Play golf in paradise at Jamaica's iconic Forbes 4-Star Half Moon resort.Half MoonWith its Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed golf course, multiple private beaches and world-class sporting facilities, Jamaica’s Forbes 4-Star Half Moon is one of the most iconic golf resorts in the Caribbean—and so much more. But in recent years it has gotten even better, after millions in upgrades and new management by service-driven hotelier Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Collection, a small but reliable collection of upscale North American resorts. Its focus on single and multi-day immersion golf schools and academies with visiting celebrity instructors has made it one of the top warm weather options for a luxurious winter golf school vacation in the Caribbean—or anyplace. Everyone who plays golf wants to be better, but few get there on their own. I am a big fan of attending golf schools to make real improvement, so if you want to play better golf in paradise, consider Half Moon and its tropical golf school vacations.Tropical Golf School Vacations The Luxury ResortOne of the many large luxury villas available at Half Moon.Half MoonSet on 400 coastal acres with two miles of private beachfront, Half Moon has been on the Caribbean’s A-List of beach escapes for decades and is especially well-known for the extreme longevity of its staff and their friendly, topnotch service. After recent investment, Half Moon now has 210 rooms and suites plus 19 famously luxurious villas, all either new or newly refurbished, split among three distinct properties comprising the resort. The original Founder’s Cove was the birthplace of Half Moon more than 70 years ago when it started with just ten luxury cottages. These have been redesigned and reimagined as a small collection of rooms and suites along semi-private swim-out pools and the ocean.The Villas at Half Moon are a collection of newly renovated luxury 5-7 bedroom villas, each with its own pool, staff including private chef and butler, and plenty of living space, indoors and out.MORE FOR YOUThe newest addition is the Eclipse at Half Moon, a boutique resort within the resort that just earned its own Forbes 4-Star rating, giving Half Moon the only two Forbes Star winning properties of any type in the entire country (though I wouldn’t be surprised if the new Fern Tree, A Salamander Spa, with its overwater bungalow treatment rooms, joins the list in next year’s ratings). The Eclipse features 57 new oceanfront rooms, suites and great house suites, plus two restaurants, three bars, a market cafe, private beach and a signature Salamander Spa, something the resort brand is famous for.The new Forbes 4-Star Eclipse at Half Moon, a resort within the resort, on its private beach.Half MoonThere are other dining and drinking options throughout the property and the golf club, with a focus on Jamaican flavors, including extensive use of on-site farm to table herb and vegetable gardens, fresh local catch such as snapper and grouper, and a colorful jerk chicken bar and grill beach shack. The signature Delmare has won several Best Restaurant in Jamaica awards.Tropical Golf School VacationsFew if any Caribbean resorts can rival the instruction options at Half Moon, which are more typical of much larger multi-course destination golf resorts (Last holiday season I wrote a gift guide here at Forbes on giving the gift of better golf through top golf academies, and earlier this year I wrote about a unique combination high-tech wellness, fitness, longevity and golf improvement program at Larry Ellison’s exclusive Palm Springs resort). Director of Golf Kevyn Cunnigham is here from the UK after 30 years teaching experience around the world, many of those as a Director of Instruction for the famed David Leadbetter Golf Academies in more than half a dozen countries. He offers half-day, 2-day and 3-day golf schools. The half-day focuses on the full-swing and uses top shelf Foresight Quad Launch golf monitor technology for analysis, and these schools are capped at four participants ($295). For a resort like this, the 2-day and 3-day schools are bargains at $550 and $800, and each includes a half-day of instruction daily with the 2-day adding short game and the 3-day adding a focus on individual problem areas, along with on course instruction by Cunnigham.Swimming With Horses is a longstanding signature activity at the Half Moon resort.© Holger Leue / www.leue-photo.comThat’s already more deep dive options than most similar sized golf resorts offer, but on top of that is the Half Moon Guest Instructor series. This varies annually but many teachers return regularly. The current lineup for this fall and winter is still in its formative stages, with just the first two guest instructors announced and scheduled, and more sessions will likely be added. Half Moon is hosting Canadian Nick Starchuk, who founded Canada’s famed Turnberry Golf Club School and most recently was Director of Instruction at the National Golf Club of Canada. Starchuk is at Half Moon from September 22-29 and during this residency will be offering private hourly sessions, combo 45-minute range and 9-hole playing lessons, and full day private coaching, perfect for those seeking a one-on-one experience. Famed instructor Brian Mogg returns to Half Moon once again from December 10-16 after several successful visits. He will offer both an immersive 2-day school and private hourly instruction. Mogg is a former PGA Tour player, the world’s highest level of competitive golf, and since retiring has coached players on the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Korn Ferry Tours to more than 30 championships. He is consistently ranked in Top 100 Teachers in America by Golf Magazine and founded the Mogg Performance Center.Based on previous years, additional instructors and multi-day school will likely be scheduled throughout the winter.Golf In ParadiseThe Half Moon course, opened back in 1962, designed by legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and later refurbished by his longtime right hand man and acclaimed architect in his own right, Roger Rulewich. The course has been rated in the World Top 100 by Today’s Golfer, hosts the Jamaica Pro-am tournament each November, has held numerous professional events including the Jamaica Open, Dunhill Cup and European PGA seniors. From the tips it runs over 7100-yards through swaying palms, sugarcane fields and has ocean views and plenty of wind. It is a great walking course and caddies are available, another nice rarity. Robert Trent Jones, Sr. did not want golfers to forget where they were, and the views scream "Jamaica!"Half MoonVery few resorts of any kind include unlimited golf, even otherwise “all-inclusive” resorts, but for those who love a lot of rounds, Half Moon has a simple package where you reserve a stay of four nights or longer and enjoy unlimited rounds on both their acclaimed course as well as the option to play the 18-hole Cinnamon Hill at neighboring Rose Hall. The package also includes complimentary use of the extensive practice facilities and every Friday, a complimentary golf clinic.Other ActivitiesOne highlight of the new Fern Tree Spa by Salamander is the overwater treatment bungalows.Robert Rausch © 2016Half Moon has always been a very family centric and family friendly resort, and it’s the kind of place where parents won’t feel too guilty about heading out on the course and leaving the kids behind. There is a full-blown Children’s Village for kids 3-12 complete with nannies, counselors and coordinators, the staff affiliated with Penn State University’s “Better Kid care” program. Water sports also offer many family friendly options, as well as several options for sailing and motorized watercraft. Half Moon has SCUBA diving, an extensive sea turtle conservation program, extensive tennis and pickleball facilities and lessons, weekend beach barbecues and much more.Besides golf and the lavish new spa, the signature resort attraction is its legendary equestrian center, operated for over 30 years. There are riding, jumping and polo lessons for more serious enthusiasts, beach rides for fun, pony rides for kids, an animal park with donkeys, rabbits, birds and goats, and most famously, the “Swim With Horses” experience, where riders take their horse down the beach, strip the saddles, and ride them bareback into the ocean, where the horses enjoy a swim.