Jamaica
Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa
Picture this: You are at one of the Caribbean’s most stunning golf courses, carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside, with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from 16 of the 18 holes. Golf clubs, balls, scorecard, tees, beverages and snacks are neatly arranged in your cart as your survey the surrounding landscape. This is the eye-opening 500-metre, par-five 1st hole at The White Witch course at Jamaica’s Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort.
The par-71, 6,113-metre course was so named by its creators, golf course architects Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril, in reference to Annie Palmer, the notorious ‘White Witch,’ who was mistress of Rose Hall Plantation in the early 19th Century on which the course is built. She was purported to be beautiful and beguiling and to have done away with three unsuspecting husbands.
Says co-designer Baril: “We have tried to create a course that will give you a different experience each time you play. We have done that at The White Witch by creating multiple tees throughout. Whereas the low handicapper might have to carry a yawning ravine to reach the green, there are also tees allowing the shorter hitter to get there as well. The topography is unique, making each hole memorable and distinctive in its own right.”
From pewter golf bag tags inscribed with each player’s name, to the elegant dining veranda of the clubhouse, to the luxurious changing rooms and well-trained, white-suited caddies called golf “concierges”, everything about the White Witch is decidedly first-rate.
The golf concierges at White Witch are unique in that their realm of responsibilities extend off the golf course. They can make restaurant reservations, order flowers for loved ones and make spa appointments. “Their knowledge of the golf course includes everything needed to negotiate the gusty winds, drastic elevation changes, and deceptive greens,” says Head Golf Professional Mike Cole. “All of our guests' needs are attended to, leaving them to just swing the club.”
Contact: www.whitewitchgolf.com
