The History of Golf in Panama:

The American influence extended beyond the Canal Zone into the agricultural hubs of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí. Transnational corporations like the United Fruit Company and its subsidiary, the Chiriquí Land Company, transformed the regional economy.

To provide recreation for executives and administrative personnel brought from North America, the company built residential enclaves complete with 9-hole golf courses. Famous examples include the Las Palmas club in Puerto Armuelles and facilities in Changuinola (Finca 8). Set amidst vast banana plantations, these courses embedded the game deep within the country’s interior.

With the construction and subsequent administration of the Panama Canal by the United States, thousands of American engineers, administrators, and military personnel settled in the Canal Zone. They brought their sporting traditions with them, making golf a central recreational activity. Historical records document early 9-hole grounds like the Gatun Golf Club operating in the Canal Zone as early as 1915.

In late 1918 (and formalized in 1922), American diplomats and military officers joined prominent Panamanian businessmen to establish the first Club de Golf de Panamá in the Las Sabanas district (where Parque Recreativo Omar stands today). This collaboration built the foundation for the sport’s rich heritage in the capital.