Featured Golf: Rio Mar, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is affectionately known among golfers as "Scotland in the sun" because of the island's various links-style tracks, and the Wyndham Rio Mar serves up two of the country's finest in the Tom and George Fazio-designed Ocean Course and in Greg Norman's River Course. The two championship courses share a 35,000-square-foot clubhouse - known as one of the island's finest country clubs - as well as the accommodations and amenities of the on-site, 600-room Wyndham Resort. But golf lovers will be pressed to tear themselves away from the golf center for long enough to explore anything else on the property.
The 6,782-yard Fazio Ocean course - true to its name - weaves along the shoreline, and its traditional layout includes four sets of tees and a surplus of challenging bunkers. The oft-photographed signature hole at 16 is regarded as one of the classics in the Caribbean.
Norman's sister course is longer at 6,945 yards and, unfolding across various elevations along the Mameyes River, is considered to be the more challenging of the two courses, despite the wide fairways that run throughout.
Nestled along a wide stretch of beach outside Old San Juan and just 19 miles from the airport, the Rio Mar offers golf practice facilities that include areas for putting and chipping as well as an expansive driving range large enough for up to 50 golfers at once. The clubhouse is also home to the Grille Room Restaurant and the Iguana Pub, giving players a choice of 19th hole venues.
Greens fees from $150 per person (non-hotel guest) between July 1 and September 30, including cart and range balls ($110 per person for guests). Rental clubs from $60; additional cart fee from $35 per person. Make all tee times in advance.