GREATER AGUADILLA ( 1 hour , 45 minutes west of San Juan ) |
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COURTESY OF THE COURSES |
The Links at Royal Isabela royalisabela . com This privately owned boutique luxury resort sits atop 200-foot-high bluffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico and features a seaside golf course designed by architect David Pass with stunning views , sod-faced bunkers and cliffside golf reminiscent of Pebble Beach .
The course boasts some challenging par-3 holes , including an island green on the 174- yard ninth hole and the 200-yard 17th hole designed with the tee and two-tiered green separated by a deep gorge .
Royal Isabela was designed with a minimal-impact approach , leaving intact the natural topography and the most coveted land for the golf course . Very little ground was moved to create this course . Stewardship is a high priority here to protect indigenous flora and fauna , including 31 species of butterflies , 65 bird species , sea turtles and whales .
Punta Borinquen Golf Club puntaborinquengolfclub . org This muni-style 18-hole course was built
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in 1940 on a former U . S . Air Force base and was one of General Dwight Eisenhower ’ s favorite courses . It became the first public course in Puerto Rico when the military base closed in 1973 .
The par-72 layout is perched on a promontory with sweeping views of the intersecting Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea . And while it might not feature all the amenities and pristine highlights of Puerto Rico ’ s other top resort courses , Punta Borinquen is beloved by the island nation ’ s golf community for its “ old bones ” parkland design , enjoyable playability , unpretentious vibe , renown sunsets and ocean views on every hole . There ’ s even a Cheers-style 19th Hole Bar & Cafe waiting at the end of your round .
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TRAVEL INFORMATION
• You won ’ t need a U . S . Passport to travel to Puerto Rico and your U . S . currency and cellphones will work .
• Both English and Spanish are spoken in Puerto Rico .
• Travelers entering the island must get a molecular Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to arrival and show proof of a negative test result .
• The air hub of the Caribbean , there are many direct flights with multiple carriers to San Juan ’ s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport .
For more information about golf and travel to Puerto Rico , visit discoverpuertorico . com .
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