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Swinging Through Costa Rica: A look at the latest great golf destination

By Larry Olmstead

Costa Rica has become the tourism success story of Central America. Over the past decade, savvy marketing and environmentally friendly development have taken advantage of the country’s ample natural resources and beauty to create a destination that appeals to all types of travelers. Although small in size, Costa Rica is huge when it comes to scenic attractions. It has beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, yet can be driven across in a day. It’s home to the world’s second largest barrier reef. There are tropical rainforests, volcanoes, waterfalls, canopy tours of the thick foliage and endless wildlife. And now there’s golf.

Ten years ago, Costa Rica had just two courses. But in recent years, the nation has been quietly emerging as a top golf destination. Here’s a selection of the top places to get in a great 18.

A Legend’s Legacy at The Four Seasons
The region’s first outpost of one of the world’s top luxury hotel chains, the Four Seasons Resort Coast Rica at Peninsula Papagayo boasts a signature golf course by the legendary Arnold Palmer, one of golf’s all-time greats and now one of the world’s most well-known golf course designers. The resort sits on a peninsula on the Pacific coast, wedged between two gorgeous bays, where the mountains meet the sea. Wide, lush fairways are inviting off the tee, but sweeping ocean views from 14 of the 18 holes tend to distract players and lead them astray. Palmer makes up for the generous landing areas with wildly undulating greens that test both approach shots and putting accuracy. The resort’s golf club offers full-service amenities, including instruction, a large practice facility and first-rate rental equipment.

Off the course, the resort is equally impressive. A local architect designed the property in a pre-Colonial style, rare in a country where almost all buildings have a distinct Spanish influence. The resort is furnished with locally made native art and handicrafts and emphasizes its natural setting, mixing local stone and wood with modern touches like marble baths and DVD players. The result is Costa Rica’s top luxury golf resort.

The Region’s Golfing Jewel
Many consider the Cariari Country Club at the Meliá Cariari Resort to be the finest course in Central America. Home to the 2002 Costa Rican open, it’s the first stop for many visitors, conveniently located just five minutes from the international airport and 15 from downtown San José. George Fazio, with help from his legendary nephew Tom, laid out the course, which features narrow, tight fairways cut through thick forest on the site of a former coffee plantation. Fast greens drop off on the sides to deep bunkers, placing a high premium on accurate approach shots. Though inland, the course has no shortage of jaw dropping beauty, including a large waterfall, several treacherous lakes and thick foliage. The Meliá is a friendly and welcoming full service resort, with a casino, extensive athletic facilities and several pools (506-293-3211, melia-cariari-info.com).

For Those Looking for a Challenge
Just a short drive from the Cariari course in a verdant valley lies Parque Valle del Sol in Santa Ana, which lives up to its name (Sun Valley Park). But in addition to ample sun, the valley is also windswept, which can wreak havoc with stray shots, especially since the course contains water hazards on more than two-thirds of its holes. The site was originally developed more than 30 years ago as a private golf course that was never quite finished, and new owners recently completed an entirely new design on the site. While the wind and water challenge golfers, the gently rolling hills, mature forests and views of the surrounding mountains are their own reward.

A Natural Paradise
Ted Robinson and Arnold Palmer are not the only world-famous designers turning their attention to Costa Rica. One of the most recent and renowned courses is Garra de León, “The Lion’s Paw,” by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. This course is at another Meliá resort, the Paradisus Playa in Conchal, a beach community on the northern Pacific coast, not far from the new Four Seasons. This is the first course in the country certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary program, meaning it was built in accordance to stringent environmental regulations to support and encourage wildlife. As a result, it teems with birds and animals, and the wide fairways are flanked with thick foliage and flowering bushes. Broad fairways seem gentle from the tee, but as the second longest course in Costa Rica—at well over 7000 yards—it’s not easy by any means, especially since Jones—famed for his use of hazards—employs everything from lagoons to ravines to steal players’ balls. As a final touch, the course sits on high ground above rocky slopes leading to the sea, offering both dramatic elevation changes and gorgeous ocean vistas on many holes. The adjacent Paradisus Playa is a very upscale, all-inclusive resort designed by a notable Spanish architect to resemble a village, with guest rooms located in large bungalows.


A Unique Throwback with a Character All Its Own
There’s another resort community in Guanacaste under development nearby and an easy drive from Conchal, anchored by the brand new Mike Young-designed Hacienda Pinilla. This is Costa Rica’s longest layout by far at nearly 7,300-yards, and is yet another oceanfront gem. Set on a former cattle ranch, the course is flat but protected by deep pot bunkers—a taste of golf’s Scottish roots—and the site is exposed and scoured by high winds. Its links-character is different from any of the nation’s other courses and definitely warrants a visit. Several hotels are under development within the 4,500-acre resort (506-654-4123, playa-conchal-resort-info.com).

Strategic Design Amidst Natural Splendor
Costa Rica’s other premier destination golf resort is the Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort and its Ted Robinson-designed course. This seven-year-old property sits in a 1,000-acre rainforest on Herradura Bay, less than two hours southwest of San José, enjoying the best of both worlds with lush vegetation and scenic ocean vistas. The course is inhabited by monkeys, more than 150 species of birds and plenty of other wildlife, so much so that the caddies are trained by wildlife biologists to help guests identify the myriad creatures. At 6,707-yards, the course is just average in length, but Robinson’s use of doglegs and strategically placed trees make it seem longer, forcing players to position the ball correctly off the tee to reach the greens. The Marriott is a modern, full-service resort with a large spa, lavish pool areas, a casino and several restaurants. (506-630-9000, marriott.com).

There is no end in sight to the Costa Rican golf boom. Jack Nicklaus, the world’s most famous golfer and designer who’s built several world class courses in Central America, has a course under construction, and many other acclaimed architects are being drawn here by the natural beauty. For those who want easy, pre-packaged golf vacations, there’s an excellent tour operator, Costa Rica Golf Adventures, which covers all the courses and hotels mentioned, as well as special golf and fishing or golf and sightseeing tours (877-258-2688, golfcr.com).

For more information, please visit:
www.DiscoverCentralAmerica.com.

Flying to Costa Rica
TACA flies you nonstop to San José, Costa Rica, from the following cities: Panama City, Los Angeles, Guatemala City, Miami, New York, Mexico City, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, Lima, Bogotá, Guayaquil and Caracas.

You can also fly to San José from other cities in North, Central and South America with connections in El Salvador. For more information, visit your nearest TACA office, our website at www.taca.com or call our Reservations and Telephone Sales Center in your home country. For a listing of our phone numbers, look inside your ticket jacket.