Aruba, tee time spot with perspective
Aruba, measuring 192 km2, features two excellent golf courses. Plans for a 27-hole course are in an advanced state. Once all plans have been completed, the Caribbean island will become an important Caribbean golf destination. To editor Lia Grooters, who visited Aruba and its golf courses, this is a dead certainty.
Aruba’s golf courses adjacent to the incredibly white beaches and blue ocean are clearly visible when you fly into Aruba. From the plane, the island looks like the proverbial bounty island. A fairy tale come true. After arrival at Queen Beatrix International Airport and a drive to the west coast, you realize it is not a dream. 
The beaches are pearly white, the ocean is opal blue and the Divi-Divi tree completes the tropical surprise. Upon arrival at the hotel, the sight of a bunch of pelicans sitting on posts in the ocean in the sunset makes the fairy tale complete. Straight away we are convinced Aruba is one happy island as promised by the tourist bureau’s slogan.
Baby Beach
Aruba’s beautiful beaches are located mainly on the southwest and west coast of the island. The many hotels on this stretch do not have private beaches, so you can walk for miles along the coast.
Baby Beach is not as large, but it is most certainly the most beautiful bay and most beautiful beach of the island. The beach is located on the far south end of the island and is very popular with both tourist and locals. This is probably due to the calm and shallow water of the huge blue green lagoon that makes it ideal for swimmers and children.
A little more to the left is Rodgers Beach, which is almost as beautiful as Baby Beach. Unfortunately, the large smoking chimneys of the Valero Oil Refinery spoil the view. However, when you look the other way, you think you are in a tropical paradise. It is no wonder holiday makers like to float around in that beautiful water, for either snorkelling or diving. Aruba’s coastline may even be more beautiful under water than above. Aruba’s blue sea is known not only for its coral reefs, but also for its tropical fish. 
The island also features several shipwrecks that are great for scuba diving. All hotels give full information on this activity. Divi Aruba and Tamarijn (all-inclusive resorts) include snorkelling equipment in the all-inclusive price. Snorkelling all day is free of charge. Just return the equipment before 5 pm.
Gone with the wind
The tropical atmosphere is present as well on both the island’s golf courses. 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. read more
A tough nut to crack
The Links at Divi Aruba is the islands second golf course, located near Druif Beach. The Dutch prince Pieter Christiaan and Prince Albert of Monaco opened this course at the end of 2004. This 9-hole course is cleverly built around the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. At present, a lot of work is being done to complete the last part of the resort. The architects Litten & Viola designed the course.
The Links at Divi Aruba is a very challenging golf course. The par 4 and par 5 holes appear somewhat short at first sight, but many golfers underestimate these holes. read more
Accommodation
Aruba features many hotels. Low-rise hotels, like the all-inclusive resorts Divi Aruba, Tamarijn and the Divi Village Golf and Beach resort, that is part of The Links, are situated on the so-called Low-Rise. Both all-inclusive resorts have rooms on the beach. Guests can have their meals and beverages in both hotels. This all works very well.
The resort surrounding the golf course, features superb condominiums; a lot of them are time-share and are available for short-term rent as well. Divi Dutch Village is directly next to the resort. It is a somewhat older building and is due for a complete makeover.
Hotels like Hyatt, Holiday Inn and the resort Tierra del Sol –part of the golf course Tierra del Sol-, are located further north along the so-called High-Rise.
The Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino is situated in Oranjestad, next to the harbour. This excellent hotel ferries its guests to its privately owned private island.
Flying into Aruba
Until recently, the only way to fly directly into Aruba was by a scheduled KLM-flight. Nowadays Arkefly offers the same. This airline operates a direct flight to this Caribbean island several times a week at reasonable prices. Even business class tickets are quite affordable. Keep in mind that booking a flight yourself often is more expensive than booking a package tour with a tour operator or a specialised golf tour operator. Oad, Arke, as well as Progolf, Golftime and PinHigh offer packages that include Aruba.
KLM Aruba Open
The golf tournament KLM Aruba Open was organised for the first time in the fall of 2005. Golftravelguide was there. For full details.
After-golf activities
Aruba offers other things to do next to golf, beach and ocean. Just keep in mind that it is a small island and the after-golf activities are limited if you do not like the beach and the ocean.
Oranjestad
The brightly pink painted shopping malls on the waterfront look like a meringue, sweet and sugary. It is mainly a shopper’s paradise. Points of interest are Fort Zoutman, the Willem III tower and the Historical Museum.
San Nicolas
San Nicolas is a 30-minute drive away from Oranjestad. Charlie’s Bar is located on 56 Zeppenfeldstraat. This legendary bar is quite a phenomenon on Aruba. From top to bottom, from left to right, this bar is plastered with all kinds of everything from business cards to sports memorabilia; you name it, it is there. Charlie Brouns, the present owner’s grandfather, opened this bar in 1941. In the old days, the bar was a refuge for sailors, whale hunters and the girls of easy virtue who linger around San Nicolas. Surely, they are still there, but their clientele consists mainly of tourists nowadays.
Other points of interest:
Arikok National park
California Light House
Natural Bridge
Natural Pool
Dining
Recommended:
Papiamento Restaurant
L.G. Smith Steak & Chophouse, LG Smith Boulevard 82, Oranjestad Phone: 297 5 836000, Fax: 297 5 834389
Waterfront Crabhouse, Seaport Marketplace, Oranjestad, Tel: (297) 583-5858, Fax: (297) 582-6787
text: Lia Grooters
photo's: Lia Grooters, Tierra del Sol, The Links at Divi
with thanks: BuroSix en Aruba Tourism
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