Now that I’m golf-obsessed, I take a look at every trip as an opportunity, each time doable, to take a look at a course I’d by no means observed earlier than.
But: Aruba? Aruba is all (albeit magnificent) seashore, nice eating and a few casinos, proper?
Try once more. On a latest go to to Aruba, I used to be in a position to play an excellent enjoyable, completely beautiful 18 holes of golf at The Links at Divi Aruba (https://divilinks.com). And whereas it wasn’t completely manicured (Aruba climate has to make {that a} problem), and the 18 got here through doing the nine-hole arrange twice, I discovered enjoyable, magnificence, problem and sure, various birdies.
OK, so that they have been precise birds and never low scores, however the time I spend on the course leads me to say this: Don’t miss a day of golf right here while you’re subsequent visiting Aruba.
We have been ready, as friends of the Divi and Tamarajin Aruba (https://www.diviandtamarijnaruba.com) to safe an 8 a.m. tee time, getting us forward of the early September warmth. The Links at Divi is open to the general public, however does give most popular instances to friends of their all-inclusive resort. That stated, it was quiet on the market our day, so I’m certain apart from super-high season, it’s simple to get the time you need.
We’d introduced our personal golf equipment, principally as a result of whereas I nonetheless have loads of room to carve off my handicap, I’ve ascended to persnickety in terms of gear. I might have been wonderful with their leases. For simply $40 they set you up with prime quality Titleist Clubs in pristine situation. They have golf sneakers to hire as nicely.
Carts are necessary however included of their first rate pricing (9 for $81; 18 for $118 and a twilight all-you-can play for below $80 this time of yr).
The hyperlinks course reads straight and easy on the cardboard, however in individual it has methods up its sleeve to maintain you pondering. Narrow fairways, an honest quantity of water and a few enjoyable set-ups meant I pulled each membership I’ve out of my bag sooner or later.
The robust half? I assumed it might be the famed Aruba winds which are regular and robust just about day by day and night time because of the unobstructed tradewinds blowing by. But the wind, oddly, wasn’t that a lot of a problem. Trees appeared to assist us, and the course structure lent itself to creating changes for it doable.
The greatest problem for me? The tough. This Aruba tough is, nicely … tough. It’s thick and a bit unforgiving, and you actually need to go at your shot to get out of there clear. By the second 9, we had a greater really feel for it and tailored, which is all the time enjoyable in golf.
The course is comparatively quick, however performs longer than its stats. That comes because of holes that require lay-ups and others that require pure guts, just like the Sawgrass seventeenth impressed ninth gap, with its island inexperienced that – only for enjoyable – sits slightly below the clubhouse’s hovering home windows. I swear, as I overhit the inexperienced that first time by, I appeared within the eyes of diners up there. That’s OK: stress is privilege, as Billy Jean stated.
The greatest a part of the course needs to be the sweetness. Here’s the place the birdies are available in. I’d heard from a fellow resort visitor who’d gone on a chook watching tour that probably the most – and greatest – birds have been on this golf course, and he or she didn’t undersell.
We watched Heron stretch and fly. We have been squawked at by Lapwings guarding their nest. We noticed birds of prey swoop down in search of lunch. On the waterfall gap, they lined up like followers. I half anticipated one to squawk “It’s in the hole!” They made the spherical particular.
There have been loads of iguanas too, a singular golf spherical siting.
We have been glad we opted for 18. The second time by, we performed higher and savored the websites much more.
The Links At Divi additionally hosts weekly tourneys open to all, an inexpensive and enjoyable solution to play. Should you be there on a Wednesday or Friday, you’ll be able to play an 18-hole greatest ball or scramble with prizes. You get the entry, your greens charges, membership and shoe leases, a sleeve of balls and two post-round drinks for simply $85. The prizes are first rate too.
There’s a driving vary and placing inexperienced (and a bucket of balls is simply $3), in addition to a pleasant apres golf eating spot the place you’ll be able to take your flip judging these difficult gap 9 photographs. And ought to your journey companion not golf? They enable ride-alongs for simply $16 extra.
You won’t go to Aruba only for golf right here, however while you go to Aruba, it is advisable to play a spherical right here. The birdies await.
Source: www.bostonherald.com