Beachcomb on one of the Caribbean’s best beaches at Cap Juluca in Anguilla. (Image: Cap Juluca)
From my favourite beach in the Caribbean to a day-trip to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, five tropical escapes guaranteed to take the sting out of Old Man Winter.
(Last updated January 2023.)
Every year when I feel the first nip of the Canadian winter, I start planning my next sun destination trip, and console myself in the meantime with memories of trips past. Here, five of my favourite après-golf wintertime escapes—all so unforgettable that I can hardly wait to revisit them again.
Life is a Beach in Anguilla
A favourite of movie stars and billionaires, the Caribbean island of Anguilla is home to 33 of the world’s most gorgeous white-sand beaches. Treat yourself to a beachcomb on the more than kilometre-long strand at posh Cap Juluca resort after playing Anguilla’s only course, Greg Norman-designed Aurora International Golf Club.
A Rum Punch to Ruminate On
What’s a vacation in Barbados, known as the birthplace of rum, without a delicious rum punch to ease your aches and pains after a round of golf at Apes Hill or Royal Westmoreland? I’ve sampled rum punches throughout the tropics, but by far the best is the award-winning and lethally potent concoction served by barkeep and owner Roger Goddard at Cutters Deli, near famous Crane Beach.
Learn the Spirit of Aloha
Immerse yourself in the history and vibrant culture of Maui through guest experiences offered at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort—conveniently located next door to Wailea Golf Club’s three outstanding courses. Guided by the resort’s cultural advisor, Kapono Kaumanu, the Kea Lani’s cultural program includes Hawaiian language and music classes, a Hawaiian canoe experience, and a traditional Hawaiian sunrise chant and evening ceremonial torch lighting to mark the beginning and end of each action-packed day.
Tulum on the Mayan Riviera. (Image: Tulumruins.net)
Spend a Day Amid the Ruins of Tulum
With 14 courses, Mexico’s Mayan Riviera—a 140-kilometre string of pristine beaches that snakes south of Cancun along the Caribbean coast—offers enough golf to exhaust anyone. Smart travellers schedule a rejuvenating day-trip to the nearby Mayan ruins of Tulum. Built in the late thirteenth century, this remarkably well-preserved site even boasts its own inviting beach.
A Spa to Remember in Puerto Rico
Set on the lush northern coastline of Puerto Rico, Dorado Beach resort numbers among the world’s elite golf properties, with three courses designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. But just as big a draw for luxury loving travellers is the Spa Botanico. This wondrously opulent two-hectare sanctuary, set within a fragrant pineapple garden, features plunge pools, outdoor jungle showers and even tree-house treatment rooms. Sheer bliss.
