Spring seems tantalizingly close this year with a couple of days that have reached 60 even before the calendar turned to March. However it is still winter in Minnesota with several days ahead forecasted for snow.
I had one chance this off season to take a swing (see what I did there) at playing golf. Over New Years my wife and I headed down to Ixtapa Mexico. This is our second New years we spent in Ixtapa. This year along with us was my wife's family and my dad also.
Ixtapa is the resort area of the twin cities of Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo. On the Pacific coast of Mexico about 4 hours north of Acupulco. We have headed down here numerous times, as this area is about as sure a warm Winter get away as you will find. I think in around 10 visits it has been cloudy once and never rained. Temps are always in the upper 80s, As far as a beach vacation destination, it is hard to beat.
While the weather is great for hanging on the beach, it is not so great for golf. I think Ixtapa is officially classified as a tropical desert. During January through May the average monthly rainfall is somewhere just north of none.
Despite that there are 2 golf courses to keep the tourists happy. The Campo De Golf sits right on the main beach of Ixtapa. The other course is the Marina course, north on the same beach and adjacent to the local marina.
The Marina course was built on 1994 by Robert von Hagge.
When you come here dont expect great things. In fact our round was not a good golf experience but it was a good vacation experience.
The "pro shop" shown here is spartan to say the least. There is nothing for sale save for a slim selection of balls and tees for your round. That is it. Notice the empty display cases and the empty clothes hangers.
A nice little patio overlooks the putting green and the 19th hole down below.
We loaded up our carts with our old rental clubs and stayed in the shade as long as possible before teeing off. Despite my dad wearing pants it was in the lower 90s already at 10:30AM.
My dad warming up (sweating) on the putting green. There is no driving range at the course.
There are 4 sets of tees on the course. There is no slope or rating published. The yardages are as follows:
Championship (blue) 6,774 yards
Men's (white) 6,319 yards
Seniors (Yellow) 5,756 yards
Ladies (Red) 5,228 yards
Hole 1
Par 5
509 | 486 | 455 | 432 yards
The opening hole plays straight ahead off the tee before turning slightly right as you play toward the green. Off the tee you must carry the water directly ahead of the tees.
Down the left is thick jungle to be avoided. Down the right are a row of palm trees. A word of warning on palms if you have never played with them. They are not 90% air like trees are often referred to. If you hit a palm frond your ball will stop there.
Down the left is thick jungle to be avoided. Down the right are a row of palm trees. A word of warning on palms if you have never played with them. They are not 90% air like trees are often referred to. If you hit a palm frond your ball will stop there.
The fairway does have mounding on each side before the trees. Since the ground is so dry it is not uncommon for your ball to roll through and up onto one of these hills making for a awkward lie.
You can see here that the fairway is wide open initially but a complex of bunkers comes in from the right to guard the green which wraps around behind them.
From about 100 yards you still need to cross the bunkers to the small green. The green is turned 90 degrees from the fairway making it very shallow and hard to hit from any distance. Shots hit long will find the mounding behind the green.
Hole 2
Par 3170 | 150 | 131 | 113 yards
A mid length par 3 that requires another carry over water a row of hedges.
There are 2 primary "bunkers" one short left and one deep right.
Getting up to the green you see the bunkers have no sand. This is the bunker deep right.
You can also see how small the green is. it is extremely narrow approached from the tee but is fairly deep.
Hole 3
Par 4
405 | 365 | 328 | 302 yards
I think this is one of the most visually appealing holes on the course. A sharp dogleg left hitting driver here can land you through the fairway. You can cheat the corner a bit but there are a few trees down that side that could cause trouble.
A zoom down the fairway show the start to the courses troubles. The dead areas next to the forward tees will become more prevalent. Hidden from view, there are a couple of bunkers hidden in the mounding on the far side of the fairway dogleg.
At the dogleg the hole turns and then plays straight to the green.
Perhaps the most undulated green out here it is protected by fall offs on either side and short left.
Hole 4
Par 4
402 | 358 | 328 | 247 yards
A pretty tee shot facing the mountains in the distance, you have a force carry to a fairway that runs diagonally away to the right. Water runs up the entire rights side. There is little danger down the left so definitely error to the left .
Hole 5
Par 4
372 | 340 | 316 | 297 yards
Looking towards the marina you can see the damage.
Hitting from the fairway can be an adventure.
The "approach" to the green.
Another tremendously skinny green.
Hole 6
Par 4
389 | 343 | 285 | 245 yards
A narrow shoot off the tee belies a wide open fairway. This trees down the left are to be avoided. A large bunker, not visible in this photo, must be carried off the tee but is not really in play.
Hole 7
Par 3
211 | 188 | 146 | 120 yards
The longest par 3 of the day requires a carry over sand the entire way to the green, or an alterate route is to play up the left where a small strip of grass is available but so are many mounds for your ball to sit awkwardly on.
This green runs diagonally from the tee with the left side being the closer portion and the right being the furthest back.
Here you can see how small a target you have from a long tee shot. You can also see there is a little room in front of the green to miss, even down the left side.
Hole 8
Par 5
581 | 541 | 472 | 448 yards
The longest hole on the course your tee shot must avoid the jungle on the right. Straight ahead a line of bushes denotes the end of the fairway landing zone. A driver may be too much here for the long hitter.
Once you reach those bushes water runs down the right most of the hole all the way to the green.
Usually abundant all over the course, the iguanas like to stick to the cool shade.
Approaching the end of the fairway you can see on your next shot you must carry a fair expanse of water. Currently it looks even further as we are playing back to that flood damaged area. Hitting to the mud offers a free drop so it is not hard to carry.
From here you can better see the carry required currently over the water and then over the mud. Jeremy hit a poor drive here yet nearly ran out of fairway.
Beyond the water the hole plays straight into the narrow green which is flanked on the right by several bunkers. Don't let the crocs get you....
Hole 9
Par 4
375 | 353 | 335 | 321 yards
A short par 4 that requires you to layup off the tee. You must carry water off the tee and also avoid the water which runs down the left and then comes into play in front of the green.
From the fairway you must carry water again to reach the green. You can play to the right around the water but that area suffered flood damage and is barren now.
Hole 10
Par 5
554 | 538 | 523 | 493 yards
Another pretty tee shot on the opening hole of the back nine. A dogleg right par 5. This is the widest fairway on the course. A couple of bunkers are down the left side but it is pretty hard to not hit fairway here.
From the corner of the dogleg you can see the hole again features mounding on either side of the fairway.
Hole 11
Par 3
170 | 160 | 138 | 130 yards
A straight ahead par 3 requiring you to hit the green protected in front by a large bunker with two more sitting behind the green.
A view from the left of the hole showing the shallowness of the green and the bunkers behind.
Hole 12
Par 4
401 | 383 | 348 | 312 yards
A fun dogleg right. Your tee shot should be played straight ahead. Cutting the corner offers no benefit and should be avoided.
On your second shot the hole turns sharp right and climbs uphill to the green.
At the corner of the dogleg sits a large bunker. Up the hill, short of the green on the right is another bunker.
Jeremy chipping from short of the green.
Hole 13
Par 4
407 | 386 | 344 | 316 yards
A long straight par 4 features trees down the left most of the hole. A slightly elevated tee offers a good view back to the hotels along the beach. Down the right side, a pair of bunkers sit to the side of the fairway for those bailing out from the trees on the left.
There is not a lot of room to miss left on your approach into this narrow green.
Hole 14
Par 4
298 | 270 | 239| 198 yards
A short par 4 that offers a real chance to get to the green off the tee but challenges you with 10 bunkers to contend with.
5 bunkers are in play off the fairway and another 5 ring the green.
Hole 15
Par 4
410 | 375 | 351 | 309 yards
A interesting dogleg right par 4. The dogleg is bisected by water running up the right and dividing the hole in half.
The safe play is straight ahead off the tee which should then leave 150 or less in. Your next shot will need to carry the water and find a green protected by 3 large bunkers.
Hole 16
Par 4
396 | 388 | 374 | 347 yards
Another sharp dogleg hole, this one turns left. Down the left beneath the trees, a channel of water snakes down that side. TO the right off the tee there is room as the adjacent 13th hole runs up that side.
A pretty view as you turn the corner on the dogleg. Mounds on the right frame the fairway. THe ditch on the left is to be avoided.
The green is one of the larger ones on the course. Kidney shaped, it has a couple of bunkers short and one off to the right.
Hole 17
Par 3
153 | 139 | 135| 108 yards
A forced carry over water all the way to the green is required on this short par 3.
A bunkers wraps the right length of the green and another pair sit behind the green on the left.
Hole 18
Par 5
570 | 556 | 500 | 484
The toughest hole of the day awaits on the last hole. The entire left side of this hole is water, as it sits on the Marina channel. A pair of bunkers sit off the right of the fairway in landing zone off the tee
A look down the patchy fairway off the tee shows the narrow safe landing zone.
For your second shot, things don't get any easier. Two massive bunkers bisect the fairway. Your second shot you must decide if you want to lay up short of those or try carry them.
Laying up short of the sand leaves a long third shot to a green that sits very close to the waters edge.
If you played over the bunkers you have a shorter iron into the green which is circled by bunkers.
After the round in 90 degree temps wouldn't it be nice for a cold drink at the 19th hole? Yes. Yes it would. Why isn't it open?
Regardless of the really atrocious course conditions, it was a fun time golfing with my family on vacation. Time to hit the pool!
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