Cinnamon Hill Rose Hall
A par 72 of two halves on the Rose Hall estate near Montego Bay, where seaside holes give way to a dramatic climb into the foothills with waterfalls, jungle and ocean views. First laid out in 1969 and rebuilt by Robert von Hagge in 2001, Cinnamon Hill is the most scenic round in Jamaica.
Photo: Cinnamon Hill Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Cinnamon Hill is the more dramatic of the two courses on the historic Rose Hall estate east of Montego Bay, a par 72 that begins gently by the sea and then climbs hard into the foothills of the Blue Mountains. First routed in 1969 and given a thorough redesign by Robert von Hagge with his partners in 2001, it makes the most of a remarkable site, with waterfalls, limestone cliffs, jungle and long views down to the Caribbean.
It is a resort course in the best sense, kept in excellent order and genuinely fun to play, with enough quirk and elevation to give a holiday round real character. The mountain holes are the stars, several of them carved into the hillside beside cascading water, and the contrast with the breezy seaside opening makes for one of the most memorable and photogenic rounds in the Caribbean. For the travelling golfer it is the centerpiece of golf around Montego Bay.
Cinnamon Hill Rose Hall at a glance
- Founded
- 1969
- Designer
- Robert von Hagge (2001)
- Type
- Mountain and sea
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,828 yds
- Green fee
- From $169
The 1969 original by Hank Smedley, the 2001 redesign by Robert von Hagge with his partners, par 72 and a length of about 6,828 yards verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases. Quoted fees are third party and indicative for the winter high season 2026 and generally include cart and caddy; always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Cinnamon Hill opens along the coast, where the trade wind off the Caribbean is the main defense and the views stretch out to sea, an inviting start that lulls you before the land begins to rise. The fairways here are wide and forgiving, the perfect place to find a rhythm before the course shows its teeth.
Then comes the climb. The middle and closing holes leave the shore and wind up into the foothills, threading between limestone outcrops, jungle and falling water, with one celebrated par 3 played across a cascade and several greens perched on the hillside with the whole coast laid out below. The elevation changes are real, the carries demand commitment, and a caddy who knows the lines is worth every dollar.
It is the variety that makes the round, the gentle seaside start against the dramatic mountain finish, golf as holiday theater with a genuine test threaded through it. Few resort courses anywhere offer such a vivid sense of place, and the descent back toward the sea at the close, with the Caribbean ahead, is a fitting end to a memorable eighteen.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort and public course on the Rose Hall estate, open to visitors with priority and better rates for guests of the Rose Hall hotels |
| Green fee | Indicative third party rates from around 169 US dollars in the winter high season 2026, usually including cart and caddy, lower in the off season |
| Booking | Book online, through the Rose Hall resorts or your trip planner; the December to April high season fills fastest |
| On the day | Carts standard, caddies customary and recommended for the mountain lines, a relaxed resort dress code and a clubhouse with sea views |
| Getting there | On the Rose Hall estate about fifteen minutes east of Montego Bay and its international airport, an easy transfer |
| Best months | December to April for the driest, sunniest weather; the summer and fall are hotter with a higher chance of rain |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The estate itself is the obvious base, with the Rose Hall resorts and a string of all inclusive hotels lining the coast east of Montego Bay, several within a few minutes of the first tee. A stay and play here keeps golf, beach and dinner all close at hand.
Montego Bay proper, fifteen minutes west, adds a wider choice of hotels, restaurants and the international airport, while the north coast stretches on toward Ocho Rios and the resorts of the parish for a longer Jamaican trip. The sister course on the estate gives a second round without leaving the property.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts nearby.
Play Cinnamon Hill and the north coast
We build Jamaican golf trips around Cinnamon Hill and the Rose Hall estate, secure the winter tee times that fill fastest and sort a beachfront base near Montego Bay with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Cinnamon Hill Rose Hall questions
Who designed Cinnamon Hill?
Cinnamon Hill was first laid out in 1969 by Hank Smedley and given a comprehensive redesign by the American architect Robert von Hagge, with his partners, in 2001. The modern course makes full use of a dramatic site that runs from the sea up into the foothills.
What is the par and length of Cinnamon Hill?
Cinnamon Hill is a par 72 of about 6,828 yards. It is not especially long, but the elevation changes on the mountain holes, the wind by the sea and the carries over water make it a varied and genuine test.
What is Cinnamon Hill famous for?
Cinnamon Hill is famous for its setting, a course of two halves that begins by the Caribbean and climbs into the foothills past waterfalls, limestone cliffs and jungle, with a celebrated par 3 played across a cascade and long ocean views from the high ground.
How much does it cost to play Cinnamon Hill?
Indicative third party rates start from around 169 US dollars in the winter high season 2026 and usually include cart and caddy, with lower rates in the off season. Fees change by season, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Cinnamon Hill and what is nearby?
Cinnamon Hill sits on the historic Rose Hall estate about fifteen minutes east of Montego Bay and its international airport. It pairs naturally with the estate's sister course and the resorts of Jamaica's north coast toward Ocho Rios.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.