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"Hey
Amigo, I have a cervaisa waiting for
you." I had just stepped out
of the Cancun Airport, but I instantly
recognized that voice. It was my buddy
and partner in The Traveling Golfer,
Dave, who I was meeting to embark
on a 10 day visit to Cancun and the
Riviera Maya.
Due
to circumstances beyond our control,
we travelled different routes getting
there, but our timing was close and
very convenient for me. Dave arrived
first, about 90 minutes before me,
enough time to pick up his belongings
and the rental car. I love it when
a plan comes together.
After
I had gathered my belongings and cleared
customs, almost immediately upon exiting
the airport, low and behold there
is a "Carona Bar" waiting
to quench your built up thirst. "I
knew this would be the best place
to wait for you. If you had tried
to call me your cell phone would probably
not" added Dave, "If it
did, it is very expensive unless you
made pre-arrangements", so if
you can live without it, do so.
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O"You
know that full sized car that
we rented from Thrifty?"
"Yes." I said. "Well,
full size in Mexico seems to
be a Jetta." Luckily we
really did not need a larger
car, but it was definitely a
tight squeeze even for the 2
of us. Amazing what a couple
of a cold beers, sunshine and
85 degree temperatures make
you just want to get your clubs
into the car and go, and that
we did.
Our
first stop was at Iberostar
Playa Paraiso Resort, a
massive all-inclusive resort
that includes the PB Dye designed
Playa Paraiso Golf Club host
to the Iberostar Riviera Maya
Open the final stop of the Canadian
Tour's swing through Mexico.
I was anxious to meet Director
of Golf Greg Bond, a transplant
from Milwaukee who now calls
Playa del Carmen home.
The
Playa Paraiso Resort is its
own paradise situated on the
shores of the Mexican Caribbean,
with 5-hotels that leave its
guests wanting for nothing.
Each luxurious hotel has its
own theme, and more than enough
dining options to satisfy every
dining desire. Miles of sandy
beach provide a relaxing atmosphere
but for those who can't sit
still activities are endless,
a number of pools, many with
swim up bars (of course), water
activities, spas, fitness areas,
disco's, shopping conference
facilities and more.
Both
Dave and I were a bit awestruck
when Greg informed us that we
would be staying in the newest
and most luxurious, adult only,
Grand Hotel. We no sooner entered
the registration area and we
were handed a welcoming cocktail.
From then on, it was service
extraordinaire. Unfortunately
we were not going to have a
lot of time to take advantage
of all of the opulence at our
finger tips, so we set out to
make the most of our time here.
The
next morning we were off to
challenge the course that many
of the Canadian Tour players
consider to be the favorite
of the 4 stops in Mexico. The
first thing we noticed was the
lush conditions, wall to wall
green. We were in for a special
treat that day in playing with
Greg.
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The
Playa Paraiso Golf Club is carved
out of the ancient Mayan jungle and
was definitely the tightest of the
5 courses that we played on our Mexican
swing. The course is on the shortish
side by today's tour standards playing
at only 6,800 yards from the tips.
With a slope of 136 and a rating of
72.4, don't let the length fool you.
Accuracy is key to scoring well here.
Remember, the woods are full of long
hitters, or in this case, the jungle
– there will be no looking for
lost balls here!
Being
so close to the Caribbean, Dye had
virtually no elevation change to work
with. To keep golfers on their toes
Dye added a number of grass bunkers
to accompany the many white sand bunkers
and waste bunkers. Additionally Dye
added some vertical walls and mounds
of grass that you definitely do not
want to be behind or up against.
Dye
did a great job in laying out the
course with a good variety of lengths
on all of the par 3's, 4's and 5's.
Some of the doglegs and options for
corner cutting (for the big hitters
of course) on the risk/reward holes
can only be described as DYE-abolical!
You
will not be able to forget the 9th
hole. This long par 4 leaves you with
an approach shot at the pyramid shaped
Paraiso Maya Hotel in the background.
No doubt that many a picture has been
taken of this hole.
My
favorite holes are considered Iberostar's
"Amen Corner". #11 is a
great risk/reward par 4 at 450 yards
with water down the left hand side.
Biting off too much here will, more
than likely, lead to a double bogey.
Leading you to #12, a 195 yard par
3 protected by water on the left.
Club selection is key to getting it
close to the pin on this deep undulating
green.
For
any golfers desiring the ultimate
in golf in an all inclusive setting
that leaves you wanting for nothing
you really need to check this out.
www.iberostar.com
or call 1-888-923-2722. This place
reminds me of that old Visa commercial
– "Can we afford to?...
Can we afford not too?"
Claudio
Demarchi is Co-Publisher of the Traveling
Golfer.
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