Course Review: 5 Exotic Getaway Courses to Play This Winter

As temperatures plummet and snow begins to fall in Europe, North America and parts of Asia, golfers often look to the Southern Hemisphere in search of sunny skies and green fairways.

This week’s course review takes a look at some of the best golf facilities in South America, South Africa and Australasia while escaping the winter chill.

Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club – Paraparaumu, New Zealand
New Zealand’s glorious summer weather and beautiful natural scenery make the island a perfect winter getaway destination – and Paraparaumu Beach is one of the country’s most scenic golf resorts.

The 1948 Alex Russel design has stood the test of time and shows few signs of weathering. Russel embraced the undulating terrain in his layout, which includes undulating fairways that resemble a sea of green – waves and all. The greens themselves are large but not entirely forgiving, calling for great precision and fine-tuned short game.

Steenberg Golf Club - Cape Town, South Africa
Located just south of the popular tourist city of Cape Town, Steenberg Golf Club offers excellent value and pristine course conditions for golfers escaping the Northern winters. The course is set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, with lush fairways and tricky greens to rival any top-tier parkland course.

The surrounding area is perfect for a family trip, with sightseeing, cultural sites and wine tasting just a few kilometers away.

Bahia Beach Golf Club – Puerto Rico
Golfers from North America can escape winter and discover a world-class golfing facility at Bahia Beach – one of Puerto Rico’s premier golf resorts.

Stretches of white sand and palm trees create an island paradise atmosphere for players who take to Bahia Beach’s 18-hole seaside course. The generously-sized fairways and tricky-but-playable bunkers add to the relaxed feeling on the course, which provides an enjoyable round of golf for players of various handicaps. 

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