Jamaica enjoys a rich tradition in golf, dating as far back as the mid 1800's. According to the Jamaica Golf Association, the game was officially introduced to the island in 1869, and quickly became popular. This was not entirely surprising, given the growing popularity of the sport in Britain, and the fact that the island was a British colony at that time.
Today, the island sports some of the finest courses in the Caribbean, some of which were designed by the world's leading golf course architects. Jamaica holds the distinction of having more championship courses than any other island in the Caribbean. Although Kingston is home to one of the island's first courses (Constant Spring Golf Course), most of the dozen or so courses on the island are located on the North Coast of Jamaica.
The Tryall Club is one of the more prestigious courses on the island, and is located just outside of Montego Bay. The course hosted the Johnnie Walker World Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1995 for 20 of the world's top golfers. More recently in 2000, the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf match was the inaugural event at the island's newest and most challenging course, the White Witch. This spectacular course is set on 400 acres of lush Caribbean countryside, and features panoramic ocean views on 16 of the 18 holes.
The Half Moon golf course is also located in the Montego Bay area, and is ranked as one of the top courses in the world. This course is listed as a member of Jack Nicklaus' “Great Golf Resorts of the World”. Golf instruction is available for all skill levels at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at the Half Moon Golf Club.
Negril, Port Antonio, Ocho Rios and Mandeville are also home to challenging and scenic golf courses. Golf enthusiasts of all levels are sure to enjoy their time on the links. Most hotels and resorts on the North Coast are within a short drive of one of the great courses mentioned above. There are also many other (non-golf) activities to enjoy after your round of golf. Visitors are encouraged to book early tee times to avoid the tropical temperatures. Taking a golf cart is also advisable. Some golf courses provide the services of a ‘golf concierge' for each group. Others require that your group pay an additional fee for these services. Either way, the caddies are worth it. They will provide excellent suggestions regarding course conditions, green speeds, club and shot selection.
Many resorts offer golf packages that include your accommodations and green fees. See our section on Golf Resorts for more information.
We're sure that your golf vacation in Jamaica will not disappoint you.
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