Adrenaline Rush

By Jeff Borg

Whether you prefer being active on land or enjoy aquatic adventures, Jamaica is a leader in sports activities. Along with the tranquil beaches and easygoing culture are unique opportunities to whet your appetite for excitement. Every year, Jamaica draws consummate champions in dozens of sports competitions, including runners, sailors and anglers, as well as everyday enthusiasts who desire to practice their favorite activity in a tranquil, tropical atmosphere.

On Land
Golf. Every golfer’s dream vacation begins in Montego Bay. Among the most celebrated spots here is the White Witch Golf Course, part of the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall. This haunting layout gets its name from Annie Palmer, the 19th-century mistress of Rose Hall Plantation who earned infamy for mistreating her slaves and (allegedly) murdering her husband and lovers. The course is not easy, but the heavenly sea views and elegant dining at the clubhouse are your rewards.

At the adjoining Cinnamon Hill Golf Club, part of Rose Hall Resort, the par-72 course consists of a rolling front nine under the gaze of the Great House and a back nine in the remote hills of the plantation, with narrow canyons, picturesque waterfalls and panoramic views.

Nearby, you can also play at Half Moon, A RockResort, which has an elongated, 7,119-yard Robert Trent Jones course hugging the sea.

On the outskirts of MoBay awaits the stately Tryall Club, taking you through forested hills and streams past the 18th-century waterwheel of an old sugar mill.

Several resorts offer golf packages allowing play on all the great courses. And you needn’t be in MoBay for amazing golf opportunities. All around Jamaica, great courses await, whether it’s on the North Coast (Breezes Rio Bueno, SuperClubs Runaway Bay, Sandals at Ocho Rios), in Kingston (Constant Spring, Caymanas), near the South Coast (Manchester Club) and at Negril (Negril Hills).

Tennis. Most of the top resorts in Jamaica offer plenty of hard-hitting tennis opportunities. You'll find an array of hard and clay courts in Montego Bay at the major hotels, like Half Moon, Rose Hall Resort, Tryall Club, El Greco, Holiday Inn SunSpree, Hotel Riu, Iberostar, Ritz-Carlton, Round Hill, Royal Decameron, Sandals and Sunset Beach.

Along the north coast, you can find multiple courts at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, Beaches Boscobel, Breezes Rio Bueno, Breezes Runaway Bay, Breezes Trelawny, Couples Ocho Rios, Crane Ridge, Goblin Hill, Royal Decameron and Sunset Jamaica Grande.

In Kingston, try Jamaica Pegasus. Along the South Coast, play Sandals Whitehouse. At Negril, check out Beaches Sandy Bay, ClubHotel Riu, Couples Negril, Couples Swept Away, Breezes Grand, Hedonism II, Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay and Sandals.

In 1951 Althea Gibson, who became the first African-American to reach the finals of a U.S. Lawn Tennis Association tournament, won her first international title here in Jamaica.

Cricket. A cricket match sparks great emotion and excitement in Jamaica. The sport may look like baseball — and indeed it is a bat-and-ball game similar to America’s pastime — but it has some crucial differences. The main objective is for a batsman in pads and helmet to protect his wicket by smacking the ball with his bat as far possible. If he can run to the other end of the oval without a fieldsman catching the ball, he scores. Games can go on for days. You’ll see a cricket field in just about every town in Jamaica — stop to watch a game if you see one in play.

Running. Since 1948, Jamaicans have won 114 Olympic medals, all of them in track and field except one (track cycling). It stands to say that Jamaica raises some of the world’s best runners. Arthur Wint won Jamaica’s first Olympic medal, a gold for the 400-meter race in the 1948 London Games. Sports legend Merlene Ottey was Jamaica’s first woman to win an Olympic medal, for the 200-meter race in Moscow in 1980, and has since won numerous times to hold a total of nine Olympic medals. Fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell held the record as the world’s fastest human until recently. Currently, Jamaican Usain Bolt holds the world records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and, with his teammates, the 4-by-100-meter relay. “Lightning Bolt” also holds the Olympic records in these events.

You can partake in Jamaica’s running heritage at any point, but the most exciting time is during one of the country’s many athletic events. The island’s big annual track event is the Reggae Marathon & Half Marathon each December in Negril, organized by Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston.

Bobsled. Jamaica’s unlikely turn at the winter sport of bobsledding was chronicled loosely in the popular Disney film Cool Runnings. Thought never champions in the sport, Jamaicans hold pride in their pursuit of winter gold. Today, visitors to Ocho Rios can get their own taste of bobsledding at Mystic Mountain. The thrill ride starts with a picturesque 15-minute ride up in a chairlift, followed by a gravity-driven 3,300-foot plunge on a custom bobsled coaster. For something a little less intense but just as fun, Mystic Mountain also offers a 550-foot zipline adventure, a rainforest tram ride and a pool with water slide.

In The Water
Diving and Snorkeling. Coral reefs around Jamaica vibrate with life, making it an ideal place for both snorkelers and divers. Besides natural reefs, divers can also explore various wrecks that harbor denizens of the deep like multicolored tropical fish, sharks, coral, anemones and more.

Divers certified by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) can take advantage of these beautiful sites. If you don’t have certification, many dive shops and resorts offer classes to get you out in the water in a matter of days. And you don’t need a certificate for a fun day of snorkeling!

Yachting and Sailing. Going back to the golden days of jet-setting, Jamaica’s yachting tradition is not well-known to the mainstream world, though it is treasured among sea lovers on the island.

There are a number of yacht clubs and marinas around the island, including Montego Bay Yacht Club, Royal Jamaica Yacht Club in Kingston, and the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio.

Just check in with immigration and customs at any port of entry: Bowden, Discovery Bay, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser or Port Royal. Officers request a crew list, ship registration, list of ship stores and departure permission from your previous port. Each person should have a passport and visa, if applicable.

If you do not own your own boat, charter companies offer bareboat, skippered and fully crewed options, usually for a week or 10 days.

Fishing. What would a top island destination be without championship fishing? Jamaica ranks as one of the Caribbean’s best fishing spots, and anglers from all around the world flock to these waters to rein in dorado, wahoo and marlin.

Each October, the prestigious Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament qualifies its winner to represent Jamaica in the huge IGFA Offshore World Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which draws 70 teams from 33 countries in May. Started in 1959, the Port Antonio classic draws 30 to 40 boats each year and educates anglers on the need for marlin conservation by releasing specimens under 99 inches or 345 pounds.

Other annual contests include the Montego Bay Yacht Club and James Bond fishing tournaments in October; the Sir Henry Morgan Port Royal Kingston Tournament in December; the PWD Hunting and Sporting Fishing Tournament in January/February; and the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club Spring Fishing Tournament in March.

More Watersports
A sea of other watersports includes sailing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing or just riding dry in a glass-bottom boat as the sights pass beneath. All-inclusive resorts usually include nonmotorized watersports at no charge.

What is there to do and see in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, South Coast, Falmouth and Port Antonio.

Rent a car to explore the island! Find resources in the Transportation Directory.

Images Courtesy of (in order of appearance): Half Moon Golf, SuperClubs (5 & 6), RIU Ocho Rios, White Witch Golf at The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort Rose Hall, Mystic Mountain Waterslide, Half Moon Equestrian Center, Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios, Chukka Caribbean Adventures