Golf, History and Hospitality Converge on Jamaica's Rose Hall Plantation

As summer slips away and the days grow short, golfers begin to contemplate tropical, sun-splashed fairways where they can find refuge during the long, winter months.

While worthy candidates abound, none offer the unique combination of championship golf, colorful history and superb hospitality served up by Jamaica's Cinnamon Hill Golf Course and Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa.

Both are located within Montego Bay's scenic Rose Hall Plantation. Its 7,000 acres were purchased more than 40 years ago by the late American entrepreneur John W. Rollins, and have been transformed from 18th century sugar-cane farms into a popular sanctuary for recreation and relaxation.

The 6,828-yard, par-72 Cinnamon Hill (www.cinnamonhilljamaica.com, 876-953-2984) was re-designed by celebrated architect Robert von Hagge in 2001. Highly ranked by Golf Digest and Golfweek, it excites low-handicap and resort golfers alike.

Its open and windswept front nine is frequently just steps from the azure Caribbean Sea. Case-in-point is "Majestic Blue," the signature, 453-yard, par-4 fifth hole. A solid drive avoiding three fairways bunkers left and one right will be rewarded with a mid-iron approach to the peninsula-shaped green. But don't let the arresting ocean backdrop distract from the task at hand, especially when firing at back pins guarded by water on both sides.

The Caribbean still beckons at No. 6, the 160-yard "Witches Reef." Soak in spectacular views from the tee box (Jamaica's northernmost point), but be sure to aim left and pull the proper club. A pushed or sliced shot is sure to find the lapping waves flanking the entire right side.

As the course gently climbs into the Jamaican hills, caddies won't be shy about acting as unofficial tour guides and bringing the site's vibrant history to life. They'll point out landmarks like the family burial plot of famed English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning; long-time home of Johnny and June Carter Cash; centuries-old aqueduct and gravesites abutting the 17th green; and waterfall behind No. 15 where a famous scene from the James Bond thriller "Live and Let Die" was filmed.

"Cinnamon Hill is the Caribbean's most unique golf setting," says Robbie Ames, Director of Golf. "The combination of beachfront holes, towering aqueducts, ancient gravesites, cascading waterfalls, exotic flora and centuries-old Great Houses is unmatched."

Incidentally, Ames would know a thing or two about good golf courses. A three-time All-American at Florida A&M, he represented Trinidad and Tobago in four World Cups. He then turned to caddying for his brother, four-time PGA TOUR winner Stephen Ames. Robbie helped Stephen conquer TPC Sawgrass in 2006 to win THE PLAYERS Championship.

Adjacent to Cinnamon Hill and nestled between turquoise Caribbean waters and the lush Blue Mountains, the all-inclusive, 489-room Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa (http://www.rosehallresort.com, 866-799-3661) caters to golfers' every whim. It boasts an 1,800-foot ribbon of private, white-sand beach, the Sugar Mill Falls Water Park (Jamaica's largest), full-service Soothe Spa, water sports center, six lighted tennis courts, diverse restaurants and meeting and banquet facilities.

"A nod to our exceptional service and offerings, golfers don't have to worry about anything other than their swings and scores," says Ron Day, General Manager of Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa. "Comfortable rooms, an idyllic beachfront location, a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, rejuvenating spa and more create an ideal escape."

For those seeking to own a slice of paradise, Rose Hall Developments (www.rosehall.com/realestate_overview.html, 876-953-8150) is the exclusive owner of prime residential and commercial real estate in Montego Bay. Overlooking the Caribbean, luxury hillside, golf-course and seaside home-sites -- available from $350,000 to $2 million -- are tucked within the gated community and perfect for dream home construction. Second-home owners and retirees revel in Rose Hall's sprawling, natural beauty and abundant culture. Retail and office parcels are also available, as well as 175 acres of beachfront property zoned for resort development.

Jamaica's legendary hospitality is just a phone call or email away. Cinnamon Hill and the Hilton Rose Hall offer four-night / three-round "stay-and-play" packages beginning at $953. Seven-night / five-round packages start at $1608. For more information, contact Caroline Clarke: cclarke@luxuryresorts.com, 876.953.2650.

Looking to conquer a case of the winter blues while creating a lifetime of memories? A trip to Rose Hall is just what the doctor ordered.

Getting There: The Rose Hall Plantation properties are only 15 minutes from Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport (MBJ). There are frequent non-stop flights from New York, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Washington, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, Toronto, Montreal and other major cities.