Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club

By Tim Cotroneo

There is something mystical about golf in Turks and Caicos. Observe those playing the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club for the first time, and you can see the sense of wonder in their eyes.

When the golf course opened in 1992, that same sense of wonder could be found in the eyes of local island residents. This was because the sport of golf had no history on Providenciales, the most inhabited of the Turks and Caicos Islands. For locals the new lush green fairways, and even golf balls were curious additions on this 18-mile-long island made up of limestone terrain and an abundance of mangroves.

Oh, there was one more island attraction causing a quiet stir: Grace Bay Beach. In the early 90s the word had yet to get out about this stunning natural amenity found just a drive and a wedge from the new golf course’s entrance.

The Most Beautiful Beach in the Caribbean

Until the mid-80s, there was barely a whiff of tourism in Turks and Caicos. In 1982, Club Med opened on Grace Bay Beach. At the time, there were only three hotels on this sleepy island. Club Med sparked the first wave of news showcasing a photogenic 5-mile-long journey of powdery white sand that would garner attention worldwide as Grace Bay Beach.

What eventually turned Providenciales into a future Instagram juggernaut was when vacationers discovered the astounding ocean color embracing Grace Bay Beach. The photos showcasing the beach went “viral” before this word was coined. The shades of Atlantic Ocean turquoise surrounding Providenciales or “Provo” is hard to put into words. In the pre-cell phone days, the adjectives early tourists did come up with caught fire, and the Turks and Caicos tourism numbers gathered steam.

The golf course was originally named Provo Golf Club, and it was built as an additional tourism driver to accompany the momentum generated by the oceanfront hotels dotting Grace Bay Beach. For the first two decades the golf course’s popularity was built largely on the personalities of two employees who arrived shortly after the course opened. The twosome is still there today.

Royal Turks and Caicos is Born

Ontario native Dave Douglas escaped the Canada cold and began working winter seasons at Provo Golf Club from 1993 to 1995. Douglas came on board permanently in 1996 and was Director of Golf until 2024. Sean Wilson, another Ontario transplant, worked several winter stints before joining Provo full-time in 2008. Wilson took over the Director of Golf reigns in 2024. Today you’ll find Wilson and Douglas still tirelessly greeting golfers and getting them set up for their rounds.

Following COVID, the golf industry worldwide soared in popularity. With coincidental timing, in 2021 Provo Golf Club was rebranded as Royal Turks and Caicos. Providenciales, as an island escape, suddenly flourished with vacationers seeking fresh air. Many Americans, Canadians, and Europeans started working remotely on one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Since the golf course opened, the island’s population has tripled and there are now dozens of hotels and restaurants welcoming the nearly two million tourists visiting “Provo” each year.

Throughout all these twists and turns, Wilson and Douglas remain as golf course ambassadors. The Canadian duo are grateful for a third cohort who is responsible for beautifying the landscape-side of the Royal Turks experience. For the past decade Tim Mack has held steady as the course Superintendent. Mack was the mastermind behind this 6,700-yard track’s installation of Platinum Paspalum turf and the new irrigation system.

Coming Back for More

If you’re wondering if you should add Royal Turks and Caicos to your golf calendar, know that the course was ranked by USA Today readers as the Caribbean’s Top Course in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Keep in mind there are courses in the Caribbean designed by Nicklaus, Norman, and Dye, yet Royal Turks’ cream regularly rises to the top.

How do you explain this overflowing trophy case? Golfers will tell you that there is something mystical about the course’s aura and the feeling you get playing on the lush paspalum fairways flanked by a legion of palm trees.

Once you make your tee time, there’s a good chance you’ll join a foursome that starts out as strangers. By the end of 18 glorious golf holes, there’s a 90 percent chance you all end up as friends. What’s interesting is there’s also a good chance your new playing partners have played Royal Turks several times before. They’re eager to share what keeps them returning to Providenciales. Their fond tales of the island turn newcomers into believers.

A Round After Your Round

Your round comes full circle when you enter the 19 Bar, the Royal Turks and Caicos’ long-standing bar and restaurant. This is where stories of the early days are told and legends endure.

When in Providenciales, you’d be remiss if you didn’t quench your thirst with some of the local fare. When at the 19 Bar, requesting a Turks Head beer or a Bambarra rum cocktail further bonds first-timers into the lore of the island, the mystical course, and your new friends developed over 18 golf holes.

Your golf cart partner smiles and points to the ceiling. You look up and see dozens of golf flags from around the world. You learn each flag holds a story. A golfer returning to Royal Turks GC with a flag wants to share his or her slice of golf history. Now it’s your turn. You’re a member of the club, and there’s a sense of wonder in your eyes after playing one of the Caribbean’s best golf courses. https://royalturksandcaicosgolf.com/