Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club
Rio Grande Puerto Rico
Robert Trent Jones II’s first golf course design in Puerto Rico has taken shape at Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club, 25 miles from San Juan in Rio Grande. The course routes through lush tropical foliage including coconut palms and flowering flamboyant trees along two miles of Caribbean beachfront.
Design Challenges and Improvements
One of our challenges in designing Bahia Beach was to use the existing hole corridors of a previous course located on the site, but to greatly improve the quality of the layout while also increasing the value of the overall property. We gave one golf hole over to new development and created a new hole elsewhere on the site that still blends naturally with the rest of the new course, thus improving the playing experience while meeting the financial goals of our client, a first-time developer. The golf course serves as the centerpiece of a 483-acre St. Regis Resort and residential community.
Sustainable Design and Environmental Considerations
We also designed with the environment in mind. Robert Trent Jones Jr., Chairman and Master Architect, says, “This was an opportunity to introduce our sustainable design philosophy in a spectacular part of the world. Protecting habitat is always part of our design plan, and Bahia Beach ensures a memorable interaction with the natural world for people who appreciate the gorgeous Puerto Rican landscape.” Our selection of Bermuda grass for tees and fairways provides a great match for the site. At the same time, it requires less water and fertilizer than other grasses, making the golf course even friendlier to natural systems.
Playable Yet Challenging Course
This playable but challenging resort course presents a classic RTJ II test of strategy and adaptability in just under 7,000 yards. Thick canopies of native maritime forest, natural lagoons (which also provide drainage), and ocean breezes all come into play. Greens feature gentle contouring and are protected by bunkers with large flairs. The drama builds toward three climactic finishing holes stretching right along the ocean, and offering a memorable finale to every round. Bahia Beach is the first resort course of its caliber in Puerto Rico to offer a special set of junior tees on each hole, as well as a par-three practice course, making it an ideal destination for passionate golfers of all ages and playing abilities—especially those who like warm weather and beautiful tropical settings.
Beach Community Paradise
This course located in the two-mile sandy beach community featuring swimming pools, a clubhouse, and endless activities is not one to miss!