10 Reasons to Book Your Next Golfing Holiday in the Caribbean

With over 50 golf courses scattered across the Caribbean, there’s always one nearby. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Barbados all have world-class golf courses on their small islands.

1. Fine dining and unique food

The islands’ cuisines are influenced by their surrounding areas and inhabiting cultures, so you’ll have the chance to sample authentic West African food in Jamaica, or Spanish-influenced dishes nearer the Dominican Republic. Being islands, you can count on incredible seafood throughout- try Oistins in Barbados, which is a major fishing community with a modern fishing market. There’s also a wealth of tropical fruits and vegetables to sample, like the breadfruit in Jamaica or the locally grown soursop in Antigua.

2. Spa days for the hardened golfer

If golfing 18 holes have taken their toll, and a day on the beach isn’t relaxing enough, give your body the day off with one of the Caribbean’s many spas. Spa resorts and pools can be find all over the island, helping you to take your relaxation to the next level.

3. Clear days mean more time to play

Barbados has an average daytime high of 27°C and up to 10 hours of sun a day in March. If you’re ever annoyed by rain stopping play on the golf course, you can’t do much better the Caribbean for making the most of the weather. Yes, there’s still a chance of rain, but an average March sees Barbados receive just 33mm of rainfall over 8 days. No surprises there! But even if you’re not a fan of the sun, it’s the only way to beat the rain!

4. Sand on the courses, and on the shores

The sand doesn’t stop on the course. The Caribbean is a group of relatively small islands, so drive for long enough in any direction on one of these islands and you’ll hit a white sandy beach with a clear sea.

The Caribbean, world famous for its beaches, is made up of 7,000 individual islands or 28 island nations, of which only 2% is inhabited. Whether you prefer your beach lively or peaceful, there’s a spot for you. Whilst some of the islands are full of fellow golfers to socialise with, and there are places you can find peace and quiet too.

5. There’s something for the younger kids...

Keep the kids happy with an authentic ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ experience. Many of the scenes from the film were shot in the Caribbean, and whether you try the Arlington House Museum (with three stories of the Caribbean’s heritage including a talking a pirate) or The Pirates of Nassau museum and pirate ship in the Bahamas, you’ll have an authentic swashbuckling experience which you might find yourself enjoying too.

6. ...and something for the older kids too

Go caving to escape the heat at Harrison’s Cave in Barbados, whale-spotting in the Dominican Republic, or the most scenic train ride of all time on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway.

7. Treat your unenthusiastic golfing partner

If you partner is completely unenthused by golf, this could still be the holiday of a lifetime. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or just need a good bargaining chip, there are some fantastic reasons for couples to get away to the Caribbean.

Get your hearts racing with a day of zip-lining or racing island buggies in St. Lucia, or a submarine tour in Aruba.

For the more reserved, there’s the Mosquito Bay in Vieques, where the sea lights up at night with bioluminescent algae like a scene from ‘Life of Pi’. Or the Grenada Chocolate Company, a solar-powered chocolate factory.

For the ultimate couple’s holiday, organize a destination wedding. You can tie the knot on the beachside on one of the islands’ many beaches, finding yourself in the perfect setting for a honeymoon.

8. There’s always something to drink

Golfing can be thirsty work! Try a Cuban Mojito, a Bajan Rum Punch, a, a tropical Pina Colada or a Curaçao in Curaçao as the sun sets over the horizon, for an authentic experience.

9. You can watch as well as play

Golfing can be just as enthralling to watch as to play. Book your holiday around the time of an event and you can watch the professionals tee off in fantastic weather. It’s no surprise that celebrities find the Caribbean so appealing for their golfing holidays.

10. To find out about the latest Tournaments and Classics, try the Caribbean’s many golfing associations like the Trinidad and Tobago Golf Association, the Jamaica Golf Association, Bahamas Golf Federation, and Barbados Golf Association and the Caribbean Golf Association.

For more information, visit: www.royalwestmoreland.com