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The Links at Divi Aruba

On par with perfection, the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort offers the golfer and his family a fine mix of pleasures.

"Two hours are all you need to immerse yourself in an unrivalled Caribbean golf experience…with challenge and environment, the top two factors attracting golfers, The Links at Divi Aruba is right on course", explains Alex Nieuwmeijer, the managing director overseeing the Divi operations in Aruba.

"The Links", an extraordinary nine-hole public tourist golf course, is a new eco-tourism initiative that surrounds the Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort. The culmination of a four year old dream was born as a solution to a problem faced during the expansion planning of the Divi Village Resort. Needing to find the most financially efficient way to preserve a 65-acre parcel of land as open space, and have it provide a buffer zone between the expanding resort and nearby office buildings, a golf course became the solution. Maintaining indigenous wildlife, soil, rocks and vegetation, "The Links” is unique to Aruba, in that it will ultimately create its own eco-system. Carpeted with player-friendly imported paspalum grass, which can thrive partly on recycled, brackish or salt water, will protect the island's valuable water supply.

Designed by course architects Litten & Viola of Boynton Beach, Florida, this par 36 ocean view course, offers three sets of tees ranging from a 2,952-yard, slope-133 difficulty rating to a 2,273-yard, slope-124. The course's interesting aspects include its mix of holes-- two par-3s, five par-4s, and two challenging par-5s, spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and desert landscape, six holes over water or alongside man-made lagoons with cascading waterfalls, brick laid cart paths, and a conveniently accessible refreshment center after the third and sixth holes. "The Links” par-4 signature ninth hole features a sweeping view of the ocean on the right, water hazard along the hole on left, and an island green guarded by bunkers in front and back of the green. This hole offers videotaped play and time delay presentation so golfers can view their golf play while enjoying a refreshing drink and delicious food at Mulligan's located in the "stateof- the-art” clubhouse.

The Links also features the Johnson & Wales Golf Learning Center. Facilities include a state-of-the-art video swing analysis stations, driving, chipping, putting, and bunker practice areas, and professional golf instruction for individuals and groups. Head golf professional Adam Williamson, a Johnson & Wales University golf product, has a weekly venue of golf tournaments for everyone from beginners to advance to enjoy.

Greens fees at The Links are reasonably priced and include mandatory golf cart use. Regular 9- hole rates for 2007 ranged from $50 during low season to $60 during high season. Regular 18-hole rates range from $75 to $90 based on the season. Replay, package deals, and discounted rates are provided for Divi Resorts guests and local island residents. Rental clubs/shoes are also available.

The Link' unusually designed circular clubhouse is home to the pro-shop and two unique restaurants. Mulligan's, is the all day dining golf café where "the food is as refreshing as the view." This casual open-air restaurant on the lower level overlooks the ninth hole island green, the Caribbean Sea, and boasts tropical ambiance, a soothing waterfall view and spacious terrace above practice putting greens. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks and snacks, it houses flat-screen TVs that broadcast international golf events, and Mulligan's also offers live music Wednesday thru Sunday. Windows on Aruba, a glass-wrapped restaurant on the upper level, offers fine dining in an elegant setting showcasing expansive, panoramic ocean and golf course views. Magical lighting creates rainbow sunset or starry night skies. The eclectic menu offers American nouvelle cuisine, fine international wines and artistic gourmet desserts.

The Links provides the backdrop for the cluster of 240 fully-appointed low-rise luxurious timeshare villas that make up the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. Built in small private clusters and surrounded by lagoons and the golf course, the villa buildings house studios, one and two bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, private balconies, and a host of other amenities. The Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, which has achieved distinguished Gold Crown resort status, offers vacation ownership and timeshare exchanges with other Divi Resorts throughout the Caribbean or with RCI with its vacation ownership resorts around the world. The Divi Village is located across from a private beach and boasts three swimming pools, three tennis courts, and three restaurants. Your stay at the Divi Village also include use of all the Divi Aruba facilities, which include a variety of restaurants, fitness centers, water sports center, shopping arcade and more. All-inclusive packages are also available for purchase.

Pam Borges is a member of the Golf Writers Association of American and writes for Golf Publications, Inc., the Golf Reporter, Bay State Golf and the Golf Insider. She can be reached at PamBorges@msn.com. For more information about The Links at the Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort, visit www.divigolf.com

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