GOLF

The Tobago Plantations Golf and Country Club is the center-piece of the Tobago Plantations Estate, a 750-acre development that includes a luxury hotel, the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, luxury villas, condominiums, bungalows, and other Trinidad and Tobago activities.

The Par-72, 18-hole course has been woven into the landscape of an old coconut plantation that extends through an area consisting of plants designed for dry areas out to the sea. The landscape varies greatly throughout the course with lakes, woodland thickets, beaches, mangroves and wild grass providing each hole with a very distinctive character of true Trinidad and Tobago golf.  The course is a good test of the game for golfers of all levels, but requires the player to have some experience with the game.

The flat terrain of just over 7,000 yards has been sensitively modified to utilize indigenous plants and increase the habitat diversity for wildlife.  There are characteristic pot bunkers sunk into the greensides, such as on the 3rd hole, a Par 4 that goes out onto the peninsula to enjoy panoramic views of Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.  All the holes have four tee positions.

In stark contrast to the coastline holes, others weave their way through mature Palm Trees and surrounding Mangroves.  Artificial lakes and wetlands have been created and developed to regenerate nature. The fairways are planted with Tifton Bermuda Brass and the greens feature Tif dwarf Bermuda Grass.

The Tobago Plantations Golf Course is PGA designed to Championship standards and opened in 2001.  It was designed by Bob Hunt and Marcus Blackburn of PGA Golf Management Ltd., the design, development and management arm of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland. It is a certified member of the Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary System” which is one of the environmental programmes offered by Audubon International.  In addition, the club has received certification for Environmental Planning.

The driving range has 50 Bay Grass Trees, pitching, chipping and bunker greens, and a large practice putting green.  The clubhouse is situated between the first and tenth tees and offers quality service in its facilities that include a refreshing club room lounge, Muscovados, a relaxing bar/restaurant, a pro shop, changing rooms, and classrooms.