Golf in Jamaica

Golfers appreciate both the beauty and the challenges offered by Jamaica's courses. Caddies are almost always mandatory throughout the island, and rates are $15 to $45 per round of golf. Cart rentals are available at all courses except Manchester Club; costs are $20 to $40. Some of the best courses in the country are found near MoBay.

The Runaway Bay golf course is found at Breezes Runaway Bay (N. Coast Hwy., Runaway Bay. 876/973-7319). This 18-hole course has hosted many championship events (greens fees are $80 for nonguests; guests play for free) and is also home to an extensive golf academy.

East of Falmouth, try Breezes Rio Bueno Golf Club (Trelawny. 876/954-0010), between Duncans and Rio Bueno, an 18-hole executive course with lush vegetation (nonguests should call for fee information). Caddies are not mandatory on this course.

Half Moon (Montego Bay. 876/953-2211), a Robert Trent Jones-designed 18-hole course 7 mi (11 km) east of town, is the home of the Red Stripe Pro Am (greens fees are $105 for guests, $150 for nonguests). In 2005 the course received an upgrade and once again draws international attention. Ironshore SuperClubs Golf Club (Montego Bay. 876/953-3681), 3 mi (5 km) east of the airport, is an 18-hole links-style course (greens fees are $50).

In the hills, the 9-hole Manchester Club (Caledonia Rd., Mandeville. 876/962-2403) is the Caribbean's oldest golf course and charges greens fees of about $17.

Great golf, rolling hills, and a rolling "liquormobile" go hand in hand at the 18-hole Negril Hills Golf Club (Sheffield Rd., Negril. 876/957-4638), the only golf course in Negril (it's east of town). Greens fees are $28.75 for 9 holes or $57.50 for 18 holes.

The newest course in Jamaica, which opened in January 2001, is the White Witch course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall (1 Ritz Carlton Dr., Rose Hall, St. James. 876/518-0174). The greens fees at this 18-hole championship course are $179 for resort guests, $199 for nonguests, and $99 for a twilight round.

The Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, A Hilton Resort (N. Coast Hwy., Montego Bay. 876/953-2650), 4 mi (6 km) east of the airport, hosts several invitational tournaments (greens fees run $159 for guests, $169 for nonguests) at the 18-hole championship Cinnamon Hill Ocean Course.

The golf course at Sandals Golf & Country Club (Ocho Rios. 876/975-0119) is 700 feet above sea level (greens fees for 18 holes are $100, or $70 for 9 holes for nonguests; free for guests).

Tryall Club (N. Coast Hwy., Sandy Bay. 876/956-5660), 15 mi (24 km) west of Montego Bay, has an 18-hole championship course on the site of a 19th-century sugar plantation (greens fees are $90 for guests, $125 for nonguests).