Panama as a Golfing Destination

“When I come down, will I be able to golf?” was the question.

I wondered how much research the gentleman had done about Panama before our session. Golfing in Panama is huge, with multiple resorts and developments with the word “Golf” in the name. As a popular retirement and business destination, Panama has not overlooked golfing.

“There are several respectable golf courses in the country. Do you know what area of Panama you are interested in? There are options on the beach, in the city, and in the mountains. I can make all kinds of suggestions.”

“I’m with P&G” he responded, referring to Procter & Gamble which has regional headquarters and a large workforce in Panama. “They’re moving me down to our new office in Costa del Este so I was wondering about courses in that area. I know it sounds a bit silly, but golf is the one thing that keeps me centered. If I could have a nice course close to the office or home, I would love it!”

A Course The Americas Left Behind

“Well, you have the Summit Golf Club which is located in the Canal Zone, built by the Americans when they occupied the Panama Canal. Obviously, it’s a pretty old course, but well maintained. It was designed by Jeffrey Meyers and is well ranked, but not as high as Santa Maria. It’s pretty nice because it is located in a rainforest and the views are nice—especially in the mornings.” I could hear him making notes.

“There is also the Golf Club of Panama that is in the city. It’s fairly close to Costa del Este, but you could get some traffic during rush hour. I’m not as familiar with that course, but I hear good things about it,” I continued as I did a quick Google search to make sure I was getting the details right. “It looks like Panama has been a member of the International Golf Federation since 1972, so we aren’t all that new to the game.”

Golf Tournaments in Panama

“Are there golf tournaments in Panama?” he asked. “I guess I could look all of this up, but I like getting the view from someone who’s actually there.” he explained.

I laughed. “There the Panama Championship– I actually watched part of that on the Golf channel and an American won. We’ve had some big time competitions sponsored by the likes of Lexus, Claro  and BMW. The nice thing about Panama is that we are a small country and it’s just easier to get up close and personal to the action. Tickets are pretty accessible.”  

“There’s also the annual “Canadians vs. The World” championship played at the Coronado Golf and Beach Resort, about an hour from Panama City,” I laughed, “if you want to play with a bunch of retirees for bragging rights!”

American Davis Rily wins the 2020 Panama Golf Championship

The Mantarraya Golf Club at the Royal Decameron Resort in Panama.

Golf at the Royal Decameron

“Supposedly, the very best course is the Mantarraya Golf Club and it’s located next to the Royal Decameron Resort, about 90 miles from Panama City. There are several courses in that region—five in total—which is very close to the Pacific Ocean. Several of the resorts have an agreement with the golf club and it’s very popular. It has a ranking of 9.0 from the “Best Courses” folks. People from all over the world play that course,” I continued.