With Rodolfo, a couple of Alfredos and Luis Arroyo Saenz.
How many golf clubs in the world are founded by a sitting president? It would be like President Ike Eisenhower founding Augusta National Golf Club during his term sometime between 1953 and 1961. There are many reminders President Miguel Alemán Valdes throughout the club including a mural, a bust and the tree named after him on the 5th fairway.
I played with Rodolfo and his regular foursome that included two Alfredos (Delgado and Alvarez), one of which putted with one hand and a guy with his name on his bag—Luis Arroyo Saenz. Playing the course far surpassed the beauty I saw yesterday touring it in a golf cart. From the tees, the middle of the fairway (and off in the rough and trees too) and on the greens it seemed the design features really pop out at you. The mountains, one the dormant volcano Iztaccihuat were visible. The logo picture of two cedar trees and Iztaccihuatl came to life on the 8th tee!
It was a lively lunch after golf at Hoyo 19 on the clubhouse terrace.
After the round out fivesome pretty much double in size for lunch out on the clubhouse terrace at Hoyo 19. The conversations were lively and the translations the best we could manage.They treated me like President Alemán it seemed. Who has lamb chops with mint jelly at the club after playing golf? I did and it was quite delicious. There were Bloody Marys and tequila too. I can’t thank Rodolfo enough for such a wonderful day at the Golf Club of Mexico.
But it did not end there. Samuel Leon Gonzalez who I had met yesterday with Rodolfo and given a TROML book to came by the club to take me home to show me something I might be interested in. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Samuel is a well known member of the faculty at the National University, a prolific author and considered an expert on political history in Mexico. In his library or one of two working offices he produced a magazine with an article documenting the 1968 Cultural Olympics which of course was fascinating to me even if it was in Spanish!
The front cover of the club history book featured the 8th hole with its view of the dormant volcanic mountain Iztaccihuatl.
I forgot to mention while leaving the club I missed Club President Mario Zertuche Díaz but his secretary had a wonderful present for me—the club history book of the Golf Club of Mexico, to take home with me! WOW was my response! Even though in Spanish I can follow along with the pictures and dates to get a sense of this historical club. All the legends of golf have played here. Most recently it was Ted Purdy winning the Mexican Open, a PGA Tour Latinoamérica event. Lorena Ochoa moved her LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational here in 2014 with Christina Kim being the victor. It is one of the great golf courses and clubs in the world and I will treasure this book!
It seems like people have come out of the woodwork to support me and this ‘Journey to Olympic Golf.’ People are excited about golf becoming an Olympic Sport once again and I am excited to meet people who have a perspective on what defines the ‘Olympic Spirit of Golf.’ Mexico City with its 1968 Olympic history, especially being the first to stage a Cultural Olympics at the same time, and its rich history of golf at the Golf Club of Mexico and the CC of Mexico City, is a key nugget on my quest.
Map of the Cultural Olympics in Samuel’s magazine.
Torch is promised to be ready to go tomorrow at 3:30 pm. My plan was to check out and wait patiently as the car doctors complete their restorative work. Or maybe there is another thing or two I should see before I leave Mexico City heading south for Guatemala?
The day after Christmas is usually pretty good too!
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The logo view from the 8th tee with the volcano partially visible.
The logo 8th hole on the flags at the GC of Mexico.
At a high elevation, Mexico City is still surrounded by mountains.
