For those living in four-season climates, there’s nothing like a winter trip to “paradise” to warm one’s soul and extend the golf season. That was reinforced on a recent trip to Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory and air travel hub of the Caribbean. After an early flight that had me leaving frosty conditions, I landed in San Juan at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) and was immediately greeted by swaying coconut trees and temperatures in the 80s. Puerto Rico is the most travel friendly destination in the Caribbean. American citizens do not need a passport to enter, it’s bilingual, and it uses U.S. currency. Travel Bonus: the Island has one of the highest rate of vaccination of any place in the United States and one of the lowest covid infection rates. Our group of four was staying at El Conquistador Resort in Farjado on the Island’s northeast coast, a pleasant and scenic 45-minute drive that fueled our anticipation as we observed the tropical scenes unfurling before us. After touring the resort to get acclimated to all it offered, we enjoyed dinner at El Conquistador’s Ballyhoo’s restaurant. The open-air setting included enjoying fresh caught seafood, mojito drinks, warm evening breezes, and the sounds of Puerto Rico – ocean waves lapping below and the serenading of coquí (the common name for several species of small frogs native to Puerto Rico.) After the long day I embraced the plush bedding in my 5th-
story room. A deep night’s sleep restored my wanderlust, and I was rewarded from the instant I opened my eyes. Awake, but still comfortably tucked into my king-sized bed, I could see the ocean through the patio windows. Bright sun shining over the blue Caribbean water – what a way to start the day. In the distance was Palomino Island, where later I would enjoy a frozen strawberry daquiri while stretched out on a reclining chair on the beach in the shade of a giant umbrella. As I found out, when you go to Puerto Rico, it’s almost an obligation – and a pleasure -- to enjoy Don Q, an aged rum produced on the island. Here we were in mid-week November, only a few months after this amazing resort had reopened after extensive renovations. And we had everything, including a private beach and terrific golf course, practically to ourselves. Let’s go! First things, first. We had a 7:30 am tee time at El Conquistador’s picturesque golf course, the better to beat the peak heat coming later in the day. The 18-hole layout was authored by Arthur Hills. It featured a collection of unique, unforgettable holes with dramatic elevation changes as well as spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, the El Yunque Rain Forest, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (El Conquistador sits on a point with the Atlantic to the north and the Caribbean to the south). I just had time to grab a quick breakfast sandwich at the Cafecito Cafe before taking a short shuttle to the pro shop, where my clubs were waiting for me, loaded on a cart.
El Conquistador Resort Golf Course Ocean and Mountains
28 Golf Vacations • December 2021
www.golfvacationsmag.com
