Hitting The Links In Aruba

T hough much of Aruba is           Tierra del Sol is notable for its  dominated by an arid            harmonious integration with the    landscape, there are still      natural landscape. With fairways   several stretches of green ideal      weaving through patches of cacti   for one of the world’s favorite       and impressive rock formations,    pastimes. Despite the fact that       the course offers players a golf   the small island of Aruba has         experience unlike any other in     fewer golf courses than some          the Caribbean. One of Tierra del   other Caribbean destinations, the     Sol’s signature holes – the        sport has long been a popular         perilous 3rd – lies atop an        activity for locals and visitors      imposing cliff overlooking the     alike. Beginning golfers and          Caribbean Sea. Tierra del Sol is   children can participate in           also known for its vibrant         lessons and golf clinics at a         wildlife, including lizards and    number of sites, while true           salamanders that spend their days  enthusiasts can enjoy an 18-hole      basking in the sun and a           gem designed by one of the            community of elegant egrets that   world’s leading architects. As        inhabit the salty marshes of the   you enjoy the sites in Aruba,         14th hole.                         consider taking a break to hit                                           the links amongst some of the         If that isn’t enough to lure you   most beautiful scenery on earth.      to the championship-caliber links                                        at Tierra del Sol, the course has  The finest of Aruba’s golf            plenty more to offer its           courses – Tierra del Sol – rests      visitors. Regardless of season,    amongst the picturesque desert        the greens fees include the use    beauty of the island’s                of high-tech golf cart equipped    northwestern coast. Designed by       with communications systems. In    world-renowned golf course            addition to serving as both        architect Robert Trent Jones Jr.,     caddies and scorekeepers, the      carts allow golfers to order food     throughout the day. These          and drinks from the clubhouse         reasonably priced lessons          while on the course. Before           typically last an hour-and-a-half  heading out on this challenging       and include a voucher to the       course, novice golfers and            neighboring House of Cheng         children may want to take             Restaurant.                        advantage of Tierra del Sol’s                                            half-day golf clinics. Offering       The newest course in Aruba is the  several hours of instruction and      charming 9-hole spread known as    priced at just $45, the package       The Links at Divi Aruba. Designed  even includes a free lunch in the     by celebrated Caribbean golf       clubhouse.                            course architects Karl Litten and                                        Lorie Viola, The Links at Divi     Another great place to work on        Aruba chose to incorporate         your skills while visiting the        paspalum grasses – one of the      island is Aruba Golf and Leisure.     best surfaces for seaside golf     With a 300-yard driving range, an     courses. Set amongst the           18-hole putting green complete        luxurious resorts of Oranjestad,   with a chipping area and              nearly every hole makes use of     affordable club rentals, Aruba        shimmering natural lagoons and     Golf and Leisure provides             incredible Caribbean scenery.      everything you need to enjoy a        When you’ve finished your round,   relaxing Caribbean afternoon. As      you can enjoy a luxurious meal at  the practice facility is open         the on-site restaurant Windows or  daily from 7am to 11pm, Aruba         visit the bistro for a quick       Golf and Leisure serves as a          snack.                             great way to unwind after a day                                          of shopping or sightseeing. Much      Located near Aruba’s               like Tierra del Sol, the site         second-largest town – San Nicolas  also offers golf clinics              – the Aruba Golf Club is a simple  9-hole course that has been a         such as paddleboats and other      local favorite for years. What        water toys. Located in central     the course lacks in distance and      Oranjestad, the park has long      difficulty, it makes up for in        been a favorite destination of     scenery. Residing in the              both local and visiting families.  undeveloped countryside on the                                           far side of the island, Aruba                                            Golf Club allows golfers to enjoy     While Aruba is still in the        a relaxing round while admiring       process of becoming a premier      the cacti, waltzing goats and         golf destination, there are        endless Caribbean horizon.            plenty of great courses to visit                                         for a relaxing day in the sun      For those that enjoy golf on a        while in Aruba. Furthermore, as    smaller scale, Aruba’s Adventure      most of Aruba’s golf sites are     Golf and Fun Park can’t be            family-friendly, you won’t find a  missed. Holding the                   better active pursuit to unwind    self-proclaimed title as the          after a day experiencing the       world’s largest miniature golf        sites on of one of the             course, Adventure Golf and Fun        Caribbean’s most exciting          Park also features attractions        islands.                           About the Author: This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about vacationing in the Caribbean and Travel in Aruba for the Marriott Resorts. Published At: www.Isnare.com