Ocean Club at Atlantis – Paradise Island
Played Ocean Club in 2008 as part of a trip that a friend of mine invited me to as his guest for his company retreat. All I have to say about Atlantis is WOW was it expensive. It’s funny I probably have stayed at similarly high-cost resorts but since I wasn’t paying, I noticed how much everything was and felt guilty about it. If it was on my dime I would’ve been less sensitive to the costs – not that I’m rolling in it just that it would’ve been my decision to go and spend there.
As a thank you I treated my friend, his wife and another couple to dinner one night at the Mesa Grill (no longer there). This was a surprise so they didn’t know about it until the waiter came back and told them it was fully covered by me. My buddy Greg called and said they weren’t piggish at all with wine or food but the bill was +/- $2,000 – from what I remember. So if you go, bring some bank.
The pix I took at Ocean Club are yet another victim of the great computer crash of ’09. I remember I had a bunch, too. Also the scrapbook for years ’08 and ’09 were wiped out. I’m going to order one of those USB/hard drive cables that maybe I can pull the photos out and update the course write-ups from there.
The course is super scenic, with six holes playing into, away from or along the crystal blue ocean. Four is one that if you over club or push your approach at all you’re in la agua. I put together the below diagram from the resort’s website drone image. You can thank me later.
A harbor, lagoons and other water features highlight the inland holes. Conditioning was great. Pretty flat like most Caribbean golf I’ve played. There’s now a Nobu here and some other dining options but I was never there (I ate at the Mesa Grill and forget where else on property).
Since I have no photos, I figured this is as good as anyplace to rank my top four Caribbean/Mexican/Central American Resorts. These are only golf-related resorts mind you – there are other places I stayed NEAR great courses like El Cameleon in Mayakoba but these are resorts with golf on property or associated with neighboring course(s):
1. Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall (Montego Bay, Jamaica): Formerly the Ritz. Stayed here when it was a Ritz property so besides the beach the restaurants have all changed. The Barefoot JerkZ shack is still there and that was great. And from the site, it looks like there are a lot of good options. Houseboat Grille in town is a great excursion. Two great courses (not directly affiliated with the resort though): Cinnamon Hill and White Witch. Other things to do: Rose Hall Ghost Tour.
2. Atlantis at Paradise Island: Probably the most expensive of all resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico and beyond. Mesa Grille was great but as noted now closed. I like NoBu in Vegas so am sure that is great. Didn’t eat off property. Ocean Club is a great water-front course that is affiliated with the Atlantis, though a little golf cart ride off property. Other things to do: Casino, dolphin experience and pool club are all right on property – you really don’t have to leave the property.
3. Los Suenos Marriott (Herradura, Cost Rica): You can stay here pretty affordably. Beach is meh but area is very nice. Resort restaurant was outdoor but don’t remember it wowing me. Jaco Beach is a cool little town next door. Lemon Zest was a really nice restaurant there. La Iguana course is on property and is really good. Other things to do: Zip lining is close-by.
4. Tierra Del Sol Resort & Country Club (Aruba): If you want split time between golfers and pool, this is it. Beach-only women and children in your group? They won’t likey. The restaurant is great, casual outdoor. Faro Blanco off property but next door by the lighthouse is Italian (good) with a view (great). Go for sunset. Golf course is really good, a shade below the above courses. Other things to do: Drive through Arikok National Park to Boca Prins and go to the little bar there in the middle of nowhere.
Golf Scrapbook 