Golf TI - River Course at Westin Rio Mar

Opening in 1997, the River Course at Westin Rio Mar was a key addition in securing the prestigious resort a spot atop a class of Caribbean destinations renowned for world-class golf. To assist in these efforts, the resort went wisely after an industry name brand with name recognition, in spite of his modest portfolio as an up-and-coming golf course designer. The name Greg Norman is synonymous with the growth of the game as big business, and the Australian's reputation, charisma, and marketability has made him an iconic choice among discerning golf travellers. With an eye for the luxurious and tastes to match, the fusion of the man's work on land so decadent seemed like an overdue but perfect fit.

Indeed, Norman's first design in the Caribbean market is the 6,931-yard River Course at the Westin Rio Mar, and the marriage of his vision to the dense swath of tropical land that runs along the Mameyes River is an exciting course that maximizes the aesthetic gifts of the land. The still river reflects, from the right angle, the mountainous lands that make up the interior of Puerto Rico, and the fresh scent of the ocean just a short walk away creates an overload of stimuli for the eyes and nose. As the course dances gently along the banks of the Mayemes, a native tranquility prevails, and a peaceful, enjoyable round of golf is the welcome impression.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of challenging shots to be played. At the 192-yard third, the front bank of the oblique green has a nasty habit of allowing soft shots to trickle off down into the stream. The play here is away from danger, to the middle of the green, where shots come to rest quickly.

The architect's swagger, which went a long way to marking his career achievements as a playing professional, seems to carry over as inspiration for his work, and the free-swinging Norman always had a love for the bold play. The short 338-yard fifth seems tailor-made for a man of Norman's ilk, with plenty of hazards but just short enough to entice the long hitter into taking that chance to make eagle or an easy birdie. A large pond on the right forces players to lay-up to the right, which leaves a tricky short iron or wedge that must be well struck to hold the green from that angle.

Two holes later at the 183-yard par-three seventh, the golfer faces another bedeviling but beautiful short hole. The hole plays tightly against the river on the right side, where the slope of the land should pitch balls landing on the bank down onto the rocks. Not surprisingly, a broad fairway hollow left of the green is a very popular alternative. The view back from the bridge behind the hole offers one of the more dramatic landscape shots in Puerto Rico.

Norman's counterpoint to this testy short hole along the river is a 547-yard straightaway par five, also along the banks of the ubiquitous river but blocked from view by a long stand of trees on its banks that runs the length of the hole. Those who fail to pay heed with their approach will pay the price as the right side of the green is inches away from the Mameyes.

A second short par four, more tempting than the fifth, is the 289-yard 13^th hole, where the absence of any water hazard encourages a Norman-like strike for the green. The defense here is an armada of bunkers that choke the green, such that many drives will leave a 30-50-yard bunker shot--an unenviable predicament. It sets up a last good chance for a low score before a strong closing stretch. The test begins to unfold at the 533-yard par five 15^th, where the elevated tee is the height of land on the property. Bunkers litter the task at hand and one of the course's prettiest views of the eminently natural golfing landscape.

The tee shot at the 16th follows this trend with a Cape-style tee shot that urges players to flirt with the river, carrying as much of it as they can, as the reward for a heroic tee shot is a short iron into a long hole. The 392-yard 17th, conversely, seems benign from the tee, with no particularly ominous demands on the first shot. A drive safely out past the water hazard leaves an approach, though, to a pin that can appear to be cut in one of several bunkers flanking the green.

The closing hole is far more challenging than the '8' index would let on, and is surely the toughest in the closing stretch. Water’s presence on the left side seemingly makes the right line more attractive, were it not for the bunkers that strategically force the golfer left. The approach, if played from the perfect angle, is to a narrow gap between the bunker and the pond. Little margin for error is offered here, and like most great courses, par at the last is a coveted number.

For an architect who made so many of those closing pars on the world stage to preserve leads and strong finishes, the overall impression at the River Course is that Norman was perceptive enough to embrace the themes of challenge and forgiveness. The modest player can plot their way around the course, while the bold, intrepid player can take their chances on a number of holes. Whatever one's style of play, the setting is agreeable for all, and of paramount importance to this exciting golf experience along the banks of the Mameyes.