Dating almost 80 years before Jamaica made its name as a sporting powerhouse at the Olympics, the country stood tall as the first home of golf in the Western Hemisphere.

The game began in the region as a popular pastime for English planters while residing in Jamaica. The first golf course was constructed in Mandeville in 1865, less than a year after the oldest golf course in England.

Over the next century and a half, the sport of golf grew into a multibillion-dollar industry globally. Forbes has previously reported that the sport made a direct contribution of nearly US$102 billion to the U.S. economy in 2022.

Jamaica was able to construct multiple world-class courses islandwide to tap into the sport’s popularity with tourists as an impressive and historically significant golfing location. The north coast stands out as a prime destination, featuring four 18-hole golf courses – White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon, and Tryall Golf Courses – all within a 30-minute radiuses, still a rarity in the golfing world.

Jamaica has great potential for hosting international golfing events as a golf tourism destination comparable to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. However, despite its legacy, quality, and global recognition, the industry is laced with the stigma of being something exclusive to the elderly and the elite.

Jason Lopez, managing director of Swing Solutions Limited, a one-stop shop for all things golf islandwide, and head golf professional at the JL School of Golf for almost two decades, has been championing the call to expand access to the game to more Jamaicans.

Since 2006, the JL School of Golf, based at the Constant Spring Golf Course in Kingston, has been doing its part to raise the level of golfing talent in Jamaica. The school has been producing junior competitors, through its junior golfing programmes.

His efforts have borne fruit and Jamaica under his tenure has elevated itself to the number-one rank in the Anglo-Caribbean and the second-ranked country in the Caribbean, closely following Puerto Rico in the junior version of the game.

Speaking with Our Today, Lopez, once a local top talent in his youth, shared his vision of expanding the game to as many people as possible from all walks of life.

The JL School of Golf prides itself on being one of the most cost-effective institutions globally to learn golf.

“We have all the equipment you’d need to learn the game right here at very economical rates, our clubs are included, there are no membership or hidden fees required to play, no clothing requirements beyond regular gym wear, and only instructors and training classes come at a cost if you need one,” added Lopez.

Speaking about student development, Lopez pointed out that the JL School of Golf has made golfing scholarships a reality for some of its students. He said, “We have afterschool programmes available where schools can include golf as part of their curriculum. Over the past decade, since we have become most competitive, more than 10 of our players have received sports scholarships to study abroad.”

The golf course has the only driving range in Kingston, is fully equipped with lighting, and opens daily from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Check them out on Instagram: @swingsolutionsja