Best Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica

[Julian Wise]

I am going down to Montego Bay next week and have the option to play the White Witch, Tryall, Cinnamon Hill and Half Moon.  Years ago, the White Witch was the best but I am told that may no longer be the case.  Will be playing 2-3 times.  Anyone have any thoughts who has played in Montego Bay recently?  Thanks so much.

[Rob Collins]

It's been a long time since I've played Tryall, but I'd say it probably has the best architecture of the bunch. White Witch can be a lot of fun, with some very scenic, wild holes that can be quite difficult. If you're hitting it crooked, you'll have a hard time breaking 200 but some of the heroic holes and vistas make it worth a visit.

[Gary Slatter]

Cinnamon Hill is best, Tryall is excellent, Half Moon is good test, White Witch is too hilly, but not bad. 
Where you are staying is the most important as the above courses are all OK but spread out (Tryall is furthest).
If you have the time and a driver, Manchester Golf Club is worth the drive to play the oldest course in the Western Hemisphere, 1865 or 1867.
Scotchies Jerk Restaurant has the best Jamaican food, and it's fun.  I know people who stayed in villas who went every night, taking their chef with them!
Enjoy Jamaica, just don't be walking drunk at 2 in the morning.

[Adam Warren]

Need to bookmark this thread for next year.....if I can get the green light from the wife to play there.

[Gary Slatter]

Adam, that's the biggest problem in Jamaica, unless the wife plays, golfers don't play while in Jamaica.
At hotel cocktail parties I would meet golfers from great clubs around the world, "but I can't play because we have family".
Too bad, try to play anyway, and enjoy the caddies, best in the world.

[Greg Tallman]

I would second Cinnamon Hill as the best and I say that before the redesign work that improved the front nine considerably from my understanding.

[Eric Strulowitz]

Highly recommend Cinnamon Hill.  We played it three times our last trip out.

It is really two courses.  The front nine plays right to the ocean with some great water holes, the back nine is a mountain course, with a lot of jungle and wildlife, and one hole with a magnificent waterfall.   Seems like not a lot of folks play when they come to Jamaica, we literally felt like we had the place to ourselves.  We did not like the idea of having a caddy forced on us, but he was so personable  he sort of grew on us, and we used the same one for all the rounds.

Did not play the course at Half Moon , but we rode through it and it looked awfully nice.

Hope you have a great trip!

[Adam Warren]

Are there any good places to play in Ocho Rios?  The resort we prefer is actually in Ocho Rios, but have also considered a resort in Negril.  Any recommendations for those areas?

[Amol Yajnik]

I played White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, and Half Moon a few years ago on 3 consecutive days.  Those courses are fairly close to one another, Tryall is a bit more of a drive from that group of 3 courses.

I enjoyed Cinnamon Hill the most.  As Eric stated, it's really 2 different courses when you compare the front nine to the back nine, and I really enjoyed the variety.  The views at White Witch are the best of the 3 courses, but it is more penal, and I wasn't on top of my game that day so I lost a bunch of balls.  Half Moon is the flattest of the 3 courses, and honestly was the least memorable of the 3.  It was the easiest of the 3 though, it was good for my father and I to play that course first because it served as a warmup course for the other 2 rounds.

[Julian Wise]

As a follow up to my original post, the responses I received were accurate--Cinnamon Hill is the best course out of the three at Rose Hall--ahead of White Witch and Half Moon.  White Witch is a nice ocurse but just not in great shape.  Interestingly, while I was down there, they were filming the Big Break which is going to take place at both Cinnamon Hill and White Witch.  Will be interesting to watch as many courses look better on TV than in person.  Thanks for the responses.

[Eric Strulowitz]

I played White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, and Half Moon a few years ago on 3 consecutive days.  Those courses are fairly close to one another, Tryall is a bit more of a drive from that group of 3 courses.

I enjoyed Cinnamon Hill the most.  As Eric stated, it's really 2 different courses when you compare the front nine to the back nine, and I really enjoyed the variety.  The views at White Witch are the best of the 3 courses, but it is more penal, and I wasn't on top of my game that day so I lost a bunch of balls.  Half Moon is the flattest of the 3 courses, and honestly was the least memorable of the 3.  It was the easiest of the 3 though, it was good for my father and I to play that course first because it served as a warmup course for the other 2 rounds.

I am so happy that you enjoyed Cinnamon Hill as much as I did. 

I understand a few years back, it needed some love and apparently has gotten the love it needed.   Whomever has taken over the maintenance there has done a helluva job.   I think this course will present well on TV, especially the holes around the ocean.   

[John McCarthy]

It has been more than a few years but I really liked Cinnamon Hill.  You can get a gander at Johnny Cash's old villa.

I thought they could get more out of the seaside holes, which seemed a tad regimented and stuck in there.

And any course that has graves as a hazard get a +1 from me. 

[MCirba]

Any idea who did the redesign at Cinnamon Hill?   Playing there this week, thanks!

[Greg Tallman]

Any idea who did the redesign at Cinnamon Hill?   Playing there this week, thanks!

von Hagge/Baril

[MCirba]

Any idea who did the redesign at Cinnamon Hill?   Playing there this week, thanks!

von Hagge/Baril

Thanks, Greg.  Didn't realize the course was originally designed back.in the 1960s by Hank Smedley who also.designed some courses outside Philly.

[Mike Rost]

It really depends on where you're staying.   White Witch, Cinnamon Hill and Half Moon are in one dirction from the airport, Tryall the other.  If you're near the fist 3, they're generally ranked in that order  They're all resort-type courses with White Witch having the best views.   I think Tryall is the best, most interesting course.  Mabye has 2-3 weak holes but some very interesting ones and also some really impressive vistas.  And great caddies.