Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine   Order by Amex   Order by Check   Articles   Profiles   Search

Golf - Vallarta's Contribution to a Spreading Addiction by Guillermina Olmedo    summer-fall/99 Depending on the number of definitions that you have for the word "green," the fascination with the game of golf is either a crystal-clear phenomenon or an absolutely unfathomable enigma. Why is it that so many people (the game is played in eighty different nations, on more than twenty-five thousand courses, by close to fifty-five million people!) are taken by this activity that, by the way, no one has been able to define either as a true-blooded sport or a euphemism for a power lunch? There was a time when it definitely was the "healthier" way to negotiate and close a deal, and men would arrive to the first tee as concentrated on the game before them as on their mission: a multi-million-dollar sale, a concession or a juicy contract. Things have changed and now, for example, the fastest growing segment in golf is the women whose proclivity to become addicted to the game was first manifested in the person of Mary, Queen of Scotland, who played her 22 holes the day after her husband was murdered. The interest is colossal as can be corroborated by the number of books, videos, magazines and TV channels devoted to golf and its stars, so, how is Vallarta responding to this undeniable fact? "Up to now golf had been just another item in the long list of amenities that Vallarta has to offer, together with day cruises or horseback-riding excursions," says Tim Sulak, general manager and Pro of the Marina Vallarta Golf Club, "but things are changing rapidly and the company I work for is starting the construction of a 36-hole complex east of the Marina Golf course." The talk about transforming Vallarta into a golf-and-beach destination has been going on for some time, and Tim's take on this issue is very clear; he thinks that our town has more to offer than all the other beach resorts in Mexico. "Here we have the services and the culture that fit in with the golfer's lifestyle; there are fabulous restaurants, excellent shopping, art, you name it." So when the course designed by Jack Nicklaus is ready by December, 2000, and a couple of months later the second 18-hole course by Tom Weisskopf opens, the town will be ready to receive a new breed of visitors. For the time being, the Marina Club golf course, designed by Joe Finger, is an excellent option for enjoying the game. Located within walking distance of the marina boardwalk, it integrates the area's beautiful natural landscape with a layout designed to test golfing skills. Some of the finest hotels in Vallarta are members of the club and their guests are always welcome. The club has hosted some important tournaments, such as the 4th Copa Jalisco. Held in Vallarta for the first time last April, this competition was covered by Golf Digest magazine and transmitted through the internet in real time thanks to Infogolf Mexico at this address: http://www.golf.com.mx (where, by the way, you will be able to find out all that is happening related to this activity in our country). From November 10-12 the Copa Gobernador tournament will offer US$50,000 in prizes, and next year, the Copa Jalisco 2000 will be followed by a women's tournament. Another available option is the Los Flamingos Golf Club. This is the only public golf course in the area and offers an excellent package to those interested in playing there. The grounds where architect Percy J. Clifford constructed the course are stunning. There are 2,500 palm trees and the lakes have become the home of several migrating birds such as ducks, seagulls, egrets, and flamingoes. Because it is located 12 miles to the north of the city, behind the Nuevo Vallarta shoreline, the club provides free transportation by minibuses that leave from in front of the Sheraton Hotel twice a day, at 7:30 and 10:30 am. The golf course that everybody is talking about is the one in Punta Mita that opened to members only last Spring. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and built on one of the most beautiful properties on Costa Vallarta - exactly on the point that encloses the horseshoe-shaped bay to the north - this par-72 course features eight holes on the water in a most spectacular routing. The signature third hole plays out on to a jagged island formation giving this course the distinction of having the only green on a natural island in the world. The Punta Mita golf course is, unfortunately, private. Click here for information about Golfing in Puerto Vallarta.

Back | Top of Page | Home | Free Newsletter | Search | Help | Tell a Friend

m3 © Producciones ViVa