Ten courses worth the trip, ranked by design, scenery, value and real-world access for visiting golfers.
Puerto Rico has roughly 17 to 18 golf courses, and this guide ranks the ten best for visiting golfers, plus four honorable mentions. The order is editorial: it weighs Golf Digest’s 2022 Puerto Rico ranking, recent Golf Advisor / GolfPass reviews, design pedigree, reported conditioning and, because this is a travel guide, how realistic it is to actually book a tee time. See our research methodology.
Royal Isabela
Northwest Coast · Isabelacourses/royal-isabela-1.jpgGolf Digest’s top-ranked course in Puerto Rico (2022). Cliffs roughly 150–350 feet above the Atlantic, a links-style back nine, a double green shared by the 12th and 14th, and 21 holes of which you play 18.
Bahia Beach
North Coast · Río Grandecourses/bahia-beach-1.jpgRobert Trent Jones Jr. rebuilt the original course in 2008: Bermuda fairways through coconut palms, about 80 acres of saltwater lagoons and a closing stretch along the Atlantic. The closest championship course to the airport, now part of the Four Seasons resort.
TPC Dorado Beach
North Coast · Doradocourses/tpc-dorado-beach-1.jpgThe East Course (1958, Robert Trent Jones Sr., restored 2011) is famous for the par-5 4th “Z” hole and ocean sightlines; the Sugarcane Course is the value option at about half the price.
Grand Reserve
North Coast · Río Grandecourses/grand-reserve-1.jpgTom Kite’s Championship Course is the home of the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open: wide fairways, large greens, water on most holes and a steady breeze with El Yunque behind.
El Conquistador
East · Fajardocourses/el-conquistador-1.jpgArthur Hills’ hillside layout has about 200 feet of elevation change and views of the Atlantic, the Caribbean and El Yunque: rare terrain for a Caribbean resort course. Cart only.
Palmas Athletic Club
Southeast · Humacaocourses/palmas-del-mar-1.jpgTwo courses in a gated resort community: Rees Jones’ Flamboyán (1998) and Gary Player’s Palm (1974). A relaxed southeast alternative to the north-coast corridor.
Rio Mar Country Club
North Coast · Río Grandecourses/rio-mar-1.jpg36 holes: the Fazio Ocean Course (1975), with a single oceanfront green on the 16th, and Greg Norman’s River Course (1997) along the Mameyes River. Golf Digest ranked them 7th and 9th in Puerto Rico (2022).
El Legado
South Coast · Guayamacourses/el-legado-1.jpgA Chi Chi Rodríguez design on 285 acres of a former horse ranch, with five sets of tees and reported rates of about $55–65 including cart. Widely cited as one of the island’s best values.
Punta Borinquen
Northwest Coast · Aguadillacourses/punta-borinquen-1.jpgBuilt in 1940 on what became Ramey Air Force Base, with ocean views on most holes and a reported price of about $40 plus tax. General Eisenhower reportedly played here.
Caguas Real
Central · Caguascourses/caguas-real-1.jpgJohn Sanford’s par-70 course (2002) has a forgiving front nine and a hilly back nine with mountain views; weekday rates have been reported around $40.
Costa Caribe
South Coast · Poncecourses/costa-caribe-1.jpgA 27-hole course in the Ponce area that opened in 2003 and hosted the Puerto Rico Open in its next two years. Check current conditions and which nines are open before booking.
Río Bayamón
San Juan Metro · Bayamóncourses/rio-bayamon-1.jpgAn 18-hole municipal course near the airport with night golf and a large range; about $65 including cart for non-resident adults.
Berwind
North Coast · Río Grande / Loízacourses/berwind-1.jpgA 1969 semi-private course in Río Grande, long and flat, open to visitors only on certain days. Call before you plan around it.
Fort Buchanan
San Juan Metro · Guaynabocourses/fort-buchanan-1.jpgNine holes played twice from dual tees, near the cruise port. Restricted to eligible military players.
If you have one round, play Bahía Beach (easy to reach) or the TPC Dorado Beach East Course. With a full week, combine the north-coast corridor with one far-flung round at Royal Isabela or El Conquistador: see our itineraries. On a budget, read our guide to cheap & public courses; for lodging deals see golf packages.
Golf Digest’s 2022 ranking placed Royal Isabela first, Bahía Beach second and TPC Dorado Beach East third. Rankings are subjective, and Royal Isabela is private, so visitors must stay at the lodge to play.
Tourism sources cite about 17 to 18 courses on the island. This guide covers the 14 most relevant to visitors.
Yes, at most of them. Bahía Beach, Rio Mar, Grand Reserve, Palmas and El Conquistador accept outside players with advance booking. TPC Dorado Beach is aimed at Dorado Beach resort guests, members and partner programs (confirm before you plan), and Royal Isabela is limited to lodge guests.
Choose a course with forward tees and a forgiving layout, such as Bahía Beach (family tees of roughly 2,900–3,000 yards), El Legado (five sets of tees) or Palmas del Mar’s Flamboyán.
At Grand Reserve Golf Club in Río Grande, on the north-east coast about 30 to 45 minutes from San Juan.
How packages work, what is included and how to save.
Read the guide →Reported rates, carts, caddies and resort fees at every course.
Read the guide →Estimate flights, hotel, rounds, car and food in seconds.
Read the guide →Rounds from about $40 to $65 that welcome visitors.
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