Golf Courses . . . first appeared in Costa Rica in 1944 at the exclusive Costa Rican Country Club just outside San Jose. This 9 hole course remained the only golf course in the country for the next 25 years. Finally in the 1970's, George Fazio was commissioned to design the first 18 hole championship golf course at what became known as the Cariari Country Club  This course has a reputation of being one of the best in all of Central America. Built on an old coffee plantation, this 6,590 yard layout challenges the creative abilities of any golf course architect in the world. With it's tree-lined fairways, accuracy is far more important than length on most of the Cariari's 18 holes. (For a complete course description with photos, click onto each course listed individually below.)

   Within driving distance is the 18 hole championship links style Hacienda Pinilla Golf & Country Club.  Designed by Mike Young,  this 7,274 yard coastal layout is an exciting course with open fairways and challenging winds. Nearby, the Royal Pacific Golf & Country Club was completed in 1997, but since then has been rather neglected. This Ron Garl design winds through a variety of natural settings within it's 6,802 yards. The front nine is fairly flat while the back nine has steep fairways cut through a rocky terrain creating a variety of exciting golf shots.  Much further south along the coast is the Los Sueños Golf Course.  Opened in 1999, this 6,707 yard course was designed by Ted Robinson with two things in mind:  natural beauty and challenging golf. Bordered by ocean and rainforest, a dense canopy of exotic plants, hardwood trees and wildlife all share one of golf's most picturesque settings where magnificent ancient trees come into play testing a shot maker's ability for steering a ball around this most outstanding golf course.

    One of the newest arrivals in Costa Rica is the Arnold Palmer designed course at the Four Seasons Hotel in the northern Guanacaste Province.  This newer course rivals any of the country's golf  courses in design and location.  Unfortunately, this spectacular Oceanside course is currently available for 'guests only' staying at the Four Seasons hotel, which is one of Costa Rica's best, but most expensive hotels.

    Completing this unforgettable golfing vacation is Valle del Sol, a beautiful 18 hole golf course in the Central Valley, not far from the city of San Jose. Surrounded by garden settings, golf architect Tracy May designed this course bringing small lakes and streams into play on almost every hole. Valle del Sol is also an excellent place to view Costa Rica’s Irazu, Barva and Poas volcanoes to the north and San Jose’s majestic mountain surroundings towards the west.

   There are also several nine hole golf courses around Costa Rica besides the original Costa Rican Country Club's course. In the San Jose area, there is Los Reyes, a tree-lined, nine hole course west of San Jose.  Los Reyes is a private club, although it does allow guests to play their rolling hills course at a very reasonable price.  This course is well-maintained and sees little play other than on weekends.  To the east of San Jose their is an executive course, great for practicing short par 3's.  And finally, on the Pacific coast there is another coastal nine hole course at the Tambor Beach and Golf resort.  This course is well-maintained and offers some great views of the surrounding area while enjoying a round of good golf.

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