Golf

Golf members enjoy preferred tee times at the Arnold Palmer Signature par-72 golf course — voted “Best 100 Courses Outside the United States” by Golf Digest. Winding through lush forests, valleys and sea cliffs, the resort masterpiece is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, featuring ocean views on 14 of the 18 holes.

HOLE 1: LAS PACAS

A great starting hole, this is a relatively short par-5 at 543 yards. The sharp dogleg allows players to shorten the hole by hitting tee shots over the bunkers at the corner of the dogleg. Otherwise, a wide fairway all the way to the green allows for a safe 3-shot par-5 to start the round.

HOLE 2: TIBURON

At 174 yards, this is a short downhill par-3, which includes a rock-lined stream in front of the green and a beautiful cove behind it. When the pin is tucked left over the stream, a long 2-putt will be required to finish the hole.

HOLE 3: BUENA VISTA

The tee box at the third hole is situated at the top of a cliff with 360-degree ocean views. Here the golfer must aim over or around “Palmer’s tree,” which sits between the tees and the fairway. The challenge of this 367-yard par-4 hole continues with the sharp dogleg fairway and deep bunkering. This is a true risk and reward hole.

HOLE 4: GUANACASTE

This strong 538-yard par-5 requires an accurate tee shot threaded between bunkers on both sides. From there, it’s all uphill along a wide fairway to a fairly small green. An aggressive tee shot over the left bunkers really shortens the hole.

HOLE 5: LA POZA

The second par-3 on the front nine requires a long tee shot to a green guarded by a large pond on the right, with a generous bailout fairway area on the left and nothing but ocean as a backdrop. A beautiful but potentially difficult hole at 215 yards.

HOLE 6: EL BAJO

The sixth hole features a very dramatic 446-yard par-4 with a tee shot that plays 61 metres (200 feet) downhill to a receptive valley-shaped fairway. The green is perched out on a cliff with the ocean behind it.

HOLE 7: CULEBRA

Playing 15 metres (50 feet) downhill, this 133-yard par-3 requires a delicate tee shot to a fairly small green surrounded by bunkers positioned to collect errant shots.

HOLE 8: CARIBLANCO

This is a drivable par-4 at 390 yards, with deep bunkers guarding the front of the green. The best play is a tee shot over the left fairway bunkers to set up the easy approach angle. This green, like many on the Palmer course, has various hole locations that reward good iron play.

HOLE 9: PIZOTE

A short 522-yard par-5 finishes the front nine. After the wide-open tee shots on holes 1, 3, 6 and 8, this narrow fairway plays through the lush Nacascolo Forest. A rock-lined stream protects the front of the most severely contoured green on the course.

HOLE 10: HERRADURA

This is a sharp dogleg left playing around a deep natural ravine. A tee shot played down the left side cuts off a lot of distance for the second shot into a multi-tiered green. Deep bunkers guard the right side of the green, with a generous safe bailout on the left. This 433-yard hole is the second hardest on the back nine.

HOLE 11: ZAINO

The 11th hole is a strong uphill par-3 at 207 yards that will play into a predominant wind. The large green makes for a good target. The middle of the green is the smart play.

HOLE 12: POCHOTE

At 601 yards, this is the longest par-5 on the course. Tee shots play downhill and downwind. The second shot plays uphill and must be hit far enough to have a clear view of the green, which is surrounded by bunkers with plenty of room to roll the ball onto the green.

HOLE 13: BUENA SUERTE

This is a long par-4 at 468 yards, and the number-one handicap hole. The tee shot plays over a large pond to a blind fairway that slopes with the tee shot so that the roll of the ball will shorten the length of the hole. The green is bunkered on the right to catch errant shots that would otherwise go out of play. The safe play is to go long and aim for the generous bailout area to the left.

HOLE 14: COYOTE

Leaving the windswept plateau of the 10th, 11th and 12th holes, holes 14 and 15 play just above sea level among the lush natural vegetation. The tee shot on this 383-yard par-4 plays over a rock-lined stream to a tree-lined fairway. The green is elevated but relatively flat, with the deepest bunker on the course guarding the front.

HOLE 15: MATAPALO

This 350-yard par-4 can be played with either a long iron or a 3-wood from the tee. An iron will keep you short of the fairway bunkers, while a well-struck 3-wood should clear them and set up a short wedge shot to the two-tiered green, over the creek.

HOLE 16: EL MONO

This is another drivable par-4 at 305 yards. A long iron or 3-wood will leave you in the ideal spot, but a driver can reach the green. The long, narrow green is divided in half by a severe ridge, which will make 3-putting a possibility from the wrong side of the green.

HOLE 17: PACIFICO

This is a 163-yard par-3, playing over a deep ravine to a large green. The green is surrounded by bunkers, which keep wayward shots from going into the ravine. This very picturesque golf hole offers spectacular views of the ocean from both the tees and the green.

HOLE 18: PURA VIDA

A great finishing hole, this is a 550-yard downhill par-5 starting on top of the plateau. From the tees, the fairway is wide open and you look down upon a green fronted by a pond with bunkers behind it. The safe play is a long iron hit short of the fairway bunkers to set up a short shot onto the green, taking the pond out of play. Four Seasons Golf Costa Rica will be waiting for you!