Discuss...

[Greg Tallman]

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2009/nov/12/2010-golfweeks-best-caribbean-courses/

[Sean Leary]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

[Greg Tallman]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

Reserva Conchal... Mexico and Carribean?

[Tom_Doak]

Querencia would be at least twenty spots lower on my own list ... which is pretty bad, considering I've only seen 11 of the courses listed.

P.S.  Congrats to Mike Young on your #50 ranking!

[Bill_McBride]

I guess nobody gets to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, to play the Links at Las Palomas, Forrest Richardson's course there.  Too bad, it's a whole lot of fun to play, half in the dunes above a big central basin where challenging holes play over and alongside a big lagoon.  I played three rounds there a couple of winters ago and loved it.

[Sean Leary]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

Reserva Conchal... Mexico and Carribean?

I guess Central America counts as Mexico.

[JNC Lyon]

So...Bermuda is in the Caribbean?  I'm pretty sure that being due east of South Carolina does not qualify for this list.

Having played zero golf in the Caribbean, it is hard to believe that Teeth of the Dog is not higher than those at one and three.  Also hard to believe Cabo del Sol is 8th.

[Anthony Gray]

  I can't pull that up. What's the list?

  Anthony

[Sean Leary]

Querencia would be at least twenty spots lower on my own list ... which is pretty bad, considering I've only seen 11 of the courses listed.

P.S.  Congrats to Mike Young on your #50 ranking!

Querencia is a nice place and experience. That will play into its rating some. But its quite difficult, so it is surprising to be so high on a Golfweek list.

[Mark Molyneux]

Wow! What am I jumping into? Two references to not being satisfied with the placement of Cabo del Sol at #8 without any mention of whether it ought to be higher or lower. Since everybody's entitled to an opinion, here's mine. I've played 11 courses in the list and noone better than the Nicklaus design at Cabo del Sol. I've played a whole lot of places and I've never had more fun with a 16, 17, 18 finishing stretch than I did at Cabo del Sol. The facility was in absolute top shape when we were there and the staff treated us like royalty. From what I know of Caribbean / Mexican / Bermudian golf, it has to be ranked in the top 3. Similarly, neighboring One and Only Palmilla should be rated higher. I would place Aruba's Tierra del Sol in between those two... just a special afternoon on a memorable course. Tierra had monstrous winds! The other places were much calmer.
 

[Greg Tallman]

  I can't pull that up. What's the list?

  Anthony

2010 Golfweek’s Best Courses of the Caribbean & Mexico

1.         Cap Cana (Punta Espada)
Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
Jack Nicklaus
2008

2.         Mid Ocean Club
Tucker’s Town, Bermuda
Charles Blair Macdonald & Seth Raynor
1921

3.         Querencia
San José del Cabo, Mexico
Tom Fazio
2000

4.         Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye
1969

5.         Royal Westmoreland
St. James, Barbados
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
1994

6.         Vista Vallarta Golf Club (Nicklaus)
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
2001

7.         Mayakoba (El Camaleón)
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Greg Norman
2006

8.         Cabo del Sol (Ocean)
Los Cabos, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
1994

9.         Trump International Golf Club   
Puerto Rico (International)
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Tom Kite
2005*

10.       Vista Vallarta Golf Club (Weiskopf)
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Tom Weiskopf
2001

11.       The Abaco Club on Winding Bay
Abaco, Bahamas
Donald Steel & Tom Mackenzie
2006

12.       Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Pacifico)
Punta Mita, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
1999

13.       Casa de Campo (Dye Fore)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye
2003

14.       El Dorado Golf & Beach Club
San José del Cabo, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
1999

15.       Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club
Riviera Maya, Mexico
P.B. Dye
2005*

16.       Puerto Los Cabos (Nicklaus)
San José del Cabo, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
2008

17.       Sandy Lane (The Green Monkey)
St. James, Barbados
Tom Fazio
2004

18.       Playa Grande
Río San Juan, Dominican Republic
Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Roger Rulewich
1996*

19.       Sandy Lane (The Country Club)
St. James, Barbados
Tom Fazio
2004

20.       Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Bahia)
Punta Mita, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
2009*

21.       Reserva Conchal Golf Club
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
1996

22.       Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort (White Witch)
St. James, Jamaica
Robert von Hagge
2000

23.       One&Only Palmilla (Mountain & Arroyo)
San José del Cabo, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
1993

24.       Port Royal Golf Course
Southampton, Bermuda
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1970

25.       Roco Ki (Faldo Legacy)
Macao, Dominican Republic
Nick Faldo
2008

26.       Trump International Golf Club Puerto Rico (Championship)
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Tom Kite
1997*

27.       Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Península Papagayo
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Arnold Palmer
2004

28.       Moon Spa & Golf Club (Lakes/Jungle)
Cancún, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus
2002

29.       Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort (Lucayan Country Club)
Freeport, Bahamas
Dick Wilson
1962*

30.       Palmas del Mar Country Club (Flamboyán)
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Rees Jones
1998

31.       Palmas del Mar Country Club (Palm)
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Gary Player
1974

32.       Rose Hall Resort & Spa (Cinnamon Hill)
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Hank Smedley, 1969
Robert von Hagge &
Richard A. Baril, 2001

33.       Trump International Golf Club at Raffles Resort
Canouan Island, St. Vincent &
The Grenadines
Jim Fazio
2002*

34.       Casa de Campo (La Romana Country Club)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye
1985

35.       Cabo del Sol (Desert)
Los Cabos, Mexico
Tom Weiskopf
1998

36.       The Tryall Club
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Ralph Plummer
1958

37.       Ocean Club Golf Course
Paradise Island, Bahamas
Tom Weiskopf
2000

38.       Cabo Real Golf Course
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
1994

39.       Tucker’s Point Club
Harrington Sound, Bermuda
Charles Banks, 1931
Roger Rulewich, 2002

40.       Playacar Spa & Golf Club
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Robert von Hagge
1994

41.       Tierra del Sol Aruba Resort, Spa and Country Club
Oranjestad, Aruba
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
1995

42.       Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort (Reef)
Freeport, Bahamas
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
2000

43.       Guavaberry Golf & Country Club
Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic
Gary Player
2002*

44.       Dorado Beach (West)
Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1966

45.       Punta Cana Resort & Club (La Cana)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
P.B. Dye
2001

46.       Dorado Beach (East)
Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1961

47.       Wyndham Río Mar (Ocean)
Río Mar, Puerto Rico
Tom & George Fazio
1975

48.       Casa de Campo (Links)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye
1975

49.       Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
2007*

50.       Hacienda Pinilla Golf & Country Club
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Mike Young
2003*

[Anthony Gray]

 Greg

 THanks for that post. With my typing abilities that would have taken forever. I played Punta Espada. It has the feel of a "Resort" course. Nice to the eye. It does have architectural merit. But I left wanting more. I love the idea of the man-made lagoons on 2 and 3. They give the golfer something. The greens are in great shape and the course is very "clean". Maybe too manicured for the jaded golfer. Not overly penel. For members on this site I think they would prefer Teeth more. Roko Ki has more merit architecturally in my opinion. It offers more risk/reward and options. Makes the golfer think more and the housing does not encroach on the golfing expperience as much.

  Anthony

[Greg Tallman]

Querencia would be at least twenty spots lower on my own list ... which is pretty bad, considering I've only seen 11 of the courses listed.

P.S.  Congrats to Mike Young on your #50 ranking!

If I had to guess how your list would begin I would say...

1. Teeth
2. Mid Ocean
3. Cabo del Sol Ocean
4. Dye Fore
5. Westmoreland


After 3 it gets tough... but that IS kinda my point.

[Anthony Gray]

  Dye Fore is WIDE open. Full of beauty. As with most Pete Dye courses lovely par 3s. It is memorable because of of the vistas. Teeth is a better course without a doubt for the GCAer. It is not worth the trip but the combination of the two is. The country is poor and the people are gracious. Safer than many say. The Dominican Republic is rich in golf and culture. Many expatriots make it home.

  Anthony

 

[Greg Tallman]

  Dye Fore is WIDE open. Full of beauty. As with most Pete Dye courses lovely par 3s. It is memorable because of of the vistas. Teeth is a better course without a doubt for the GCAer. It is not worth the trip but the combination of the two is. The country is poor and the people are gracious. Safer than many say. The Dominican Republic is rich in golf and culture. Many expatriots make it home.

  Anthony

 

And the women are beautiful and tolerant of backward hillbilly ways!

[Anthony Gray]

  Dye Fore is WIDE open. Full of beauty. As with most Pete Dye courses lovely par 3s. It is memorable because of of the vistas. Teeth is a better course without a doubt for the GCAer. It is not worth the trip but the combination of the two is. The country is poor and the people are gracious. Safer than many say. The Dominican Republic is rich in golf and culture. Many expatriots make it home.

  Anthony

 

And the women are beautiful and tolerant of backward hillbilly ways!

  Great call....Greg...I married one.....Its amazing what you can get away with when they don't know what you're saying.

  Anthony

 

[Tom_Doak]

If I had to guess how your list would begin I would say...

1. Teeth
2. Mid Ocean
3. Cabo del Sol Ocean
4. Dye Fore
5. Westmoreland


After 3 it gets tough... but that IS kinda my point.

I've never been to Westmoreland.  I think I've actually rated Cabo del Sol (Ocean) equal to Mid Ocean anytime I've had to rate them.  And I agree with you, that after #3, it's a toss-up.  Diamante might make it a 4-course meal before the junk food.

[Martin Toal]

Of these, I have played:

Cabo:
Cabo del Sol (Ocean)
El Dorado (although that was pre-facelift)
One and Only Palmilla (I forget which 2 9s)

Barbados:
Green Monkey,
Country Club,
Royal Westmoreland

For me, the most enjoyable was El Dorado, and the most forgettable was, comfortably, The Country Club at Sandy Lane.

I really enjoyed The Green Monkey, thought Westmoreland was pretty good, Palmilla was nice enough but nothing special.

I am a bit surprised that Westmoreland is rated highest of those I played.

[Gary Slatter]

it's difficult to combine Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda in one heap.
Commenting on courses that I know and have played:
2.  Mid Ocean     perfect island course!  at #2 for life
4.  Casa de Campo  perfectly placed #4
7.  Myakoba's El Camaleon  one of Greg's best use of land, #7 is good
15. Iberostar    OK as 15th
22.  White Witch in Jamaica - probably about right but not as good as #32 Cinnamon Hill, nor #36 Tryall and certainly not as good as Caymanas in Kingston Jamaica which isn't on the list.
24. Port Royal should be around 15
29. Lucayan Country Club   was 88th in the world once, with better condition could be top 10 in Caribbean!
32. Cinnamon Hill   great routing by Hank Smedley and renewed by Richard Baril     could be top 15! with TLC.
33. Trump International at Raffles Resort     what a hidden gem, probably has one of the most unique dramatic back nines in golf!  I work here so I am biased, but I choose to work here because the course is out of this world!  Top 10 for sure, maybe too difficult for many, choose your tees wisely!
36. Tryall Club    faded but still there, a great walking course with the island's second best caddies.  Should swap positions to 22.
37. Ocean Club at Paradise Island.  Not as good as the original course on the site but fits perfectly with Atlantis. 37 is about right, maybe a bit lower as it's in good nick most of the time.
42. The Reef Club in Freeport.  Needs TLC, fun designed RTJ II resort course
44. Dorado Beach   same as Lucayan CC, needs some TLC but nice to see it listed
46. Dorado Beach East.  same as 44.

[Carl Nichols]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

Reserva Conchal... Mexico and Carribean?

I guess Central America counts as Mexico.

Pretty sure that the east coast of Costa Rica is the Caribbean.  Not sure whether this course is on that side. 

[Sean Leary]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

Reserva Conchal... Mexico and Carribean?

I guess Central America counts as Mexico.

Pretty sure that the east coast of Costa Rica is the Caribbean.  Not sure whether this course is on that side. 

Nope. Its on the west side.

[Greg Tallman]

I suppose you don't like Cabo del Sol's position

I have played Querencia a fair amount and I like it but it is two clicks behind the Ocean Course at CDS.

Reserva Conchal was surprisingly good, in my opinion....

Reserva Conchal... Mexico and Carribean?

I guess Central America counts as Mexico.

Pretty sure that the east coast of Costa Rica is the Caribbean.  Not sure whether this course is on that side. 

Nope. Its on the west side.

So to summarize what is inaccurate about the list...

>Architect of record
>Opening dates
>Geographic region

Other than that it's great... well, not really.