JTOG Day 61: Play Karibana, Colombia’s Only Golf Resort on the Caribbean Sea!

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The scenic par-3 17th awaited me for a second day in a row!

I woke up at 8 am totally refreshed after sleeping a solid 8 hours! Logistically I had a couple of key things on the JTOG list—I had just learned that I will need a visa to get into Brazil and trying to figure out how to get to Quito, Ecuador, the next stop on my odyssey. Of course, getting the visa would turn into a story of its own and everything on JTOG was TBD as my plan-as-you-go trip evolved day-to-day. Today, Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 would be no different.

After doing my electronic backups I headed over to TPC Cartegena at Karibana for another round of golf on the Jack-Nicklaus Signature Design gem. Knowing that it is Colombia’s only golf resort on the Caribbean Sea made it that much sweeter an experience. I continue to be amazed on how well everything works out for me on the “Journey to Olympic Golf”—it truly is a spirited adventure!

CLICK Here for Alberto Valenzuela, Mr. Colombia when it comes to Golf!

Meeting Alberto Valenzuela at TPC Cartagena at Karibana was a stroke of good fortune!

Meeting Alberto Valenzuela at TPC Cartagena at Karibana was a stroke of good fortune!

As fate would have it I met Alberto Valenzuela, the golf superintendent at Karibana and a golf course architect with his own design company. Not only did he escort me around the Jack Nicklaus Course he was nurturing back to green health but he made one very bold statement—” If you do not go to Medellin or Cali then you did not come to Colombia.” He also mentioned that he was doing some design work and upgrades to the Llanogrande Course with Fernando Villegas that his sons Camillo and Manuel Villegas grew up on. Sounded to me like I should go to Medellin after I visited Bogota which Joseph Mildenberg said was a must stop. Flexibility is the key on the “Journey to Olympic Golf!”

I was also flexible in body having taken yoga since the late 1990s. I was ready to go around the Jack-Nicklaus Signature Design TPC Cartegena at Karibana a second time!

Here are my Facebook posts for JTOG Day 61:

By the time I interviewed Alberto and made my way around the course, the sun was setting over the Caribbean Sea...

By the time I interviewed Alberto and made my way around the course, the sun was setting over the Caribbean Sea…

Karibana Cartagena is spectacular! What a day I had yesterday, in Colombia, South America, new friends, golf and dinner in the historic walled city of Cartagena. All 27 pics in above link!   (Facebook Link & Post 4 Pics, Andy Reistetter, 12/10/13)

Karibana, Colombia’s Only Golf Resort, On the Caribbean Sea!

Okay, new hurdle to jump over. Just realized, as a US citizen I need a VISA (not the credit card, have that!) to enter Brazil… will be there is 3 weeks time or less… any body know how to do this while on the road (currently in Colombia) like me? Any guidance appreciated! FB messaged the Embassy of Brazil in Washington, DC…   (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 12/10/13)

Here are my 60 picture memories from JTOG Day 61 playing TPC Cartegena at Karibana a second time!