JTOG Day 35: Playing Fuego Maya at La Reunion Golf Resort & Residences

I woke up in a beautiful place. Got up, showered, dressed and went outside to an even more beautiful environment. There was a volcano in my front yard. It took me back to last night and that sensational prehistoric, pre-mankind feeling that we haven’t always been living on this earth. Somehow that translated to a new awareness, a new attitude of openmindedness and willingness to thoroughly be present in the moment and experience the day, this day, today! And today would undoubtedly be a special day playing the Fuego Maya Golf Course at La Reunion Golf Resort & Residences with Mario Navarro, the Director of Golf.

Torch was good too. I felt for her as the entire La Reunion property was cobblestone streets. They beautifully appointed an estate rich in history and tradition but were a little bumpy for Torch. She needed new shocks, springs and struts and was wandering a bit even as we drove straight down a smooth road. I said good morning to Torch, opened her boot and grabbed my clubs and walked a short distance up the hill to the practice range and the volcano. Mario was teaching a class. I hit a few balls and headed to the clubhouse, resort central, for breakfast. Life was good!

There is nothing more beautiful to me than a view of a valley as far as the eye can see and its gentle, gradual slope up the mountains or in the case of La Reunion, up the side of the conical volcano with the name of Fuego or Agua. Fire and water is so pre-historic. Though when inactive and basking in sunshine there is peace and tranquility to be found here at La Reunion. My breakfast was hearty, the butter tasted a little different but richer and creamier different and the mango juice my new favorite even though I am from Florida.

CLICK here for a Beauty Video of La Reunion, Volcanoes and All!

The first nine holes of the Perry and Pete Dye– designed masterpiece called Fuego Maya was laid out before me. Lushly green the routing seemed to crisscross the gently sloped topography.  The championship first tee of the downhill par-4 first hole was to my right adjacent to the manor-like clubhouse. The next four holes formed a clockwise loop around the water feature that defined the approach to the par-5 third hole and the forced carry on the par-3 fourth hole. The final four holes  traversed back and forth along the volcanic sloped ground culminating with the green of the par-5 ninth hole being situated directly below the clubhouse.

The back nine was on the entrance side of the clubhouse in the watchful eye of Fuego Volcano. Actually it is my eye and likely yours when you visit La Reunion that will be keeping an eye on the volcano. Fiery red lava is easier to see at night than in bright sunshine from what I could tell so far. The par-4 10th, where Olaf scored a 12, climbs directly uphill towards Fuego and the second nine is in the shape of a counterclockwise walking stick with the par-4 18th green  below the 10th tee. An exciting routing amidst the volcanoes.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Mario Navarro, Director of Golf.

Playing a round of golf with Mario Navarro, the Director of Golf and former UTEP Division 1 collegiate golfer and mini-tour veteran was an exceptional experience. My round of 77 with only 26 putts is proof positive that one plays better golf when playing golf with better players. As Mario said, visiting La Reunion and playing the Fuego Maya Course is more than a golfing experience, it is a golfing adventure with the volcanoes, vistas , vegetation and the club itself. Spectacular, as my friend SJ would say.

CLICK here for a Beauty Video of La Reunion and the Fuego Maya Course.

I knew it would be a special day when I made a 40-footer for par and get it up-and-down from the ravine left of the green. The 460-yard par-4 fifth hole is the No. 1 handicap hole on the scorecard and features an infinity green, not in size but location on a knoll. I lost track of Mario’s birdies but know he birdied both of the front nine par-5s. I avoided Olaf’s demise on No. 10 hitting a great drive, a solid 6-iron and fortunately two-putting from sixty feet. Love grass galore was my discovery on the par-3 12th hole and I stopped to admire the majestic tree on the 13th fairway, as grand as a volcano to gaze upon. Every spectacular round needs a bit of luck and I had it with a 60-foot chip-putt that went in on the 15th green for double bogey, my only one of the day. I managed a 6-iron to three feet and made the putt for my only birdie on the par-5 17th hole, the longest on the course at 682 yards (we played it from 605 yards). On the dye-abolical par-3 17th (see the video for why) I rimmed out a 6-footer for a deuce. With a routine par on the last I completed what is no doubt one of my best rounds of my life. So exceptional I chose not to play Fuego Maya again the next day because I knew it could not get any better, not one memory better.

CLICK here for a Video of Perry & Pete’s ‘Dye-abolical’ 17th Green.

La Reunion commemorates an incredible similarity between playing golf and following the path of the sun using the ancient Solar Mayan Calendar. This Mayan Calendar consists of 18 months to follow of twenty days each. The last one, a 5-day month called Wayeb is to prepare for and welcome the journey ahead. La Reunion’s 19th hole bar is called Wayeb. The founders of La Reunione and Perry and Pete Dye thought it wise to celebrate their fusion between golf and the Mayan Calendar by naming the golf course Fuego Maya which means Mayan Fire. I was on Mayan Fire today and am well prepared for and embracing the rest of the ‘Journey to Olympic Golf!’

CLICK here for the Captains’ Video Interview of Ecuador vs. Guatemala at La Reunion.

I witnessed the true spirit of La Reunion this evening after dinner in the club’s Mirador restaurant. After a kitchen tour by Chef Ejecutivo Amilcar Guerra,  I came across a large group having drinks before their dinner. It was a golf match between Ecuador and Guatemala. The connection between the golfers were Christian (host- Guatemala) and Felipe (Ecuador. The connection between Christian and Felipe was love, not theirs though they did like each other, but that of Vanessa and Peter. Peter is Christian’s nephew and Vanessa is Felipe’s daughter. They were married four years ago and this golfing competition grew out of each family liking the other family and their country. Funny video and now I know somebody in Quito, Ecuador which I believe is in South America and on the way to Rio!

It was a grand day at La Reunion Golf Resort & Residences! I even got my laundry done! Torch is healthy and our stay has been extended for another night so we have a free day to roam among the volcanoes southwest of Guatemala City.

Of course we would find something interesting to do and document!

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