Taking that Great Golf Vacation

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What makes a day of golf for players and spectators so much fun? (Yes – fun!) The specific highlights may be different for everyone, but in general, players find the skill and challenge of hitting a tiny ball along a long stretch of land across natural obstacles into a small hole while surrounded by nature a tantalizing escape. Many spectators find it equally riveting except, rather, watching the players attempt to master nature while indulging in their natural surroundings and maybe a beer or cocktail.

A day at the golf course is truly a breathtaking escape in more ways than one: Hold your breath and hope to hit a ‘birdie,’ or hold your breath while taking in the scenery and waiting to see that much-anticipated perfect stroke. Various golf courses are akin to some of the world’s most beautiful parks: masterful works of nature and environmentally conscious design – complementing the inherent characteristics of each region. In Mexico’s Cancun and Riviera Maya, the tropical plants, rainforest, mangroves, cenotes (cavernous wells), Mayan ruins, and blue sea make the courses awe-inspiring…

…and unusually challenging.

Course variations are one of the aspects that make golf so enticing: attempting to master the game on a different course each time, since no golf course is alike in skill level, strategic design, or landscaping. The only constants are the standard game features, such as the teeing ground, rough, fairways, hazards, putting greens, and usually 18 holes. The diversity of course design is what makes a golf vacation so appealing: traveling to a new environment and enjoying the indigenous attributes of each course – not to mention other tours and attractions.

A golf trip can make a great family vacation, friends’ vacation, or boys’ vacation for the obvious and not-so-obvious reasons, depending on your travel destination: championship golf courses and luxury hotels, plus world-class Mayan and Caribbean spas or natural wonders like jungles and cenotes. Many attractions and activities are available in Cancun and the nearby Riviera Maya, from snorkeling and scuba diving to shopping and horseback riding, so everyone can enjoy a golf vacation - even if they're not golfers.

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."