Comandatuba Ocean Course
On a tropical island off the coast of Bahia, the Comandatuba Ocean Course is the most resort friendly of Brazil's leading layouts: a links style par 72 woven through mangroves, lakes and dunes, with five closing holes that run right along the Atlantic. Reachable and memorable in equal measure.
Photo: Lincoln Nigres via Google.
The verdict
The Ocean Course belongs to the Hotel Transamerica resort on Ilha de Comandatuba, a palm fringed island in the south of Bahia reached across the Comandatuba channel. The American architect Dan Blankenship, who learned his craft with Pete Dye, opened the course in 2000 and built it in a links spirit unusual for Brazil, with firm, rolling ground, sandy waste areas and water everywhere.
At a par 72 of about 6,928 yards, roughly 6,334 meters, it is a genuine championship length test, yet its appeal is the setting and the access. Twelve lakes, mangroves and tropical vegetation give the early holes their character, before the round opens to the sea for a thrilling finish, the last five holes beside the ocean and the 18th running parallel to the Atlantic. Unlike the private capital clubs, this is a resort course you can book, which makes it the easiest of Brazil's best to actually play.
Comandatuba Ocean Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2000
- Designer
- Dan Blankenship
- Type
- Links style by the sea, 18 holes
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,928 yds
- Access
- Resort and visitor play
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 against leading course databases and the resort. Dan Blankenship, a former associate of Pete Dye, designed the links style course, which opened in 2000 to a par 72 of about 6,928 yards, roughly 6,334 meters. Green fees and packages are set by the resort and move with the season, so treat any figure as indicative for 2026 and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Ocean Course begins inland among the lakes and mangroves, where twelve water hazards and broad sandy areas set the strategic agenda. Blankenship's Pete Dye schooling shows in the bold shaping, the waste bunkering and the way the holes ask for commitment off the tee, with water and native vegetation punishing the timid or the wayward.
The round builds toward the sea. The final five holes run along the Atlantic, the wind rising and the views widening, with the 18th playing parallel to the ocean for a closing hole that lives long in the memory. It is the kind of finish that turns a good resort course into a real destination round.
Because the course is firm and exposed, the ocean breeze is the great variable, lengthening the holes into the wind and tempting the player to take it on downwind. Length, ball flight control and a cool head in the closing stretch are all rewarded, while the holiday golfer can still enjoy the scenery and the generous early landing areas.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to resort guests and visitors; play is organized through the Hotel Transamerica resort |
| Green fee | Set by the resort, often as part of a stay and play package; indicative for 2026 and the season, confirm directly before booking |
| Season | Bahia is warm year round; the drier months from roughly September to March are the most reliable for golf |
| Getting there | Ilha de Comandatuba near Una in southern Bahia, reached via the resort's airstrip or by road and boat from Ilheus |
| On the day | Carts and caddies available; bring sun protection and prepare for the ocean breeze on the closing holes |
| Pair it with | A beach and golf stay at the resort, or the historic city courses of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo |
Access and fees verified June 2026; the Ocean Course is a resort course whose rates and packages change with the season, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Hotel Transamerica resort on the island itself, an all inclusive property whose guests play the Ocean Course on their doorstep alongside the beaches, pools and water sports of Ilha de Comandatuba. For most golfers the trip is the resort and the course together.
Comandatuba sits in the south of Bahia near Una and Ilheus, a region of beaches, cacao country and Atlantic forest worth a few extra days. For a wider Brazilian golf trip the course pairs with the historic city clubs of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, adding a tropical resort round to a classic itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at the Hotel Transamerica resort on Ilha de Comandatuba.
Plan a Bahia golf escape
We book the island resort and its Ocean Course, arrange the transfers across the channel and can add the historic city courses for a full Brazilian trip. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Comandatuba Ocean Course questions
Who designed the Comandatuba Ocean Course and when did it open?
The course was designed by the American architect Dan Blankenship, a former associate of Pete Dye, and opened in 2000 on Ilha de Comandatuba in Bahia. It is part of the Hotel Transamerica resort.
What is the par and length of the Ocean Course?
The Ocean Course plays to a par 72 of about 6,928 yards, roughly 6,334 meters. Built in a links spirit, it features twelve lakes, sandy waste areas and a closing run of five holes beside the Atlantic.
Can visitors play the Comandatuba Ocean Course?
Yes. It is a resort course open to guests of the Hotel Transamerica and to visitors, often played as part of a stay and play package. Fees move with the season, so confirm directly before booking.
How do you reach Ilha de Comandatuba?
The island lies near Una in southern Bahia and is reached via the resort's airstrip or by road and boat from the Ilheus area. The course is on the resort grounds once you are on the island.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026. Green fees are indicative and set by the resort; confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.