JTOG Day 41: Pristine Bay Resort & Pete Dye’s Black Pearl

I thought I was ‘Driving Dye’s Designs’ in Central America and now, all of a sudden, I am flying to the Pete Dye-designed The Black Pearl on Roatan, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

The Black Pearl is a fictional ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Roatan is home to the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea and the second largest worldwide. While the name of the golf course alludes to Roatan’s history of pirates, Black Pearl is the latest gem of the Dye Designs portfolio. Like a pearl, this golf course is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of the dye-abolical minds of Pete and his son Perry Dye.

I couldn’t wait to get there. I left Torch behind, safe and comfortable in the parking lot at the Real Intercontinental Tegucigalpa amongst all the United Nations election observation vehicles. She felt distinguished and official being with that company and a bit royal as she lounge around while the rest of them had to go to work during the day and sometimes in the evening too.

I let Torch sleep in and took a taxi to Toncontín International Airport (TGU).  My Sosa Airline flight took me first to La Ceiba where I changed planes for the 15-minute flight from the mainland to Roatan. Another taxi and there I was coming through a small canyon, through the bluff, and seeing Pristine Bay, the resort and golf course laid out below on the coastal plain with the breathtakingly blue Caribbean Sea as far as the eye could see.

Enrique Toriello was right there at the front door to greet me when my taxi arrived. I know it is a small island where everyone knows everyone who lives and works there but I am thinking he does this for every guest at the Pristine Bay Resort. After a brief hello, the golfer turned onto golf by Fred Couples’ 1992 Masters win, led me to Mindy at the reception desk for check-in. After checking in and checking out my room which was situated on the lower level of the clubhouse with an ocean view, Enrique met me for lunch with a gift—a Black Pearl hat! Then we headed to the golf course at Pristine Bay. If we weren’t such talkative guys distracted by an incredible view I am guessing touchdown at the airport to first swing on the Pearl could be less than one hour if you put your mind to it.

CLICK here for a Video of my room & walk to the Caribbean View!

While classified as a resort golf course, make no mistake that The Black Pearl is a Dye Designs gem. While more “playable” than the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and more “open” than Harbour Town Golf Links, make no mistake that this is a great test of golf, especially with the Caribbean winds and elevation changes. Plus it has an “island hole on an island.”

CLICK herre for a Video of my tee shot at the par-3 island green 11th hole at The Black Pearl.

Sad to say I pured my 6-iron on the 160-yard par-3 island green 11th hole and it never touched down on the green. One of two double bogeys on the day, the other, also with a water-infested tee shot, on the par-4 difficult 8th hole. Not one birdie, but I managed a fairly consistent and very pleasurable 83. We made plans to play again the day after the next and of course my inclination was to have another go at Dye and his island green tomorrow. I was hopeful to best my Journey best round of 78 shot at Dye’s La Reunion in Guatemala.

After the golf I enjoyed the resort, lounging by the pool with a Caribbean Sea view for an hour or so before getting cleaned up for dinner. While I went light with a salad for lunch I  opted for Chef Rico Raspaldo’s specialty—duck Breast with old mustard sauce, apple and honey accompanied by gratin dauphinois or as we say back home in Idaho—potatoes. To finish the dramatic meal I enjoyed the nutella mousse for dessert.

What a day (again) on the Journey to Olympic Golf. After a lot of travel it was nice to kick back and enjoy a resort for an extended period of time. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come to explore the Pristine Bay Resort and island a little bit more and have another chance at Dye’s The Black Pearl. After all I always wanted to be a pirate and if I needed to play pirate golf to break 80 on The Black Pearl than so be it.

Shiver me timbers (which is a an expression used to show shock or disbelief)… I already know I am a landlubber (a person who is not incredibly skilled at sea) and a golf duffer (sometimes Dufnering too)… but tomorrow when we put the tee in the ground once again full of hope, you never know!

There are some more stories in the pictures below this request to make a donation to The First Tee… please make a donation today. Much appreciated.

I am looking for 100 new friends in the next 100 days to make a $100 donation (or any amount that you are able to make) to The First Tee. Each day I will be reliving the original “Journey to Olympic Golf” and hope to find a new friend in golf. Is that you? Please join me in giving back to the game we all love.

CLICK here to make a donation to The First Tee.

Please select ‘Andy Reistetter’s Journey to Olympic Golf’ on the drop-down menu for the question ‘What inspired you to make a gift today? This is for tracking purposes only, Andy does not receive any part of your donation or anything financially from The First Tee organization.

There are interesting incentives for making your donation to the First Tee…

PLEASE click here to make a donation to The First Tee.

Thank You!