Georgia’s Golden Isles, Orlando/Tampa, and the Caribbean basin countries of the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica offer first class golf in intriguing geographical and historical settings. Each destination has its own distinctive atmosphere and will challenge the most adventuresome travelers to take advantage of all there is to do off the golf course as well.

Situated between Jacksonville, Fla. and Savannah, Ga., on the southeast coast of Georgia, the Golden Isles are small, closely-clustered barrier islands, a pastel-colored mosaic of tidal flats, salt marshes, the sound and the sea, and an interior of pines, magnolia and live oaks that populate manicured greenswards and line lazy avenues and streets.
Most recognized among these maritime jewels is Sea Island where discerning travelers vacation at The Cloister, the world famous golf and vacation resort with its elegant Georgian style hotel and opulent oceanside villas. Cloister guests play golf at the Sea Island Golf Course that offers two magnificent golf courses where legends like Bobby Jones and Sam Snead once walked the fairways.
Just south of St. Simons Island is Jekyll Island, once the winter retreat of the nation’s wealthiest barons who founded a hunt club on thickly forested ground. Today, the hunt club is now the Jekyll Island Club hotel, which has been graciously restored to its full turn-of-the-Century Victorian charm. Thanks to progressive state laws, 65% of the island will never be developed. The Jekyll Island Golf Club has 63 fine resort golf holes in a pristine forested and lake setting.

The Orlando-Tampa area is a major commercial and vacation center, the hub of some of the best courses in Florida including Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill and newer layouts designed by such names as Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Ron Garl. Orlando is home to Walt Disney World and a legion of other theme parks and exhibits. The area is richly endowed with parks, lakes, and even hills within an easy drive of the city.
Punta Cana and Casa de Campo are two leading golf resorts in the Dominican Republic which is fast becoming a popular golf destination. The country’s entry into the golf-travel market is still a little behind the more recognizable Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and Jamaica, but the word is getting out that this country, known for its famous tobacco industry, has some of the best golf and travel values in the leisure industry.
If it’s outdoors adventures you’re looking for, Costa Rica - with its protected rain forest, active volcanoes, Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, and fertile central valley - is the place to be. A trek through the rain forest, one of the most biodiverse habitats in the world, will reveal some of the most unusual and exotic plants, animals and insects in the world. The country also boasts some of the best deep sea fishing, scuba diving and surfing in the Western Hemisphere.
This Central American country the size of West Virginia has only six golf courses and all are from an hour’s to a half day’s journey from the capital of San Jose, a burgeoning international commercial center. Costa Rica has very progressive natural resource protection policies, no army and an open, welcoming society. It’s no wonder that immigrants, especially from Asia, are pouring into the country where a growing number of Americans are choosing to retire.
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