A few weeks ago, I told you about the Costa Rica golf guide I was working on in response to the growing number of reader inquiries.
Today, I have the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (and some that should be) and the name of the company that is, hands down, the one to work with if you decide to head down there.
Let’s start with the basics:
Where exactly is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is in Central America, situated between Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South.
Why should I even consider a Costa Rica golf vacation?
In short, Costa Rica has great weather; it’s relatively quick and easy to reach; it’s safe; it offers a great bang-for-the-buck; it has surprisingly good golf courses; and it offers some of the most exciting and memorable eco-adventures and outdoor pursuits.
What’s the lowdown on golf?
Let me say up front that Costa Rica isn’t a “golf destination” akin to, say, Scottsdale or Myrtle Beach. You can’t simply plant yourself in one spot and have a dozen great courses to choose from.
Costa Rica has very good golf, but its top tracks are located in small pockets (of one to three courses) in different parts of the tourist region. Most people are quite surprised at just how good the golf is in this tiny country.
For example, the course at the Four Seasons Resort ranks 53rd on Golf Digest’s list of “world’s best golf courses outside the United States.” And when the editors of Golf Odyssey recently played all of Costa Rica’s top courses, the worst grade they gave out was a B- (which is probably more like a B+ or A for less demanding tastes).
In addition to the Four Seasons Golf Club, the other top courses are: Reserva Conchal, Hacienda Pinilla, Cariari Country Club, Valle del Sol, and La Iguana.
And what are some of these “amazing outdoor pursuits?”
Let’s see, you can take a canopy or zipline tour from tree-to-tree hundreds of feet in the air; you can walk through pristine cloud and rainforests; you can go whitewater rafting; you can do some world-class sportfishing; and you can get up close and personal with exotic wildlife just about anywhere you go. There’s really too much to list here.
Is Costa Rica better suited to couples, buddies, or families?
A lot of places claim to offer something for everyone, but Costa Rica can truly back it up. A romantic trip, a guys’ trip, or a family experience are all available. You can go hard adventure or soft adventure; luxury or low-key. The breadth of activities also makes it easy for golfers and non-golfers to travel together.
How easy (or hard) is it to get to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is centrally located from most points in North America and there’s plenty of non-stop service from most US and Canadian hubs. To give you an idea, flight time is about five hours from either New York or Los Angeles, and three hours from Miami or Dallas.
Is it safe?
In a word, yes. Some people say Costa Rica is, “as safe as it gets” outside of North America and Europe (and some think it’s even safer due to the lack of violent crimes). Costa Rica has enjoyed 60 years of political stability; it’s avoided by drug traffickers; and it has one of the highest standards of living in the region. That said, you do need to exercise common sense. For example, just like any other city in the world, flashing a lot of cash and expensive jewelry after midnight probably isn’t a smart thing to do in downtown San Jose.
How “rugged” is it?
In most cases, you will lack for nothing. San Jose (where most people land) is a bustling city and high-end hotels can be found all around the country. The water is safe to drink. While Spanish is the official language, English is spoken inside the resorts and most everywhere you might travel. Likewise, the colón is Costa Rica’s official currency, but U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
Driving is a bit more of an adventure. “We highly recommend using escorted transportation,” say the editors of Golf Odyssey. “Driving here is stressful on the often windy, hilly, and narrow roads. Jarring potholes are commonplace, the roads are not well marked, and Tico drivers tend to pass other vehicles at any opportunity.”
When is the best time to go?
Based on weather, prime time is early December through April/May. Avoid September and October, which is the height of the rainy season. Interestingly, in July and August, Costa Rica is often cooler (70s-80s) and less humid than many parts of the South and Southwest USA.
Price-wise, there’s not much fluctuation throughout the year, though you’ll save by not booking during the crowded Christmas and Easter holidays. While there are great bargains to be had at the mid and low end, the better properties don’t discount much because they’re not overloaded with inventory.
Insiders love the window between Thanksgiving and Christmas because the rains have gone, the flora is lush, and it’s before the crowds arrive.
Should I plan my own trip or use a professional?
As great as I think Costa Rica is, planning a golf trip there is not the easiest thing to do. A lot of information you’ll find on the Web is inaccurate or unreliable; logistics can be challenging; and the Costa Ricans (or Ticos as they call themselves), while extremely friendly, do not operate with Swiss precision.
In addition, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all golf trip to Costa Rica. Given the contrasting environments (city, rainforest, beach), spread-out nature of the best golf courses, and myriad outdoor activity options, it helps to work with an expert who can coordinate everything.
Ok, so who should I use to arrange my Costa Rica golf vacation?
There’s only one name you need to know: Landy Blank and his firm, Costa Rica Golf Adventures.
Landy is an American who moved to Costa Rica 16 years ago, and he has been arranging golf vacations to his adopted homeland ever since. (He and his wife are also the exclusive distributors for Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade down there, and they operate three pro shops.)
Bottom line: nobody has more experience bringing golfers to Costa Rica, and the benefits are numerous.
First, because the resorts and golf courses compensate Landy directly, you don’t pay additional charges when working with Costa Rica Golf Adventures. In fact, because of his access to special offers, you are likely to save money.
And speaking of access, Landy can often get you on to some of Costa Rica’s private courses. I think he literally knows everyone down there.
He also provides 24/7 support throughout your stay, which is a comfortable feeling regardless of Costa Rica’s strong safety record.
I should also mention that, in addition to being “the” Costa Rica golf expert, Landy is a super nice guy and very pround of where he lives. I’m sure he’d be happy to share his knowledge of Costa Rica golf whether you ultimately use his services or not.
So, if you’d like to know more, or get some specifics on a trip, send him an email. He is very responsive.
You can also reach Landy directly by phone at 1-888-672-2057 and his website is golfcr.com.
Just be sure to identify yourself as a Golf Vacation Insider reader, because if you decide to book a trip, Landy will include a special amenity package for you.
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