Golf Westin Conchal

Few resort courses in Central America carry the reputation of Golf Westin Conchal. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II and opened in 1997, the course occupies the grounds of the Reserva Conchal resort complex on Costa Rica's northwestern Pacific coast, and it has long been considered one of the finest resort layouts in the region. The design weaves through tropical dry forest, wetland areas, and open savanna-style terrain — a landscape utterly unlike the manicured uniformity you'd find at a Caribbean resort course — and wildlife encounters mid-round are routine: howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, and iguanas are as much a part of the experience as the golf itself.

Guanacaste province is Costa Rica's driest and sunniest region, making it the country's premier destination for beach-and-golf travel. The town of Santa Cruz serves as a regional hub, and Playa Conchal — the shell-sand beach the resort takes its name from — sits just minutes from the first tee.

The course plays as a legitimate challenge for accomplished players, with water hazards and the persistent Pacific breeze adding strategic weight to nearly every hole. For visitors, the conditioning and sheer visual drama of the setting tend to leave as strong an impression as the scorecard.