Commercial airline Frontier’s announcement that it will launch six new nonstop routes to the island beginning June 1 from Charlotte, N.C., Boston, Mass., Norfolk, Va., and Florida cities Palm Beach, Fort Myers, and Fort Lauderdale, makes getting to Puerto Rico even easier.
The Caribbean island is ascending in popularity among U.S. golfers as an easy-to-reach destination with 18 diverse yet complementary courses (and two more under construction). Further traveler friendliness is found in Puerto Rico’s bilingual culture, U.S. currency, and no passport required for American citizens.
The PGA Tour, United States Golf Association, Augusta National, college golf programs, and the American Junior Golf Tour each hold events in the island, which features award-winning resorts, 4,000-plus restaurants, sun-splashed beaches, vibrant nightlife, a plethora of dining options, rare biodiversity, and the welcoming, inclusive, bilingual culture.
“Golf is a flourishing niche globally and in Puerto Rico,” said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. “The new flight routes are welcomed as they help service the rising destination demand and enable more people to discover our tourism offerings.”
Sixteen of Puerto Rico’s 18 golf courses are open to the public. The other two allow play by guests staying at the affiliated resort. The East Course at TPC Dorado Beach, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is among the “must play” courses on the North side of the island; on the East side, don’t pass on Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club, which has an outstanding Robert Trent Jones course. On the West side, golfers play along the spectacular cliffs of Royal Isabela. The 12th hole – a 435-yard, par-4, is particularly stunning as it plays along the cliffs, high above a rocky cove.
Puerto Rico golf courses range from luxury resort amenities to standalone daily fees, spread throughout the island amid its array of unique regions, with several clustered near historic San Juan. Oceanside views, coconut trees, and mountain-rainforest vistas frame their settings. A spectrum of price points, terrain, design styles, and related amenities offer something for everyone’s preference.
Photo: The Robert Trent Jones II course at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort (St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort)