What made Río Grande a fertile, well-hydrated place for growing sugarcane and coffee has made it an excellent place for golf courses today. A new course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. is slated to open in 2010 at the St. Regis Resort, currently under development at Bahía Beach Plantation.

Río Mar Beach Resort (Carr. 968, km 1.4, 787/888-8811, www.wyndhamriomar.com, 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., greens fees $150–175 for resort guests, $185–200 nonguests, call 24 hours in advance) has two courses. Ocean Course, built in 1975 by George and Tom Fazio, offers excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean and one of the best-rated holes (No. 16) on the island. River Course, an 18-hole grass course with water in play built in 1997 by Greg Norman, runs along the Río Mameyes. There’s also a 35,000-square-foot clubhouse. Golf club rentals are available.

Trump International Golf Club (100 Club House Dr., Rio Grande, 787/657-2000, www.trumpgolfclubpuertorico.com, daily dawn–dusk), formerly the Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, offers 36 holes of ocean-side golf on courses designed by Tom Kite and Bruce Besse. Food and beverage service is provided on the course and in the clubhouse, which also has a pro shop. There is a putting green and driving range as well. In 2008 it hosted the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open.