Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club
Grace Bay Road, Grace Bay, ProvidencialesThe Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, located in the Grace Bay area, is the only 18-hole course in the country and is consistently rated among the top 10 golf courses in the Caribbean.
Designed by Karl Litten, the course features rugged limestone formations and waterways with herons, egrets, and flamingos. The course is considered to be a target style, and is par 72. The Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club has twice hosted the Caribbean Amateur Championship.
The only other golf course in the country is the Waterloo Golf Club located on Grand Turk, which is a 9-hole course.
The clubhouse at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club is in the West Indian style, and features the 19 Bar and Restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This restaurant is open to the public, so you don’t have to be a golfer or club member to dine.
The difficulty of the course changes with the wind each day, which features rugged limestone outcroppings and indigenous landscaping. The front nine has water features on six holes, and the back nine, seven with resident and migratory birds (flamingos, egrets, and herons). Off the black tees, the championship layout of 6,705 yards can be difficult, but with four sets of tees the course is playable for golfers of all abilities. There are a couple of tricky holes in the set-up, none more than the notorious par five “12th” with its long tight fairway, prevailing winds, and rough on both sides. After that come two great par 4's, the “13th” and the “14th” and to cap it off the island styled green on the par 3 “17th” reminiscent of Sawgrass.
For warming up and practice before a round of golf, Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club has driving nets, and chipping and putting areas. Tennis is also offered, with two lit tennis courts that are open to members and the public. Rentals are available at the shop.
The on-site Pro Shop features a large selection of brand names including Nike, Under Armour, Greg Norman, and TaylorMade. Golfers and non-golfers alike can find golfing gear, caps, visors, sunglasses, and gift items to purchase. Premium TaylorMade RG clubs can be rented for reasonable rates.
The course is open from 7:00 AM every day, and tee times are generally always available. Make sure you call ahead to inquire about specials on rates and green fees.
Lessons and Training
Lessons are available starting from $95/hr, with three resident PGA-trained professionals. A new training aid is the V1 video coaching system.
Recent Upgrades
The Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club has invested in upgrading its facilities to provide a better golfing experience. They've planted over 900 new palm trees, refurbished the cart-paths, and purchased a new fleet of EZGO electric golf carts.
Vacation Packages
In the past, several hotels and resorts on Providenciales offered vacation packages that included complimentary or discounted rates for the golf course, however, these are generally no longer offered. The nearest resorts are Ocean Club Resort (located across the street), and The Venetian and The Tuscany on Grace Bay.