What is it about a golfer’s desire to search for the holy grail of golf destinations? To locate that venue that appears distant and foreign where, upon their return, they can edify to their playing partners the wonders of the country and distinctiveness of the courses so as to attain a sense of pleasure from the trace of envy from their tête-à-tête.
For the past years my friends and I have found it necessary to search for this ‘far-away place’ where the weather is constantly warm and the porting of foul weather gear to ‘sun destinations’ is no longer a necessity. While the Sunday New Year Times a travel editorial titled ‘The Best Places to Visit’, caught my eye as it recognized Panama as the ‘Number One Place to Go’.
Do they have quality golf courses? I had to check it out!
The southernmost country in Central America, Panama is separated by Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the south. Temperatures are consistently in the 80’s ans 90’s and with the prevailing ocean breezes, seldom do conditions feel uncomfortably hot.
With hundreds of ‘escape’ islands, ancient volcanoes, exotic wildlife, native culture and the cosmopolitan metropolis of Panama City the country has so much diversity and is going through a major economic boom thanks to the five billion dollar expansion of the Panama Canal. A strong and stable government is modernizing the country’s infrastructure as it is fast becoming the destination of choice for international travelers.
This energy is particularly apparent in the district of Rio Hato, two hours west of the capital. The soon to be opened Scarlet Martinez International Airport will provide easy access to miles of beautiful beaches, world class surfing, trophy fishing and golf with resort and real estate developments attracting the likes of Nicklaus Fazio, Garl and Poellot in the creation of world class golf facilities on their properties.
Golf was introduced to the country in the 1930 when Americans were building the Canal and built the first course. Since then, the game has received a great deal of domestic and international awareness. Through the guidance of the Panama Golf Association (APAGOLF), which has attracted prestigious events such as the BMW Golf Cup, the world’s largest international amateur tournament, and the Panama City Open a regular stop on the Web.com Tour, Panamanians are embracing the game.
Within forty minutes radius of the new Rio Hato airport is where you will find the largest concentration of courses outside of Panama City.
Vista Mar Golf and Beach Resort features a J. Michael Poellot 18-hole 7,273 yard championship course that will become one of the country’s finest gold centers. Managed by the US based KemperSports Group it is designed as a full service teaching academy.
Buenaventura Golf Club is located a half hour west. The superb Nicklaus Design opened in 2012 and is under the management of the internationally esteemed Troon Group. The course is associated with the luxury community of Buenaventura and the striking JW Marriott Panama Golf and Beach Resort. Opened Last October it still has a prize of one million dollars for the first hole in one.
Located in Santa Clara, the Bijao Golf Club is a Ron Garl designed 9-holer that measures 3,439 yards. It’s situated amongst the beautiful beachside homes and grand towers of the Bijao Resort Community and is also home to the all inclusive Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort.
The coastal city of Coronado is an established real estate development and a favorite community for North Americans and home of the Fazio designed Coronada Golf Club. The landscape of lush trees, rolling fairways and strategically placed water hazards can be a challenge when the winds are blowing from the Pacific. The property also features a 9-hole par 3 course and driving range.
Royal Decameron Golf and Beach Resort is an all-inclusive vacation destination and popular with the North Americans. The hotel and residential development is located on Farallon Beach and is the home for the popular Mantarraya (Manta Ray) Golf Course. An 18-hole 7,098 yard Randall Thompson design, located between Buenaventura and Bijao, it is a pleasure to play as the large fairways, lush greens and ocean vistas create a memorable day – no matter what you score!
The best way to plan your Panama golf getaway is to work with a local planning company such as Golf in Panama (golfinpanama.com) and PTY (ptygolf.com) as package pricing is the best way to go and each company can provide excursion packages to dining and tourism destinations. Most major US air carriers, Air Transat and Panama’s national airline, COPA provide regular flights from many North American cities.
Panama deserves a long look when planning your next golf getaway. The friendliness of the people, affordability and diversity of the country will translate into unique Panamanian discoveries of your own.
