By Claudia Gardner:
The Negril Hills Golf Club has revamped and reopened its course, marking a new chapter for the facility as it seeks to reclaim its place among Jamaica’s premier golfing destinations. The club’s renewed focus comes as Negril prepares to host the Negril Open Golf Tournament on Sunday, October 25, an event organisers hope will help revive the town’s golfing reputation.
The tournament, scheduled for Sunday, October 25, is expected to attract approximately 15 two-man teams from around the island. It also signals an effort to strengthen Negril’s reputation as a destination for golf and sports tourism, complementing its established appeal as a beach and resort town.
Gary Dyer, one of the organisers, said the 2026 staging was inspired partly by the upcoming Jamaica Open Golf Tournament, scheduled for next month at Tryall. The Negril event is intended to give golfers who are not competing in the major tournament an opportunity to experience competitive play, while allowing some participants in the Jamaica Open to sharpen their games ahead of that event.
Dyer said another key objective was to re-establish Negril as a premier golf destination.
“Negril Hills Golf Club is open for business and has recently revamped the course to bring it up to par,” he said, confirming that the facility is welcoming golfers again.
He expressed confidence that the tournament would help return the club to its glory days as a leading venue for the sport.
Competition and prizes
Sunday’s tournament will feature a two-man scramble format, in which both players hit their shots and the team selects the better-positioned ball before continuing play. The format allows teammates to work together strategically while making the competition accessible to golfers of varying abilities.
A shotgun start will see teams begin play simultaneously from different holes, rather than all groups starting sequentially from the first hole.
The tournament flyer advertises more than $500,000 in cash and prizes, including hotel stays and other rewards.
The winning team will receive $50,000 in cash, together with prizes valued at approximately $240,000, including hotel accommodation. The second-place team is set to receive prizes valued at approximately $200,000, while the third-place team will take home prizes worth about $150,000.
Additional competitions will reward participants for the longest drive and the shot closest to the pin, while hole-in-one contests will add further excitement to the day’s proceedings.
The entry fee is $30,000 per two-man team and includes green fees, a golf cart, caddie fees, lunch and a gift bag.
Tourism and business opportunities
Dyer said the tournament is expected to benefit the wider tourism sector through hotel accommodation, restaurant patronage, transportation services and increased attention on Negril as a golfing destination.
Several tourism businesses are supporting the event, including Negril Treehouse Resort, Negril Sky Blue Resort, Charella Inn, Coral Cove Resort, Deja Vu Resort and Seagardens Beach Resort in Montego Bay. Other listed supporters include Island Stayz Limited, Salmon Point Cabins and Campground, Salmon Point Organics and Parakeet Hill Villa.
Dyer described the sponsors’ contribution as invaluable, noting that private-sector involvement is essential to staging successful events.
The organisers hope the tournament will develop into an annual fixture that attracts both Jamaican and overseas players, showcases local golfing talent and encourages more visitors to explore the western end of the island.
Although this year’s field is expected to consist primarily of players from Jamaica, Dyer said the intention is to increase overseas participation in future stagings.
Bigger ambitions for 2027
The organisers are already looking beyond Sunday’s competition, with plans to make the 2027 Negril Open a fully established event on the sporting and tourism calendars of Negril and Jamaica.
Dyer said commitments for next year’s staging were already coming in, expressing confidence that the tournament would grow in scale and profile each year.
For Negril Hills Golf Club, the event offers an opportunity to showcase its revamped course and reconnect with golfers, while for the wider resort town it represents a renewed push to diversify its tourism product.
With its combination of competitive golf, substantial prizes and backing from tourism partners, Sunday’s tournament is intended to be more than a one-day sporting event. Its longer-term ambition is to help put Negril firmly back on the map as a destination where visitors can enjoy championship-style golf alongside the beaches, hospitality and attractions for which the town is known.
