Living in Golf Paradise: Caribbean’s 5 Best Islands
By Tim Cotroneo
Your childlike wonder has reawakened since becoming a homeowner in a Caribbean golf course community. Maybe this has something to do with your morning ritual of sipping freshly squeezed fruit juice as you pull back the sliding glass door for the day’s grand unveiling. Your heart leaps a bit as you step out on your deck, and gaze at this morning’s version of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
The juice, the view, and grabbing your golf clubs are all you need before embracing the signature perk of your new residence. One of the reasons you chose this home, next to this golf course, on this island, is the calm. No rush hour, only friendly “hellos” from fellow island enthusiasts as you hop in your golf cart and motor to the first tee box.
What’s sublime about golf in the Caribbean is there’s a chance you’re playing 18 holes on a course designed by one of the game’s most legendary names. Nicklaus, Norman, and Trent Jones have all staked a claim on this region of pristine beaches, palm trees, conch shell tee markers, pink flamingos, and Paspalum fairways. The question is, “If you love to golf, which island is right for your dream home?
Punta Espada in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
So which golf course is the Caribbean’s best? A strong case could be made for Punta Espada in Punta Cana. After winning the 2010 Cap Cana Championship at Punta Espada, Fred Couples declared this 7300-yard layout as Jack Nicklaus’ best-ever course design. That’s saying a lot when you consider that the Golden Bear has designed over 400 courses in 43 countries.
If ocean holes make your heart go pitter-pat, realize that eight of Punta Espada’s spectacular golf holes embrace the Caribbean Sea. Punta Espada is the golf jewel in a Cap Cana gated community that also includes the clifftop restaurant, a marina, a spa, and residential choices at St. Regis Cap Cana The Residences. Choose from 15 Golf Collection residences.
The real estate options in Cap Cana, and Playa Serena just down the road, offer a wealth of luxury living options. From beachfront condos to marina villas and luxurious homes perches next to a golf course. Want more choices? The Dominican Republic is also home to Teeth of the Dog, Playa Grande, Corales, and La Cana Golf Courses. All offer amazing championship golf and best in class amenities.
Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Great Abaco/ Bahamas
If you have any doubt that Abaco Island is the Bahamas version of golf utopia, all you need to know can be found at The Abaco Club’s practice area. If it appears this massive practice range seems like something the professionals would love, you’d be right.
Not only is the Abaco Club a great place to golf, the resort comforts are so high-end that several PGA players own second homes there. The ocean views encompassing the golf course, the restaurants, and the luxury villas are second to none.
In addition to Cabana Suites and Cottage Villas, you have the option of building a four-bedroom estate as your Caribbean long-term escape. Amenities include tennis, spa, fitness center, and personal chef. http://theabacoclub.com/homes/
Aurora International Golf Club in Anguilla
When Anguilla’s Aurora Anguilla Golf Club opened in 2006, golf was a new sport for this cricket-loving 18-mile-long island. More than a decade after Aurora burst on the golf scene, the course has garnered a wealth of awards heralding it as one of the Caribbean’s best.
A reimagined Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club was unveiled under the management of Salamander Hotels and Resorts in 2021. The 7100-yard championship course was accompanied by a signature short course, also designed by Norman.
A Greg Norman design on an island with 33 of the most beautiful beaches in the world may feel like heaven on earth for the golf enthusiast. In addition to world-class golf, guests can anticipate an on-site spa, tennis, water sports, five restaurants, and a hydroponic farm. Also, for the first time, guests can fly to Anguilla directly from Miami International Airport.
Aurora has a long-term solution for those who fall in love with its golf course. For those looking to invest in a turquoise ocean meets fairway green lifestyle, Morgan Hill Villas are the answer. It’s your chance to own a private villa on a remote beach.
El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course in Playa Del Carmen
When playing El Camaleon for the first time, you’ll discover that Greg Norman designed one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sand traps on the very first hole. In the middle of the fairway is a huge, centuries-old, cenote that was uncovered during the construction of the course.
El Camaleon’s course conditions are pro-worthy to the point that the PGA’s televised World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba is held there annually. For the golfer yearning for near-perfect temps and five-star accommodations, El Camaleon is surrounded by some of the most famous names in luxury hospitality.
New homeowners will relish environmental beauty worthy of Audobon certification, canals reminiscent of Venice, and the ultra-turquoise Caribbean Sea. Home choices abound while choosing a beachfront villa residence within the Banyan Tree, Fairmont, or Rosewood properties. The private villas and penthouses at https://mayakoba.com/residences feature full and fractional ownership.
Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club in Turks and Caicos
Location, location, location is the ultimate real estate mantra. On the Turks and Caicos island of Providenciales, the island’s lone golf course is positioned next to what many consider “the best beach in the world.”
Year after year, gorgeous Grace Bay Beach is ranked as number one, not just in the Caribbean, but the entire planet. This stunning five-mile-long stretch of beach is located just a driver’s length from Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club’s first tee box.
Golf enthusiasts seeking a dream home near the Royal Turks 6,700-yard championship layout will find oceanfront living on Long Bay, Grace Bay, Leeward, and Turtle Cove. In 2023, The Strand offers private residences, villas, and custom homesites. For second home explorers who find great golf and endless beach to be a best of both worlds situation, then Providenciales is as good as it gets.
Which Caribbean Golf Community is Right for You?
If world-class golf and living the island life is your idea of heaven, owning a home in Punta Cana, Great Abaco, Anguilla, Riviera Maya, and Turks and Caicos could be your ticket to paradise.
