Caymanas Golf and Country Club ☆ Follow

Nestled in the foothills of St. Catherine in Jamaica, Caymanas Golf and Country Club is a 18-hole, par-72 parkland course designed by Canadian architect Howard Watson. Conceived in the early 1950s and opened for play in 1958, the course occupies 116 acres of land that was formerly used for pineapple cultivation. Located just a twenty-minute drive from Kingston, the layout features elevated tees that provide scenic views of the surrounding landscape and the city beyond. The fairways meander through limestone hillocks and are lined with stately Cottonwood and Guango trees, which guard the greens and define the parkland character of the property. The course presents an exacting test for golfers of all abilities, with yardages ranging from 5,502 yards from the Red tees to 6,844 yards from the Blue tees. The Blue tees carry a Course Rating of 71.9 and a Slope of 128, while the White tees measure 6,223 yards with a 69.4 rating and 118 Slope. The Red tees offer a 71.3 rating and 120 Slope over 5,502 yards. The terrain is characterized by rocky hillside features and natural vegetation that challenge players throughout the round, with fairways that can deflect ill-placed shots into the woods. Several holes stand out as memorable features of the layout. The 10th hole is a 182-yard par-3 considered the signature hole, offering a view of Kingston as a backdrop with out-of-bounds lurking behind the green. The 11th hole is a long par-4 widely considered the most difficult on the course, featuring an elevated green that sits like an island in the middle of a rocky hillside. The 12th hole is a visually intimidating par-5 where the blue tee box sits fifty feet above the fairway, with out-of-bounds to the left and a rocky, tree-covered limestone hillside to the right. The 2nd hole is a 505-yard par-5 that offers a view of the clubhouse from the top tee, while the narrow fairway doglegs left to a small green guarded by tall trees and rocks. Caymanas has a significant tournament history, having hosted international events such as Shell's Wonderful World of Golf upon its opening. The course continues to host important golfing events, including the Hoerman Cup, which is the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship, as well as The Jamaica Open and other international tournaments. The course remains a sporting and social hub for Kingston society, maintaining a legacy of hospitality that attracts members and guests for golf and social gatherings.