Whether you are thinking to live in Atenas, Costa Rica, are visiting Atenas in one of the many vacation homes, or have already moved to Costa Rica, you can find many things to do. Within an hour’s drive of Atenas, you can enjoy a round of nine or 18 holes of golf in Costa Rica on five excellent courses.The Central Valley Golf Association (CVGA) has more than 150 members, and is open to all residents and visitors. They hold regular tournaments and a big Year-End Texas Scramble and Fiesta in December.
Golf courses near Atenas, Costa Rica
Valle del Sol Golf Course, designed by famous golf architect Tracy May, is located in Santa Ana only a 30-minute drive from Atenas via Highway 27. Set in the exclusive residential community of Parque Valle del Sol, the 18-hole championship golf course is certified as a wildlife sanctuary by Audubon International. The par 72 course features spacious, undulating fairways surrounded by lakes and trees; the greens are smooth and fast. Valle del Sol possesses the largest Golf Academy in the country.
Cariari Country Club Golf Course is located on the way to San Jose, five kilometers from the 
Juan Santamaria International Airport off the Pan-American Highway (about 40 minutes from Atenas). Once a coffee plantation, the Cariari Golf Course was designed by golf architect George Fazio and built by his nephew, Tom Fazio. This beautiful par 71 course measures 6,577 yards from the championship tees, is heavily wooded, with narrow fairways and a few fairway bunkers; the Bermuda greens tend to be large with sand traps.
Los Reyes Country Club Golf Course is located in the pretty gated community of Hacienda Los Reyes by La Guacima, only a 20-minute drive on Highway 27 from Atenas. There are nine holes for a length of 2,917 yards on the par 70 course, designed by Robertson Ward & Associates. There also is a separate driving range and putting green.
Costa Rica Country Club in Escazú is also a nine-hole course. It was the first golf course built in Costa Rica; drive time from Atenas is about 40 minutes.
La Iguana Golf Course at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, in Playa Herradura on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, is a spectacular 18-hole championship course designed by Ted Robinson Sr. Dramatically tucked between rainforest and beach, the 6,700-yard par 72 course makes you think and play shots carefully. The front nine holes follow the rainforest along a narrow river valley before bringing you out by the beach and resort luxury condos. Look for monkeys, iguanas and brilliant Scarlet Macaws while you play. Drive time from Atenas is 50 minutes.
Retire in Atenas, Costa Rica
The small country town of Atenas has been named a top place to retire and is renowned for its great climate. No matter why you want to move to Atenas, Costa Rica, you’ll need a reliable realtor who specializes in Atenas homes for sale and residential development. Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas are certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate and have successfully helped new residents find homes in Atenas for 10 years.
Article by Shannon Farley
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