The River Course at Rio Mar Beach Resort opened in 1997 as one of two championship layouts at this northeastern Puerto Rico property, designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design. The course occupies land that runs along the Mameyes River and extends into the foothills of El Yunque National Forest, creating a routing that moves between coastal lowlands and more elevated terrain. The proximity to the rainforest gives the course a distinctly tropical character, with dense vegetation framing many holes and the river coming into play on several occasions. Norman's design takes advantage of the natural topography, incorporating elevation changes that are notable for Caribbean golf. The routing features a mix of holes that play through palm-lined corridors and others that open to views of the surrounding mountains and Atlantic Ocean in the distance. Water hazards beyond the river itself appear throughout the layout, and the bunkering follows Norman's characteristic style of the era with substantial sand complexes and strategic positioning. The course serves resort guests and local members, functioning as part of a larger golf destination that includes a second Tom and George Fazio-designed layout. The River Course typically plays as the more dramatic and challenging of the two, with its terrain and natural features creating a different experience than the flatter Ocean Course. The setting within reach of the rainforest gives it a distinctive sense of place among Puerto Rican golf courses.