Fore! Golfing in Panama
The Tucan Country Club in Panama
Aside from the occasional downpour, Panama is the perfect place to take up golfing. A few years ago there wasn’t much in the way of golf courses in Panama, but that is quickly changing. Golf pros and amateurs now have a number of options throughout the country.
The Panama City area is home to a handful of good courses. Club de Golf de Panama is a private, 18-hole, par 70 course. It is the oldest golf course in Panama. Summit Golf and Resort is located in the Panama Canal Watershed and can be a bit swampy at times. Summit opened in the 1930’s and was frequented by US citizens working in the canal zone. The course is a par 72 and offers great rain forest views. Membership is available or you can pay as you go. The newest golf course in the Panama City area is Tucan Country Club and Resort. This 18 hole, par 72 championship course boasts great views of the Panama City skyline and ships transiting the canal.
As you head west out of Panama City there are three golf courses in the Central Pacific beach area. The Coronado Golf Club was the first course built outside of Panama City. The course is 18 holes and open to the public. The golf course at Vistamar Resort currently has 9 holes open, with another 9 in the works. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you can’t beat the views from this course. The Manta Raya Golf Courseis located within the Decameron resort in Farallon. This 18-hole course is perfect for beginners and pros.
Panama’s Azuero peninsula currently has one golf course. It is located in the town of Chitre, about 3 hours from Panama City. This 9-hole course is decently maintained and one of the cheapest in Panama. Prices vary depending on who is working in the pro shop, but it’s not uncommon to pay $5 for nine holes, including club rental. There are no carts available for rent, so bring a caddy or be prepared to lug your own.
Western Panama has a some courses planned, but for now there is just one functional course. Quebrada Grande Golf Course is located in the Valle Escondido Resort. Though there are only 9 holes at this course, there are two tee boxes for each hole, making a two-round, 18-hole, par 60 course. One of the main advantages of golfing in the Boquete area is that due to its elevation it is a much cooler place to golf than other areas of the country. The scenery is spectacular as well.
There are a handful of courses being planned throughout the country, including a Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the Central Pacific beach area. With all of these options now available in Panama, there is a course to suit all golfers.
| Written by Rebecca Tyre |  |
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Filed under: Country Guide, News, Reviews, Sports on September 12th, 2008
Currently golf in Panama sucks. Some of the difficulties will improve (such as lack of public courses and absurd greens fees) with time and development, but other factors such as oppresive heat during the daytime will not. Additionally, most of the courses listed above won’t let just anyone in, you’ve gotta be a member. So in short, don’t plan a golf outing to Panama just yet…