Plan Your Next Golf Trip to Central America Around These Courses

Central America has a whole lot going for it, and if you haven’t taken a trip there yet, you're missing out. It’s extremely biodiverse and features a variety of protected ecoregions. The area also boasts a tropical climate and an amazing variety of cultures, culminating in excellent and world-renowned music and cuisine.

Golfers may be surprised to learn that in the midst of all this, there’s good golf to be played. Whichever Central American country you visit, a great golf course is just around the corner. We suggest you plan your next golfing trip to Central America around these courses. They’re beautiful and offer challenging gameplay. With the top-notch golf and cultural cuisine and experiences, you won’t be disappointed.

Costa Rica: Four Season Peninsula Papagayo/La Iguana Golf Course

One of the most renowned golf courses in Costa Rica is the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo. It’s filled with dramatic changes in elevation and tricky doglegs, perfect for avid and pro golfers. However, only residents at the resort can access it, so it would be ideal if you’re planning on having a resort-style vacation with a bit of golf added in.

If you choose to stay elsewhere, La Iguana Golf Course is an excellent public course in Playa Herradura. A championship 18-hole course, it’s well-spaced so each hole is an experience on its own. The signature 4th hole, “El Tucan”, features 545 yards of distance, hampered by a dogleg and a strategically-placed water hazard. This hole will have you fighting the natural terrain all the way to the green. We recommend staying at Los Sueños Resort if you’re going to be playing La Iguana, as it houses the golf course. If you don’t want to be at a resort, you can rent a private condo for the duration of your stay.

 

 

 

 

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Belize: Caye Chapel

There’s not a lot of choice when it comes to golf courses in Belize, but Caye Chapel is a luxury golfing experience that every golfer should play. You’ll have to take a short flight to the private island from Belize City, but it’s worth it. The Caye Chapel golf course is long, at close to 7,000 yards, and unusually flat. Don’t let that deceive you, though, as designers Greg Norman and Lorena Ochoa created a challenging play for all golfers.

Two signature greens, the 2nd and 12th, are bordered by the Caribbean Sea. Wayward shots can be lost forever to the ocean, so don’t get distracted by the stunning views. You can stay at the Four Seasons Resort on the island, or find accommodation on the mainland and make the 10-minute flight over for a round of golf.

Guatemala: Mayan Golf Club

Guatemala is a fiery tropical jungle, but surprisingly, there’s amazing golf to be played there. The Mayan Golf Club is the oldest golfing association in Central America, and it’s well worth a few hours of your time. From the course, you’ll be able to marvel at Lake Amatitlán and volcanoes in the distance. Don’t get distracted, though. Tree-lined fairways encourage a straight and accurate drive, and sand traps lie in wait.

Watch out for the dogleg on the 8th hole, which can lead to a bogey if you aren’t careful. The closing per-5 hole is an exciting one, featuring two doglegs, a challenging way to end your round.

 

 

 

 

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Honduras: Indura Beach & Golf Resort

While the Pete and Perry Dye-designed Black Pearl in Roatan is widely regarded as the best in the area, it’s currently under renovation, so it’s not operating at its best. We recommend Indura Beach & Golf Resort, located in Tela Bay. It’s one of the longest courses you’ll play, at 7,331 yards from the back tees. The course is laid out as two loops of 9, with half of the holes presenting challenging water hazards.

The par-3 12th hole is considered the signature hole, and it offers exceptional views over the shoreline. In general, the fairways are spacious and forgiving, wide sand bunkers are strategically scattered, and the course is designed around the natural landscape to promote wildlife and the environment.

El Salvador: Club Salvadoreño

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, but the golf at Club Salvadoreño is on par (see what we did there) with that in the larger areas. The course, located on the resort, is a parklands-style layout, lush and flat enough for beginners and experienced golfers to enjoy.

Tree-lined fairways and a natural water hazard running through the course make it more tricky than it looks at first glance. The use of a caddy is compulsory, but you can use this to your advantage by gleaning knowledge of the course from the locals.

 

 

 

 

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Nicaragua: Nejapa Golf and Country Club

The largest island in Central America houses three golf courses. If you only have time for one round, we recommend Nejapa Golf and Country Club, just 5 miles outside of Panama downtown. Forgiving fairways, gentle but attractively undulating terrain, and spacious greens make this course look easy. Don’t be fooled, though — when played from the back tees, it has a rating of 3 over par.

The 18th hole is one of the most exciting. The 450-yard par-4 features a severe right dogleg and a large water hazard. These are tough hazards alone, but the constant wind that plagues this hole could be the deciding factor between par and bogey.

Panama: Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort

Panama is an emerging tourist location and features more courses than other countries in Central America. We’ve chosen Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort as the best spot for a round. This public resort-style course is enjoyable and challenging. From the front tees, you’ll be playing a distance of 5,400 yards. From the back tees, it stretches to a sizable 7,200 yards. Sleek Paspalum fairways invite straight shots. Bunkers are thoughtfully scattered across each hole, and the greens are pleasingly contoured.

Additional read: Live the Luxury Life with La Coleccion in Los Cabos

If a golfing trip is in the cards for you, Central America is an extremely worthwhile place to travel to. As well as the excellent golf, you’ll be able to experience culture like you’ve never seen before, cuisine that you’ll crave long after your trip, and scenery that’s beautiful and unforgettable.

What a perfect combination! Whether you’re coming alone as a golfing enthusiast or with friends or family, there truly is something for everyone in this tropical haven.