explained jamaicagolfresort.com.

"The golf course has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments including the Jamaica Open, the Dunhill Cup Final of the Americas, and the Red Stripe Pro-Am," according to twoguyswhogolf.com. "(Half Moon also) hosted the 2002 MET-RX Tournament featuring pro athletes and Hollywood stars."

In his article about golfing in Jamaica for golfdigest.com, Brady wrote: "Half Moon is the reliable corner place where the food is good and the owner knows your name. It doesn't have the waterfront location or spectacular views of its counterparts, but the Robert Trent Jones design is still a stimulating test. Jones took a relatively flat piece of land and molded some challenging green complexes, including the nastiest collection of bunkers on the island. Half Moon's straightforward design is Pinehurst-like in its accessibility for the first-time visitor... (It) won't be easy for you to score, but you'll almost always be able to find your ball."

"Half Moon does present some rolling fairways and gradual elevation changes, but for the most part provides wide and level landing areas," reported twoguyswhogolf.com. "A good shot is most often rewarded with a fair lie. Long hitters will especially love this layout, as it allows you to play your driver on most par fours and fives... And you will not be bored with the vistas, which feature immaculate landscaping and gorgeous tropical foliage... The course set up at Half Moon is extremely interesting. Four holes downwind followed by 9 straight into the wind. If you can get off to a good start and survive the middle holes, it is possible to end with a strong finish. Those hitting a low draw off the tee should be able to score well."

Writer Jason Logan of scorecard.com focused his attention on Cinnamon Hill Ocean Course, also in Montego Bay. "Built upon the ruins of an 18th century sugar plantation, the course winds its way by a plethora of grave sites (although only a few have been properly adorned to mark their prominence), around ancient aqueducts and over secret tunnels once used by plantation slaves," Logan explained.

"With holes nicknamed ‘Dead Ahead', ‘Big Bamboo' and ‘The Gorge', one might get the feeling that in order to play Cinnamon Hill you have to carry a very big stick and a lot of game. However, with reasonable yardage (the course plays 6,617 yards from the back tees and 6,162 from the middle tees) and fairly large target areas, the course caters to all levels of golfers, making it the perfect resort track," Logan wrote.

"The signature hole, the par 4 fifth named ‘Ball-O-Fire', is nearly worth the $125 (all figures US) greens fee alone. Playing 453 yards from the back tees, the hole heads straight out toward the Carribean Sea before winding left, leaving an approach shot that flirts with crashing ocean waves," Logan reported.

Another course highlighted by Logan at scorecard.com is White Witch: "named for Annie Palmer, the infamous white witch of Rose Hall, whose spirit still haunts the grounds of both courses according to the locals, provides a much tougher test of golf and is a must see."

"With drastic elevation changes and demanding tee shots over gorges and water, the White Witch course... is an experience like no other... (T)his track is extremely demanding and incredibly scenic," wrote Logan.

"As Caribbean golf courses go, (White Witch) may be the most spectacular! ," Reported twoguyswhogolf.com. "We were absolutely blown away by the panoramic vistas, extraordinary layout, outstanding conditioning from tee to green, and premier service."

In his article for golfdigest.com, Brady said of White Witch: "This is one seriously beautiful course."

Frommer’s highlighted another golfing find-- the Negril Hills Golf Course. "Although it doesn't have the cachet of such Montego Bay courses as Tryall, it's the only golf course in Western Jamaica."

Fodor's also recommends these courses for the vacationing duffers visiting Jamaica:

Runaway Bay Golf Course at Runaway Bay. It is an 18-hole course that as hosted many championship events.

Caymans. This course, which can be found between Kingston and Spanish Town, was the first major championship 18-hole golf course.

Sandals Golf and Country Club in Ocho Rios.

Grand Lido Braco Golf Club in Trelawny.

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