When it comes to dream golf holiday destinations, we imagine the Caribbean would rank quite highly with many a golfer…and rightly so!
The hallmarks of a trip to the Caribbean – think picture perfect sandy beaches, the sparkling azures of the Caribbean Sea, refreshing rum-based cocktails and a blissfully welcoming average temperature around the 30 degree mark – would float many a holiday maker’s boat and while there are outstanding golf courses all over the Caribbean, there are few that can rival Royal Isabela in the north-western corner of Puerto Rico.
Described by many as a blend between Pebble Beach and the Old Course at St Andrews, the golf course at Royal Isabela is truly remarkable and when coupled with the luxury resort to which it is attached, one of the most heavenly golf holiday experiences imaginable awaits your arrival.
There are few more spectacular places to enjoy a round of golf than at Royal Isabela. Perched high on the cliffs, some of the holes on this breathtaking course are particularly spell-binding.
Charlie Pasarell – who will be well known among tennis fans – and his brother Stanley, along with business partner Edwin Perez and course designer David Plaff, created the course at Royal Isabela with a hands on approach that looked to take advantage of the stunning patch of land on which the course now sits, starting out among lush equatorial parkland before reaching some of the most dramatic cliff-top holes in the world.
Created on site rather than on paper, the course owes its form to the natural lay of the land with native grasses, natural sand dunes and deep canyons integral to the layout which the design team said was “found” rather than actually designed. Revetted bunkers and a huge shared putting green are throwbacks to the age old links courses found in the UK & Ireland which have clearly had an influence on aspects of the design of Royal Isabela, and will no doubt be a touch that will delight the golfing purists.
Exposed to the trade winds that sweep along the coast, acting as your friend one moment and your foe the next, Royal Isabela can be a fearsome monster at times, especially if you choose to take it on from the back tees which see the course stretch to a mammoth 7,667 yards. Choose your tees wisely however – there are no less than six per hole – and golfers of all abilities can find their comfort zone on this stunning golf course.
Intelligent course design and features such as the island green at the 9th ensure the golfers interest will naver waver, even when away from the more memorable clifftop holes.
It’s a cliché to say, but it is no easy task selecting the signature hole at Royal Isabela, such is the quality of the overall design with the wow-factor present from the first tee to the 18th green.
Hole six for example (appropriately named “Fork in the Road”) offers a unique experience, where golfers tee off to a landing area from which they either turn right towards one green, or left towards another choosing to play the hole as a par five or a par four depending on which green they choose. Not to be outdone, the ninth is also a hole that will live long in the memory banks. Named “Devil’s Pond”, this short yet intimidating par three plays to an island green and is a real do or die affair.
The front nine is just a taste of things to come as well. After being eased into your round during your journey through the hilly opening holes that weave their way through lush tropical flora, the excitement builds on the back nine and reaches a crescendo when you reach the stretch of holes perched atop the cliffs.
It’s a long way down…best keep your ball away from those cliffs!
With the waves crashing into the cliffs far below the course, holes 12 through 17 are truly memorable with the par three 17th hole providing an emphatic exclamation point to the Royal Isabela experience.
This stunning par three plays over dramatic seaside bluffs and can measure up to 200 yards in length. While a straight and true tee shot with a long iron isn’t the easiest of shots in golf, it is perhaps concentrating on the task in hand rather than the amazing views down the coast that will prove most difficult!
While the golf is to die for, it’s not all that Royal Isabela has to offer. The luxury resort boasts 20 freestanding Casitas or “little houses”, designed for the ultimate in Puerto Rican hospitality. Each Casita encompasses 1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and is sited to best catch the stunning sea views on offer from the cliff-tops.
Each Casita boasts a spacious living area and a supremely comfortable bedroom, as well as a lavish bathroom with separate tub shower room that also opens out onto a large, private deck. Luxurious amenities ensure your total comfort throughout your stay with LCD TVs, a wet bar, Frette linens and robes and Gilchrist & Soames bath products, all part of the package.
Away from the course, the Royal Isabela Resort oozes quality and luxury, guaranteeing a more than memorable stay in Puerto Rico.
With daily housekeeping, in-room dining, complimentary transportation around the property and nightly turndown service, the service reflects the quality luxury found throughout the resort and with the resort concierge all too happy to assist you with transportation arrangements and local excursions, you can also explore the island around the resort should you feel the need to explore.
At the heart of the resort on one of Royal Isabela’s highest points, La Casa houses the resort’s outstanding restaurant, the Library Lounge and the Bar at La Casa where guests can enjoy al fresco dining and refreshing cocktails while gazing out over the golf course and out to sea.
If Royal Isabela is paradise then gourmands will be in heaven at The Restaurant at La Casa. Here the philosophy is real food, cooked with real heat and only after visiting Royal Isabela’s River Farm and Gatehouse Garden in search of the freshest and best ingredients will the resort’s head chef set the menu for dining throughout the day.
Expect delectable dishes prepared using classic European cooking techniques and traditional Puerto Rican ingredients including Royal Isabela’s very own vegetables, herbs and fruits, as well as the bounty from local fishermen, cheese makers and small family farms.
All in all, Royal Isabela in Puerto Rico offers the most intoxicating of bases for a golf holiday to the Caribbean and is a must for anyone looking to explore this part of the world.
