The long history of golf in Cuba has never been
fully recognized internationally. Some Cubans
can currently be found on the two existing courses
[Varadero International and Boyeros Club of
Golf Havana], but most of the golfers are foreign tourists
or ex-pats living in Cuba. However, two more golf course
resorts are planned: one in Matanzas and the other in Guanabo.
Boyeros Club de Golf Havana
Boyeros Club de Golf Havana, in the Havana suburbs, is
a real country
club, as its setting is definitely rural with a
natural landscape of sloping hills, a variety of trees and other
vegetation, and streams, bordered by fincas (small farms). You
might even occasionally see a cow or goat wandering across
a fairway.
It was originally designed in 1943 by an Englishman as a
small, three-hole course. At that time the course was associated
with the old Havana Country Club and only members of the
club, who happened to be all British or Americans, were
permitted to play there.
After the Revolution, the course was opened to the public in
1970, and in 1980 was officially named Club de Golf Havana.
Over the years the course was developed further with 9 holes,
but by doubling up, 18 holes are possible.
Orlando, at 71, is one of the oldest Cuban golf instructors.
He has a 10 handicap and has been at the course for the last
50 years, from when the course still had only three holes (at
the age of 30, his handicap was 4!). The famous footballer,
Maradona, played the course during the four years he lived in
Cuba and, due to his leg injury, was the only golfer permitted to
use a motorized cart.
The club is a convenient, 20-30 minutes from center city
Havana. It has a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, and
function room, as well as tennis and squash courts. You can
sometimes hear the poolside salsa and reggae from the fairways.
Membership is 45 CUC per person per month, 60 CUC per
couple per month. For non-members, a 9 hole game is 20 CUC;
30 CUC for 18 holes. If you don’t bring your own, rental of
golf equipment is 15 CUC with golf instructors and caddies
available for a fee.
Varadero International Golf Course
The Vardero peninsula, famous for its beaches and all-inclusive
hotels, is a two-hour drive from Havana and boasts a golf course
of international standards. Near many of the hotels, the 9 and
18-hole courses are laid out between palm trees, caves and
lakes, at times approaching breathtaking beaches on the Gulf of
Mexico.
The club provides golf carts, golfing equipment, instructors,
a driving range and putting practice greens. Green Fees for 9
holes is 48 CUC, 18 holes is 70 CUC. Rental of golf equipment
is 30 CUC with cart rental also 30 CUC. Golf instructors are
available for an extra fee.
Up and coming Cuban golf star
There are a small number of Cubans who play golf and one
of the promising Cuban women is Iliuska Gonzales William,
who began golfing just over a year ago and plans to work
toward playing professionally.
Iliuska, born and raised in Holguin, is 25 years old and now
lives in Havana. She spent three years studying gastronomy in
college and is now studying English and IT computing. Iliuska
practices and plays as often as she can between her studies
and working out at a gym, and has one of Cuba’s best golf
instructors, Gabriel (see above).
There are regular monthly golf tournaments at Boyeros
where the competition has helped her improve her handicap.
You will find her at Boyeros several days a week, usually
dressed in pink to match her golf equipment. She also often
goes with her partner for a weekend of golfing in Varadero to
experience an international standard golf course and improve
her skills.
It is hoped that golf will become more recognized in Cuba
so that Cuban golfers will have the opportunity to play in
international tournaments and even in the 2016 Olympics in
the UK. Perhaps Iliuska will be one of them.
Its challenging or Target Golf design is of modern style with
narrow roads and heavily protected greens surrounded by sand
traps and lakes. The course has several salt water lakes that
connect directly with the sea, a feature that makes it almost
unique worldwide. The Varadero Club has a players’ reception
at the Caddie House, a Pro Shop and Snack Bar. The ‘19th
Hole’ Bar on the top floor of the club has a bird’s eye view
of the course, the sea and the miles of pristine white beaches
along the coast. Naturally, the bar is the place to end your
game with a chilled Mojito or iced cold beer.
Back when the DuPont family owned much of Varadero
peninsula, there were very few hotels, and the famous
French-American multimillionaire, Dupont de Nemours,
commissioned an 18-hole golf course that opened in
December 1931.
The course is overlooked by the famous Xanadu Mansion,
the former DuPont Villa. The mansion is a magic place and
the most authentic in Varadero since it was there where the
peninsula planning began, the great project of DuPont, who
left Cuba in 1957. The mansion’s restaurant is the ideal place
for a gourmet meal and fine wine and cocktails while savoring
a Havana cigar as you watch the sunset over the Gulf of
Mexico. It also has six guest bedrooms and a bar on the top
floor with panoramic views.
The club continues expanding its ambitious facilities,
including opening the first golf academy operated by PGA
professionals and instructors from the Cuban Golf Federation.
It has the organized international golf tournaments and hosted
European Challenge Tour Grand Finals.
Please contact us with your brief and include proposed dates, number of persons and a short profile of type of group so we can send you a proposal.