Old Quarry Golf Course Par 5 Hole #2
If you ever step foot on the small Caribbean island called Curaçao you better not leave without playing the Old Quarry Golf Course. Curaçao pronounced “kur-ə-sow” is best known for its Blue Curaçao liqueur and by baseball fans due to it being the native home of former major league baseball player Andruw Jones. Hopefully after reading this article Curaçao will also be known for having one of the best golf courses in the Caribbean. Opened for play in 2010, the Old Quarry Course was designed by the legendary Pete Dye. Pete Dye has designed courses across 5 continents and has had a substantial impact on golf in the Caribbean.
How many words is this photo worth? This is a look at the 1st hole quite the opening statement!
The Old Quarry Course is a par-72 golf course playing at 6,970-yards from the championship tees. The course itself resides within Santa Barbara Plantation, which is the islands premier development featuring two marinas, the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, and of course the Old Quarry Golf Course. Santa Barbara is definitely a little outside of town from the Curaçao cruise port; it’s about a 45 minute drive that’ll cost you about $50 US each way in a taxi. Starting in 2016 a shuttle service from the port to Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort will be offered on certain days so check with the resort before your trip. As you make your way from the port to Santa Barbara one of the first things you’ll notice is the mountain out in the distance, that’s where you’re headed Mount Tafelberg. My taxi driver was nice enough to point that out; the cool thing about the Old Quarry Golf Course is that it’s built on an active rock quarry hence the name. All homes and structures on the island are built with materials that come from Mount Tafelberg. If you’ve ever played Streamsong Resort in Florida which is built on an old phosphate mine the vibe is very similar.
Water is hard to come by on Curaçao, they only average about 20 inches of rain a year so you can imagine managing a golf course can be extremely difficult and expensive. However, you’ll never know water is hard to come by after playing the course, the condition is top-notch and consist of the perfect mix of lush green grass, desertscape, and mountains. The Old Quarry G.C. starts you out with two opening holes along the ocean, a par 4 and par 5. When you step onto the tee you’ll be sure to feel the wind coming off the ocean and notice the beautiful blue water below; keep the ball left off the tee to avoid getting a close-up. During the first 2 holes I actually had flashbacks to some of the courses I’ve played in Scotland along the sea; Pete Dye delivered a great opening act.
A look at the valley from the 4th tee box, Spanish Water is just ahead.
The 3rd hole is great because it gives you a taste of what you just experienced with a scenic view from a tee box that jets out into the Caribbean Sea and a green that’s well protected by a rock formation. The 4th and 5th holes are in what I would call the valley part of the course. The 5th hole is rated as the hardest on the course and it’s a real challenge unless you smash your drive off the tee, aim left center to get extra roll out down the hill. The 6th hole introduces you to Spanish Water and the first of two boat marinas.
The back 9 starts with a steady dose of Mount Tafelberg with changes in elevation that provides amazing views of the course, if you catch it at sunset make sure to snap a photo. The 13th brings Spanish Water back into play and provides another view of the marina. As you finish your round the elevation changes will continue and you’ll have a good chance of watching a sailboat pull back into the marina. The 18th finishes with the Marina as the backdrop, I was lucky enough to see a beautiful catamaran sail by as I hit my approach shot into the green.
Old Quarry Golf Course Overall Rating 4 ½ out of 5 Star
The 9th hole in full view, you’re sure to see a sailboat go by.
In my opinion Spanish Water and how it winds through so many holes puts the Old Quarry G.C. head and shoulders above most other courses. The course layout is a perfect combination of the Caribbean Sea, Spanish Water, and Mount Tafelberg. The tagline for the Old Quarry G.C. is “Pete Dye’s Caribbean Masterpiece”, I would have to agree. Pete Dye did a spectacular job turning this old rock quarry into an amazing golf course. 4 ½ stars is one of our highest ratings, and that rating could have been even higher. Two of main impacts on the rating was the distance of the practice facility to the clubhouse (about 8 minutes in a cart) and the lack of on-course beverage service. As long as you arrive early enough to account for the round trip to the practice facility and stock up on beverages before heading out you won’t have anything to complain about!