Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club, Rio Grande, PUR. Learn About This PGA Championship, Course, History, & Why You Need to Visit!
Where is the Puerto Rican Open being played?
The Puerto Rican Open is being played at Grand Reserve Country Club, Rio Grande, PUR.
What is the Puerto Rican Open?
The Puerto Rican Opne started in 1937 and is currently part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Series. It was originally known as The Office Depot International Classic which ran from 1999 to 2012 before it changed its name to the Puerto Rico Open.
The tournament started at Coco Beach Golf Club in 1996 and had some great players like Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Lehman, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els (eight times), Davis Love III (three times), Justin Rose (twice) and more! We’ll get into that later.
What does it take to win?
It takes an amazing skill level of around -20 or better to be able to win the event. The course is a par 72 with 7480 yards from the back tees. There are four par 5’s but only one birdie opportunity on each during a player’s round which makes it very difficult for even pro golfers. The course features waterfalls, lakes, jungles and the ocean which makes Puerto Rican Open one of the most beautiful courses in America.
Who are some past champions?
It’s great that you asked! There have been many great champions throughout the years including Ernie Els (eight times), Vijay Singh, Ben Crenshaw, Mark Brooks, Davis Love III (three times), Woody Austin , Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar , Retief Goosen twice so far! We mentioned Justin Rose won it twice but Phil Mickelson has also won this event three times.
Who will we see this year? We don’t know!
What are some of the hardest holes at this Country Club?
Hole #14 is a par 4 with water on the right so it can be hard to stay out of trouble. You have to avoid the jungle areas on the left, drive the ball past the bunker in front, and hit your second shot over two large bunkers. Any errant shots are not good because there are three mounds that you have to get up and down from if you miss them.
Hole #15 is a long par 3 which plays 110 yards from an elevated tee box. There’s some water down below but there’s also some smaller bunkers tucked away somewhere on this hole. The green slopes severely from back to front making some very difficult putts for players who don’t know where they’re going!
What is there to do in Rio Grande?
There is a beautiful beach on the Caribbean Sea called Playa Flamenco which is located just 10 minutes from Grand Reserve Country Club. There’s plenty of shopping and restaurants near by so you’ll never get bored of where you are!
Puerto Rico Open History:
The first Puerto Rican Open was played at Coco Beach Golf & Country Club in 1996 and ran until 2000.
The tournament then moved to Trump International Golf Club but only for two years before moving to Coco Beach once again in 2005. In 2007, it moved up North to Dorado Del Mar Country Club.
It stayed there until 2010 before changing its name to Office Depot Puerto Rico Open and staying there for 5 years. Since 2015, the tournament has been held at Grand Reserve Rio Grande with a total of 15 different courses having hosted it throughout the years!
What should you bring to this Championship?
You should bring your:
- sunscreen ,
- some comfortable clothes,
- some golf shoes ,
- a hat, and of course good vibes!
You might need to pack an umbrella too depending on when you visit because the average high temperature is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep in mind that Puerto Rico has its own time zone so grab all your stuff and set them out by multiple alarms just in case! Good luck on your quest to victory!
How much does the Puerto Rico Open Cost to Attend?
You can save a few dollars and buy tickets online or at the gate (if you arrive early enough).
General Admission: $20.00
General Parking: $10.00
Clubhouse & Restaurant Packages: $100.00 to $300.00
What is the best way to travel into Puerto Rico?
You can take a direct flight from Orlando to San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are also other options if you’re located in different cities around the world!
