Golf in Puerto Rico

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Golf

Aficionados may know that Puerto Rico is the birthplace of golf legend Chi Chi Rodríguez -- and he had to hone his craft somewhere. Currently, you can find nearly 20 courses on the island, including many championship links. Be sure to call ahead for tee times; hours vary, and several hotel courses give preference to guests. Greens fees start at about $20 and go up as high as $150. The Puerto Rican Golf Association (58 Calle Caribe, San Juan. 787/721-7742. www.prga.org) is a good source for information on courses and tournaments.

The 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed course at El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa (1000 Av. El Conquistador, Fajardo. 787/863-6784) is famous for its 200-foot changes in elevation. The trade winds make every shot challenging. Palmas del Mar Country Club (Rte. 906, Humacao. 787/285-2256. www.palmascountryclub.com) has two good golf courses: the Rees Jones-designed Flamboyán course, named for the nearly six dozen flamboyant trees that pepper its fairway, winds around a lake, over a river, and to the sea before turning toward sand dunes and wetlands. The older, Gary Player-designed Palm course has a challenging par 5 that scoots around wetlands. Originally sketched out by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the four 18-hole golf courses at the Puerto Rico Golf Resort at Hyatt (Rte. 693, Km 10.8, Dorado. 787/796-1234), formerly the Hyatt Dorado, all got a face-lift in 2005. Six new holes and six redesigned holes mean that the Pineapple and the Sugar Cane courses feel completely different. Jack Nicklaus has said that the 4th hole at the East Course is one of the top 10 holes in the world. The West Course is buffeted by constant breezes off the Atlantic, making it tough to negotiate. The spectacular Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort (Westin Río Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa, 6000 Río Mar Blvd., Río Grande. 787/888-6000. www.wyndhamriomar.com) has a clubhouse with a pro shop and two restaurants set between two 18-hole courses. The River Course, designed by Greg Norman, has challenging fairways that skirt the Mameyes River. The Ocean Course has slightly wider fairways than its sister; iguanas can usually been spotted sunning themselves near its fourth hole. If you're not a resort guest, be sure to reserve tee times at least 24 hours in advance. Greens fees range from $100 to $165 for hotel guests and $135 to $190 for nonguests, depending on tee time.