Half Moon Golf Club
Half Moon is the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course at Rose Hall, just east of Montego Bay, often called the Augusta of Caribbean golf. A par 72 of about 7,141 yards laid out in the early 1960s and renovated in 2004 by Roger Rulewich, it is the polished resort round at the heart of one of Jamaica's grandest hotels.
Photo: Half Moon Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Half Moon is the classic Jamaican resort round, the one that has welcomed presidents and royalty since the early 1960s. Robert Trent Jones Sr. laid it out on the gentle land at Rose Hall, a par 72 that runs in his trademark figure eight so that the wind is always changing direction on you. It stretches to about 7,141 yards, and a 2004 renovation by Roger Rulewich, one of Jones's longtime associates, refreshed the bunkering and greens while keeping the original character.
It is a resort course rather than a brute, and that is the point: wide enough off the tee to be enjoyable for a mixed group, with the difficulty saved for Jones's large, undulating greens and the swirling breeze. It has hosted the Jamaica Open and the Red Stripe Pro-Am over the years, and as the golf centerpiece of the storied Half Moon resort it is the easy, elegant anchor for a Montego Bay trip.
Half Moon Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1961
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Type
- Resort, parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,141 yds
- Renovated
- 2004, Rulewich
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases; Half Moon is a par 72 of about 7,141 yards renovated in 2004 by Roger Rulewich. Sources date the original Robert Trent Jones Sr. design to the early 1960s, most commonly 1961, with some references citing 1962. Green fees are indicative for the 2026 season and vary by season and tee time, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The figure eight routing is the signature. By looping the holes back on themselves, Robert Trent Jones Sr. ensured the wind never blows from the same quarter for long, so a calm looking day still keeps you guessing on club selection. The land is gentle, tumbling toward the coast, which makes Half Moon a comfortable walk or ride and a friendly round off the forward tees.
Where it bites is on and around the greens. Jones built them large and undulating in his usual style, so the premium is on approach distance and on reading the swirl of the breeze, and the 2004 Rulewich work sharpened the bunkering that frames them. From the back at about 7,141 yards it has enough length to test a good player, but the greens are where scores are made or lost.
For a Montego Bay trip Half Moon is the polished anchor, the round that pairs the golf with one of the Caribbean's grand resorts. We will set it alongside the drama of Tryall and the Rose Hall hillside courses and book a morning tee time to enjoy the calmest air.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course at the Half Moon hotel, open to visitors with tee times booked through the resort and from the Rose Hall corridor |
| Indicative green fee | Indicative for 2026 and set by season and tee time, with packages through the resort; always confirm directly before booking |
| Course | Par 72, about 7,141 yards, Robert Trent Jones Sr. figure eight routing, renovated 2004 by Roger Rulewich |
| Booking window | Reserve a day or two ahead in the December to April high season; mornings bring the calmest wind |
| Getting there | At Rose Hall about 10 miles east of Montego Bay, roughly 15 minutes from Sangster International Airport |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. Green fees are third party and indicative for the 2026 season; they vary by season and tee time, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability and we will build the round into your trip.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Half Moon resort itself, the grande dame of Rose Hall, where the course is the golf amenity for a property of villas, suites and a long crescent beach. Staying on site puts the first tee minutes from your room and keeps the resort's dining and spa close.
The wider Rose Hall corridor east of Montego Bay holds several other resorts and courses within a short drive, so Half Moon also works as one round in a fuller Montego Bay rotation. We can build the stay around your group and pair it with Tryall and the hillside courses. Tell us your dates and we will match the base to the golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Half Moon Golf Club.
Plan your Jamaica golf trip
Half Moon is the elegant resort anchor of Montego Bay golf, classic Robert Trent Jones at one of the Caribbean's grand hotels. We arrange the stay, the tee times and the rotation, and cost it to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling.
Half Moon Golf Club questions
Who designed Half Moon Golf Club and when did it open?
Half Moon Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design dating to the early 1960s, most commonly cited as 1961, a par 72 of about 7,141 yards at Rose Hall near Montego Bay. It was renovated in 2004 by Roger Rulewich.
Can visitors play Half Moon Golf Club?
Yes. Half Moon is the resort course at the Half Moon hotel and is open to visitors, with tee times booked through the resort and available from across the Rose Hall corridor. Always confirm current access and rates directly before booking.
Why is Half Moon called the Augusta of Caribbean golf?
The nickname reflects its pedigree and presentation: a classic Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout at a grand resort that has hosted dignitaries and events such as the Jamaica Open and the Red Stripe Pro-Am, with large, demanding greens and a polished, parkland feel.
When is the best time to play golf at Half Moon?
The dry season from about December to April is the prime window. Play in the morning for the calmest wind and the coolest air, and book a day or two ahead in high season.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; opening year cited as early 1960s where sources differ; green fees indicative for the 2026 season and subject to change. Last reviewed June 2026.