Gone with the wind

The 18-hole course Tierra del Sol is located at the island’s most northern tip, near the California Lighthouse. This course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is beautifully integrated with the rugged landscape. The Caribbean Sea surrounds the course, a feature to take into account while playing. The trade winds make playing this course very difficult, especially the first time. Gone with the wind would have been a suitable name for the course as well. Your play is heavily influenced by the trade winds, that goes without saying. Therefore, no hole is alike. The trade winds also have a major influence on the course itself. The tough grass on the greens even has a nap that follows the direction of the wind. Something to take notice of when putting.
Wind or no wind, it is a beautiful course. Maintenance could be improved here and there, but the location is superb. It all begins on hole one where you have to aim your drive at the lighthouse. You find cacti everywhere and do not be surprised when you see an iguana crossing the green, if not a herd of goats. The beautiful links with a view of the blue green ocean can be very distracting the first time. There is no way you can turn a blind eye to your beautiful surroundings. All well and good, but you have to keep a level head when playing Tierra del Sol. Just a minor distraction can cause major problems. The key word is accuracy. For instance on hole 15, a par 3. A great deal of accuracy is required when aiming for the hole across the water. In any case, too short is no good, because your ball will end up in the water. Too long is no good either, because your ball will be stuck in the mud behind the green. This course is a hard nut to crack for everybody who just took up golfing.
The 18-hole golf course of the Tierra del Sol Resort was recently overhauled to rival the world's most sophisticated courses, complete with the latest satellite and computer technologies. The golf cart is equipped with Par View technology. This enables visitors to monitor the entire golf course via a 10.4” colour screen, read the distance from the cart to the green, and keeps track of the score electronically. They can also communicate with the clubhouse and order drinks and snacks from the course. The trade winds on the island always add a touch of adventure to this course.
It is not cheap to play Tierra del Sol: $145 is a bit steep. Off hours are less expensive, but that means you play in the heat of the day. The golf cart is included in the price though.