Mayakoba Golf Classic and Sustainable Tourism in the Riviera Maya, Mexico

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John Daly, Charles Howell III, and Boo Weekly are just a few professionals participating in this year's Mayakoba Golf Classic, the only PGA Tour in Mexico. Held at Mayakoba's El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, the event made history in 2007 as the first PGA Tour to be held outside the United States.

It kicked off this Wednesday, February 23rd, with the Pro-Am competition in which Lorena Ochoa, Mexico's most successful professional golfer played. The first round of the PGA tournament began this morning, Thursday, February 24th, with the final round being held Sunday, February 27th. All four rounds of the Mayakoba Golf Classic will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.

Highlighting a growing trend towards sustainable tourism, travel companies in the Riviera Maya are offering visitors ecotourism options, such as activities on soft white sand beaches and the clear turquoise blue sea, where snorkeling and diving along the world's second largest coral reef - the great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System / the Mayan reef - are favorite pastimes, in addition to golfing at world-class courses like El Camaleon at Mayakoba.

To read the complete article from the Mexico Tourism Board, visit PR Newswire.

Youth Golf Tournament: Yucatan Cup IV 2011

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Mexico has always been a country that honors and nurtures its youth, and golf is no exception. With the country’s lush tropical landscaping, famous golf professionals have been drawn here to design signature golf courses. As a result, golf has become quite popular among both male and female professionals, amateurs, and even youth.

To encourage participation in the sport, golf tournaments are routinely held throughout Mexico. Most recently, the Children’s National Committee of Youth Golf (CNIJ - Comité Nacional Infantil Juvenil de Golf) and the Mexican Golf Federation (FMG – Federación Mexicana de Golf), Mexico’s equivalent to the PGA, supported the Yucatan Cup IV 2011 for children and youth.

Attracting 230 registered players, this 3-day tournament was held in the colonial city of Merida on February 4-7, 2011, at the Yucatan Country Club and the Yucatan Golf Club. For children up to age 13, tournaments were held at La Ceiba, a par 72, 18-hole golf course at the Yucatan Golf Club designed by architect Felix Mier y Teran and Vicente Erosa.

For youth age 14 to 18, tournaments were held at El Jaguar, a par 72, 18-hole signature golf course at the Yucatan Country Club designed by the legendary professional golfer, Jack Nicklaus. It was recently named the Best New Private Golf Course in Mexico. The country club is also Latin America’s first Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf.

Congratulations to these gifted young players and aspiring golf stars!

Winners by age category:

Ages 14-18

Female Winner: Gabriela Lopez, player for Club de Golf Mexico

Male Winner: Gustavo Arizpe, player for El Camaleon Golf Club

Ages 12-13

Female Winner: Ana Paula Ramirez

Male Winner: Camilo Mexsen

Ages 10-11

Female Winner: Isabella Fierro

Male Winner: Daniel Trasvina

Ages 8-9

Female Winner: Maria Jose Ramirez

Male Winner: Jose Cristobal Islas

Ages 7 & Under

Female Winner: Ariel Gonzalez

Male Winner: Mauricio Miranda

Thanks to the support of the Association of Southeast Golf Clubs, this tournament had broad national representation and has been the most successful tournament yet. Association President Roberto Kelleher thanked the Mexican Golf Federation for enabling Merida to be the tournament headquarters:

"Every year this event becomes more relevant, and every year we see the best advocates of this sport in our country. It is an enormous pleasure to see the development of golf in Mexican youth and the rising stars of the sport."