El Conquistador Golf Club (787) 863-6784
Puerto Rico Golf Course Review
The El Conquistador Golf Club is the shining jewel of the El Conquistador Golf Resort and Casino locate in Las Crobas, Puerto Rico (about 40 minutes east of San Juan). The
resort also features beautifully furnished rooms, suites and condos located along the side of a beautiful mountain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Tennis, sailing, diving, and, of
course, golf are all available at this four star resort.
Opened in 1993, the El Conquistador Golf Club was designed by the renowned golf architect Arthur Hills. The layout takes full advantage of the mountainous terrain and
meanders up and down narrow hills and valleys dotted with palms, dense stands of indigenous trees and shurbs, and other natural flora. The landscaping is absolutely
impeccible with lush Bermuda grass greens, tee boxes, fairways and rough.
The clubhouse at the El Conquistador features a nicely stocked golf shop with up-to-date apparel and equipment for sale. Lessons and clinics are available for individuals or
groups from PGA professional staff. The practice area provides a large chipping and putting green and a beautiful grass range that offers impressive views of the course, and the
magnificent ocean in the distance.
Golf carts provide club protection, coolers with ice and and a much appreciated ball and club washer. Yardage booklets give accurate yardage information and tips on playing
each hole. The course is marked with yardage blocks in the center of the fairway at 100,150 and 200 yards. A 150 yard stake is also located in the middle of each fairway on par
fours and fives and sprinkler heads are marked. All measurements are to the center of the green. Pin placement locations are designated by small flags located on the pins.
Play on this course is quite challenging from the tips and player-friendly from the middle and forward tees. There are 60 daunting bunkers, but fairways are tamed with cleverly
planned openings that reward the best shots. Perhaps the biggest hazard on this course is its beauty - every tee box and approach presents such an aesthetically pleasing view
that golfers may lose concentration. I can’t count the times we stepped up to the tee and said “wow”.
The front nine is a series of downhill shots with beautiful views from the elevated tees, while the back nine presents numerous uphill shots as you make your way back to the
clubhouse. The greens are very fast and there is a nice mix of subtle undulations, severe slopes, and on a few holes the greens are small and hard to stick. The fairways are
ample - for nicely struck tee shots - but trouble is always waiting with intrusive vegetation and hungry Bermuda rough. Water comes into play on four holes - and both the 9th and
18th hole share a water feature that intimidates on the approach. On both ends of the course, you are on a roller coaster ride - that is both exhilarating and challenging and fun!
If you are in Puerto Rico, El Conquistador Golf Club is a MUST PLAY. If you are not in Puerto Rico - make plans to visit and play this wonderful course. It is one of the Caribbean’s
jewels. For more information, visit our detailed page for the El Conquistador Golf Club by clicking here.
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