Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
BENJAMIN GOLF OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
History: Anguilla’s only golf course was opened in 2006 as the Greg Norman designed Temenos Golf Course, later acquired and rebranded by CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in 2011, and ultimately transformed after its 2020 purchase by Richard M. Schulze’s Olympus Ventures, which relaunched it as Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club following extensive renovations to enhance playability and sustainability. The resort further expanded its golf offerings with the addition of Avalon Links, a Greg Norman designed 9‑hole short course introduced during the property’s large‑scale revitalizations.
I had been eyeing an opportune time to travel here for a while, and finally found a break amidst a job switch.
You know that feeling when you're ten minutes into a movie and you already know, before the plot even kicks in, that you're going to remember the first time you watched it? Walking onto this property hit the same way. Upon entrance to the property, you are greeted with a few of the water lined holes as well as the practice facilities. The latter got me particularly excited, as I had heard the range was stocked with Pro-v1’s (the rumor was confirmed true, more on that below).
Resort: ★★★★★
The resort is world-class, full stop. I traveled in May, shoulder season for the Caribbean, which meant I largely had Merrywing to myself, and I wasn't complaining. Aurora operates across two distinct facilities: Merrywing and Rendezvous. A complimentary shuttle runs between them and the golf course, so getting around is seamless. The beach at Merrywing is a bit rougher than Rendezvous, and the staff will tell you as much… the Rendezvous side is the clear winner on that front. Both have spacious, relaxing pools. The Merrywing tower is newer, and the rooms reflect that, but the difference isn't dramatic enough to be a dealbreaker. If I went back, I'd probably just book whichever is cheaper and call it a day.
One thing I will flag: May is hot. Close to 100 degrees every day. The golf was fantastic and slightly delirious. Pack an extra pair of rain gloves, or a few.
Food: ★★★★
The food was very enjoyable with a variety of on-resort options, but expensive. For a few nights, I found the room service to be a respite. A few of the beverages I encountered along the way are documented below for your consideration.
Practice Facilities: ★★★★★
These facilities are special. The range balls are Pro-V1s! Full sod, no mats, plenty of space… it is the kind of range that makes you want to cancel your afternoon plans and just hang there for a while, which I essentially did. The short game area is equally impressive: multiple pins, proper bunkering, and dedicated chipping tees. For a golf addict, this place is dangerous.
Course Layout: ★★★
The views are doing some of the heavy lifting, not all of it, but some. The course itself is strong for about 75% of the round, with a handful of holes that exist mostly to get you to the next good one. To be expected with a resort course.
Course Conditioning: ★★★★★
Flat out: one of the best conditioned courses I've ever played. A Top 100 visitor was coming through right after me, so maybe the grounds crew had extra motivation; I'm not factoring that in. You play what's in front of you, and what was in front of me was immaculate. Augusta of the Caribbean. I said it.
Price: $$$$
Now what you really want to know… For an all-in cost for 7 nights in May, you can expect to pay between $5k - $8k, depending on flights.