Mayan Golf Club near Guatemala City

CLICK here for Video Interview with Florencia & Pepe Rolz.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Florencia Rolz, five-time Mexico Women’s Amateur Champion.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Pepe Rolz, Amateur Champion and Guatemala’s Golf Ambassador.

CLICK here for Video of Mayan Golf Club’s 10th Hole Redesigned by Pepe Rolz.

The Mayan Golf Club, started in 1918, is the oldest club in Guatemala. A round here is an exciting round of golf playing amongst active volcanoes and incredible vistas of Lake Amatitlan. Excellent variety of golf holes with no favor to dog-legs right or left. Club hotel on site for those who cannot bring themselves to leave (like me).  This golf course hosted a Latino- America event in 2002 and is planning to host a Web.com tournament in its Centennial year of 2018.

 

Pilar Echevarria was the runner-up at the 2012 Guatemala Open. She won the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 Central American Junior Championships, as well as the 2011 Junior Guatemala Open.

Pacaya is an active complex volcano in Guatemala, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish invasion of Guatemala. Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 metres (8,373 ft).[1] After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since then.

Pacaya is a popular tourist attraction. Pacaya lies 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Guatemala City and close to Antigua. So far, the last activity reported has been the eruption that peaked on May 27, 2010, causing ash to rain down in Guatemala City, Antigua and Escuintla.

Volcán de Fuego (“Volcano of Fire”) is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala. It sits about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, one of the Guatemala’s most famous tourist attractions. It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest. “Fuego” is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Smoke issues from its top daily, but larger eruptions are rare. On August 9, 2007 Fuego erupted spewing lava, rock and ash. A new round of activity began on 19 May 2012, with lava flows and ejections of ash.[citation needed]

On September 13, 2012, the volcano once again began spewing lava and ash, prompting officials to begin “a massive evacuation of thousands of people” in five communities.More specifically, the evacuees, roughly 33,000 people, left nearly 17 villages near the volcano.[4] It spewed lava and pyroclastic flows about 2,000 feet (600 meters) down the slope of the volcano.

Volcán de Agua (also known as Hunahpú by Mayans) is a stratovolcano located in the department of Sacatepéquez in Guatemala. At 3,760 m (12,340 ft), Agua Volcano towers more than 3,500 m (11,500 ft) above the Pacific coastal plain to the south and 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above the Guatemalan Highlands to the north. It dominates the local landscape except when hidden by cloud cover. The volcano is within 5 to 10 km (3.1 to 6.2 mi) of the city of Antigua Guatemala and several other large towns situated on its northern apron.  Coffee is grown on the volcano’s lower slopes.

The Spanish conquistadors also called it Hunapú until a lahar from the volcano in 1541 destroyed the original capital of Guatemala (now known as Ciudad Vieja) and the city was moved to the current site of Antigua Guatemala following this disaster.  As the lahar produced a destructive flood of water, this prompted the modern name “Volcán de Agua” meaning “Volcano of Water”, in contrast to the nearby “Volcán de Fuego” or “Volcano of Fire”. 

The volcano has not had any historical eruptions, but it has the potential to produce debris flows and lahars that could inundate nearby populated areas. On January 21, 2012, 12,000 Guatemalans formed a human chain all the way to the peak Volcan de Agua in a protest against domestic violence.

Mother Ines (Ayau Garcia) of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity (Guatemala)

The flag of Guatemala features two colors: sky blue and white. The two sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean sea); and the sky over the country (see Guatemala’s National Anthem). The white color signifies peace and purity.

In the center of the flag is the Guatemalan coat of arms. It includes the Resplendent Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala that symbolizes liberty; a parchment scroll bearing the date of Central America’s independence from Spain, 15 September 1821; crossed rifles, indicating Guatemala’s willingness to defend itself by force if need be; a bay laurel crown, the symbol for victory; and crossed swords, representing honor.

 

Top Tee Cayala in Guatemala City: Tomorrow’s New Way to Golfing FUN!

Having visited Top Tee Cayala , I am very impressed with the facility and dynamic organization! It will take me a while to digest but my top 3 initial thoughts are:
1. Golf & Fun. The lounge areas will transform the past perspective of going to the driving range as a solitary journey into a family & friends “do it together” and have fun activity!
2.  Driving Range transforms into a golf course with lots of flexibility for skill, length of holes and shot values. When I looked out I could see cross bunkers a la the Old Course (3 & 7 greens?), Redan holes and one bunkerless green. In my opinion, more impressive than the new practice facility at Augusta National from a functionality and playability perspective (it is a golf course too).
3. Growing the Game in Guatemala as evidenced by the young people engaged with the facility, staff and golf!
Very Impressive!

 

Club Campestre de la Ciudad de Mexico (CC of Mexico City)

CLICK here for Video Interview with Felipe Garcia Moreno, historian of CC of Mexico City.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Ampi Diaz, my host at CC of Mexico City.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Carlos Martinez, Head Golf Professional at CC of Mexico City.

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HISTORY (from the club’s website):

When the San Pedro Golf Club, golfing first installation Mexico City , recognizes that it is time to create a club of other dimensions , the Committee appointed to find a suitable terrero , recommended to buy a dairy farm called ” The Nativity ” located in Churubusco. That was how the October 4, 1905 passed away on San Pedro Golf Club and Country Club emerged Mexico . With a golf course designed by the first career Willy Smith .

Undoubtedly , having hired British architect Grove Johnson for construction of the house, was a success , as the original Club House was a style icon and sobriety contributed to our institution .

The Mexican Revolution affected the club in various ways. Periodically, the facility was destroyed during the bombing or occupied by revolutionary factions . At the end of the revolution , Harry Wright urged members to return to the club and led the reconstruction and reorganization of this .

After reconstruction and throughout the next quarter century club presidency was assumed by Harry Wright .

By the Thirties , there was an increase in the number of Mexican partners and above all, had a growing influence society , volunteered dances such as the White and Black frequented by politicians , diplomats , actors and journalists.

Later, in 1945, changes the structure of the club , being constituted as ” Country Club Mexico City .”

Club Campestre de la Ciudad de Mexico
Course Designer Marcelino Moreno
1902 – the oldest course in the country

Harry B. Wright Collection
Harry B. (Bernard) Wright (1897-1958), an orthodontist practicing in Philadelphia, was also a passionate traveler and amateur filmmaker. A member of the Explorer’s Club in New York City, Dr. Wright also wrote a book based on his travels, A Witness to Witchcraft (1957), which was originally to be titled My Colleague, the Witch Doctor. Dr. Wright traveled to and made 16mm films in several countries, in Latin America, West Africa, and Oceania (New Guinea). One produced film, some elements of which we may have in our collection, was called Savages in Paradise (1954), and took place in Papua New Guinea. We do not seem to have a complete print of this film or know where another print exists. Dr. Wright does not seem to have consulted with anthropologists or area specialists in his investigations outside of his own culture. Several of his films have voyeuristic aspects and might be viewed with this concern in mind.
It can be noted that there was another Harry Wright making amateur travelogue films at the same time, whose films can be found at the Library of Congress. Thanks to research by Magdalena Acosta of the Mexican Film Archives we have distinguished the two creators, her emphasis on the latter reveals him to be an American living mostly in Mexico City, note also that the latter Harry Wright had no middle name.

Click here for That Mexican Holiday original film by Dr. Harry B. Wright

Willie Smith portrait at the CC of Mexico City.

Willie Smith portrait at the CC of Mexico City.

In 1904, Willie Smith moved to Mexico City to become the golf pro at the Mexico City Country Club. He was injured during the Mexican Revolution. He had refused to leave his post at the country club and was found trapped under a fallen beam after Emiliano Zapata’s troops ransacked the club which they saw as a symbol of the corrupt ruling class. He later died of pneumonia. His body was returned to Scotland for burial in the family plot.

He became professional at the Mexico City Country Club in 1904 (which brother Alec helped re-design in 1907) and survived Zapata’s forces shelling and ransacking the club in 1914-1915 but died in Mexico the following year of pneumonia.

 

Emiliano Zapata was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution. He is considered one of the national heroes of Mexico: towns, streets and housing developments named “Emiliano Zapata” are common across the country. His image has been used on Mexican banknotes. People have long taken different sides on their evaluation of Zapata and his followers: some considered them bandits, but to others they were true revolutionaries who worked for the peasants. Presidents Porfirio Díaz and Venustiano Carranza called Zapata a womanizer, barbarian, terrorist and bandit. Conservative media nicknamed Zapata “The Attila of the South”.

Many peasants and indigenous Mexicans admired Zapata as a practical revolutionary whose populist battle cry, “Tierra y Libertad” (Land and Liberty), was spelled out in the Plan de Ayala for land reform. He fought for political and economic emancipation of the peasants in southern Mexico. Zapata’s trademark saying was, “It’s better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” Zapata was killed in 1919 by Gen. Pablo González and his aide, Col. Jesús Guajardo, in an elaborate ambush. Guajardo set up the meeting under the pretext of wanting to defect to Zapata’s side. At the meeting, Gonzalez’s men assassinated Zapata.

Club de Golf Mexico (Golf Club of Mexico)

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CLICK here for Video Interview with Mario Ortega, member of the Club de Golf Mexico.

 

Translated from website of Club de Golf Mexico

Miguel Aleman , president of Mexico in the six years 1946-1952 it was a visionary leader and a great promoter of countless projects to transform Mexico into a country completely transformed , modern to have a positive attitude towards everything that smacked of progress and development.The candidate’s rising political career soon crystallized German hopes about him were very young to think of it as ” the best politician veracruzano of history” . The work of German as president is extremely important to the history of Mexico in both the industrial and the agricultural , energy , communications and transport , etc. .

This administration was characterized as a time of peace , tranquility and jobs . Many of the most important companies in the country were founded in this period , and arises purely Mexican business class , since so far the companies in Mexico had a strong foreign influence .  Companies and government worked then as a team , had to work together and make efforts were concurrent , both wanted the same thing: rapid development, sufficient jobs and thriving businesses . Many works , construction projects and actions were made ​​at this time by the German president and his associates , emblematic case is the construction of University City south of Mexico City .
Nationalism was one of the typical features of office of Miguel Aleman in front of the president of Mexico , in this it has the national golf organization . There was a Golf Association in 1926 , which was run by foreigners. German president urged the modification of that organization so that it be given the status of an official National . This will make the Mexican Association of Golf , AC With this partnership comes the idea of ​​building the best golf courses in the country : MEXICO GOLF CLUB . To which, the then president surrounds himself with knowledgeable people to support the new draft of the new club. A man Percy Clifford , outstanding amateur golf in Mexico , was in charge of finding the ideal terrain and jump-start the work.

Percy has in his testimony in 1933 , he had begun to conceive the idea of creating a world-class field in national territory ; twenty five years later would come true this illusion of youth. The site chosen should have certain requirements : between 55 and 60 hectares, water availability, soil environment, suitable topography , etc. . , The search for such a place was more than five months , by which time the frustration of not locate came to torment the excited Percy .  The territory where research had extended from Dairy to Milpa Alta and from Rio Hondo to Santa Barbara. One day after returning from a trip to Xochimilco attention stopped in a field near the town of Huipulco , south of Mexico City , called The Cedral .
 
Once aware of the happy discovery , President Aleman issued the necessary guidelines to crystallize the project elected to purchase the land and get the necessary human support in the form of financial assistance and convening power to support and promote the creation of the club , and so carry out its construction and development; these supports were found in close aides to the President and the private sector.

Fortunately the ground amply fulfilled the necessary requirements for a golf excellence : topographic , soil , river , water supply , flora and panoramic factors . He was in a gentle valley between two hills , below was a rocky territory and duly planted some corn plots . Formerly was located within the grounds of the Hacienda de San Buenaventura , in an area called “Los Arenales ” , as it was covered by volcanic sand , eventually rocky , volcanic soil of the golf course helped to prevent disastrous floods in the rainy season .

Another important detail for the course was the existence of a small river with water throughout the year across the field , called San Buenaventura , which flowed a smaller one , called The Name of God , forming both a ” T ” . Lawrence Hughes , golf course architect States was called to head the project , arriving first thing he did was to recommend the acquisition of wooded countryside along with everything Cedral chosen field , and the sign arises distintio club shield , two old cedars with view of Iztaccihuatl in the background.
This Forest with pine trees over 150 years old is one of the main assets and pride of the club members. The view surrounding the field was no slouch: Ajusco the hill and saw the hills of La Cruz and volcanoes in the distance of Anahuac. Hughes designed and built the advantage to perfection field elements that nature provided: rivers have varying difficulty the players, the cedar forest grants a pleasant view and friendly, in addition to its importance in the path of each hole , the contours of the valley and the undulating terrain same.
The construction of the field was costly, both for the vastness of the area (760 thousand square meters, approximately) is needed to cover the entire land with fertile topsoil to plant grass. There are newspaper reports of the time talking of beauty achieved with the construction of this work.
In 1952 , when the course was finished dimensions were of 74.4 hectares ( 760.000 meters approximately ) and 25 hectares for fractionation , with approximately 15,000 cedar trees ( various species have been planted since that time : cedars , cypresses , pines , ash , Ahiles , among others) .

Currently the club has been given the task of keeping active the forest by planting new trees of various species and the rivers that run through the golf course , and the course has three artificial lakes of treated water for irrigation and equipped with aerators to ” oxygenate ” water and as an ornamental to also function as sources in the middle of the field , other golf items that are important to mention are: lawn ” Bent grass” for areas of greens and type ” Kikuyu ” for fairways and tees , 55 bunkers silica , two ” putting green ” to practice putting , 18 alternative greens , an executive golf course with 18 holes par 3 and two miles of track runners into the forest ” Cedral ” .
 

The Woodlands Resort & Spa (Panther Trail)

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Grand Opening of the Campus Course at Texas A&M

I was fortunate to attend the Grand Opening and play the new golf course with Mike Bailey, the Senior Golf Travel Writer for GolfChannel.com.

Here is a video interview with the course architect Jeff Blume and his father Jay.

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Redstone Golf Club (Humble, TX)

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JW Marriott at TPC San Antonio

CLICK here for “Bloggers, Breakfast, & Birdies” at the JW Marriot and TPC San Antonio

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Glen Echo CC, Host of 1904 Olympic Golf

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Union Station Hotel (St. Louis)

CLICK here for Video Interview with Historian Darlene Menietti.

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