Golf in Jamaica
The Caribbean's most complete golf island, where a tight cluster of championship resort courses around Montego Bay and Rose Hall meets all inclusive luxury and some of the warmest hospitality in the game. The courses that matter, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: White Witch Golf Course, White Witch Golf Course, via Google
Why golf in Jamaica
Jamaica has long been the most serious golf island in the Caribbean. The reason is geography: within twenty minutes of Montego Bay's airport sit four genuinely good championship courses, from the mountain drama of White Witch high above Rose Hall to the seaside run of Cinnamon Hill, the figure eight of the classic Half Moon and, a short drive west, the storied Tryall Club. Few warm weather destinations let a travelling golfer play this much quality without a long transfer between rounds.
It is also a place that turns a golf week into a proper holiday. The courses pair with all inclusive resorts and private villa estates, the caddies are a tradition rather than an afterthought, and the island's food, music and beaches give non golfers and partners plenty to do. For North American golfers in particular it is a short flight to reliable winter sunshine and a standard of course that rewards the trip. Treat it as a relaxed, sun soaked counterpoint to a links pilgrimage rather than a marathon of rounds.
The regions
Montego Bay and Rose Hall
The heart of Jamaican golf and the easiest base, with White Witch, Cinnamon Hill and Half Moon all within a short drive of the airport, ringed by all inclusive resorts and the great houses of the Rose Hall estate.
Hanover and the Tryall coast
West of Montego Bay, the private villa estates of Tryall and Round Hill, home to the Ralph Plummer designed Tryall course and a quieter, more exclusive corner of the north coast.
Runaway Bay and the North Coast
East along the coast toward Ocho Rios, the mature SuperClubs course at Runaway Bay and the resort belt, a relaxed extension to a Montego Bay trip with easy beach days between rounds.
Negril
The laid back western tip, better known for its seven mile beach and sunsets than its golf, with Negril Hills the inland option and the marquee courses an hour and a half back toward Montego Bay.
The courses that matter
White Witch Golf Course
A dramatic mountain course climbing the hills above Rose Hall, designed by Robert von Hagge with Rick Baril and opened in 2000. Sea views from most of its holes and bold elevation changes make it the most spectacular round on the island.
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course
The seaside half brother to White Witch on the Rose Hall estate, with holes that run hard along the Caribbean shoreline before climbing into the foothills. A 1960s design later reworked by Robert von Hagge, and the more playable of the pair.
Half Moon Golf Club
The classic of Jamaican golf, a Robert Trent Jones Sr design on a retired sugar estate with a tricky figure eight routing and undulating greens. Updated in 2002 by Roger Rulewich and attached to the iconic Half Moon resort.
The Tryall Club
The traditional number one, a Ralph Plummer design from 1958 that has hosted the Johnnie Walker World Championship and the Jamaica Classic. A mature seaside and hillside course wrapped in one of the Caribbean's great villa estates west of Montego Bay.
SuperClubs Golf Club, Runaway Bay
A mature, gently rolling course on the coast between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, long a fixture of the Jamaican golf scene and an easy, good value round to add when basing east of the airport.
Negril Hills Golf Club
The inland option at the laid back western tip of the island, a hilly course set back from the famous beach. The least heralded of Jamaica's courses but a pleasant round for golfers basing in Negril.
Designers and host history verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| December to April | Dry, cooler, reliable trade winds, courses at their best | Prime season, book the marquee tee times early |
| May and November | Warmer, a higher chance of a shower, quieter fairways | Good value shoulder months either side of the peak |
| June to October | Hot and humid, wetter, the Atlantic hurricane season | Off period, play early and watch the forecast |
Jamaica plays year round, but the winter half is both the most comfortable and the busiest. The mountain holes at White Witch catch the breeze, so the trade winds are part of the test rather than a nuisance.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee green fee | Around $150 to $225 | White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon, Tryall, cart included, caddie extra |
| Resort and regional course | Around $90 to $150 | Runaway Bay and the wider field |
| A week, all in | Around $2,500 to $4,500 per person | 3 to 4 rounds, all inclusive or resort base, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures in US dollars for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Jamaica could hardly be easier for a golf trip. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay sits within twenty minutes of the marquee courses and takes direct flights from across North America and the United Kingdom, so most golfers are on the first tee the morning after they land. The courses cluster so tightly around Rose Hall and Montego Bay that a hire car is optional, and many travellers rely on resort shuttles and private transfers instead. For the villa estates of Tryall and Round Hill to the west, or the Runaway Bay belt to the east, allow a short coastal drive along the north shore.
Where to stay
The base sets the tone of the trip. The Half Moon resort, with its own Robert Trent Jones course, is the classic choice for a golf first stay, while the all inclusive resorts around Rose Hall put White Witch and Cinnamon Hill on the doorstep with everything bundled in. For a more private, villa style holiday the estates at Tryall and Round Hill are among the finest addresses in the Caribbean, with staffed houses and a clubby, members feel. Let one planner match the base to the courses you want and the budget you have in mind.
Plan your Jamaica golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Jamaica golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Jamaica?
December to April is the prime season, the dry, cooler half of the year with reliable trade winds and the courses at their best. May and November are good value shoulder months, while June to October is hot, wet and the Atlantic hurricane season, so it is the off period for a golf trip.
Which is the best golf course in Jamaica?
The Tryall Club, a Ralph Plummer design from 1958 and a former Johnnie Walker World Championship host, is the traditional number one. White Witch at Rose Hall, opened in 2000, and the classic Half Moon, a Robert Trent Jones Sr course, are the other contenders, with Cinnamon Hill running along the Caribbean shoreline.
How much does a golf trip to Jamaica cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees at the marquee Montego Bay courses run from around $150 to $225 with a cart, caddies extra. A week with an all inclusive or resort base, transfers and three or four rounds typically lands around $2,500 to $4,500 per head excluding flights. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Caribbean course openings, winter booking windows and the shoulder season value worth moving on first. Every other week.