Photos
by Enrique Berandi provided by P.R. Golf Association
Puerto
Rico’s combination of features—year-round summer weather, golf courses framed
by tropical beaches, mountains, forests and lakes, and vibrant culture, food
and nightlife—makes it an ideal golf destination. Add to that the eighth annual
Puerto Rico Open at Trump International Golf Club in Río Grande on March 2-8— the
only Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) Tour event in the
Caribbean—and the island becomes a golf lover’s dream.
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| Chesson Hadley |
“The
Puerto Rico Open has established itself as one of the most talked-about,
fan-friendly and enjoyable stops on the PGA Tour. Each year, the tournament attracts
an ever-stronger field of players, who are drawn to the island by perfect
weather, a beautiful course at Trump International and exceptional Caribbean
hospitality,” said Sidney Wolf, president of the Puerto Rico Golf Association
and chairman of the Puerto Rico Open.
Last
year’s event was won by 27-year-old Chesson Hadley of Raleigh, N.C. Witnessing
his triumph was his wife, Amanda, and infant son, Hughes—who was promptly
plunked into the winner’s trophy bowl! Thousands of golfers, spectators and
staff attend the annual event. After each day on the links, the partying
begins!
In
addition to a $3.5 million purse, many local charities benefit from the event.Virtually
every serious golfer knows—or knows about—Juan “Chi Chi” Rodríguez, the
island’s most famous golfer with 38 career professional wins, including eight PGA Tour and 22 Senior PGA
Tour wins. He is the first and only Puerto Rican inducted into the World Golf
Hall of Fame, and was elected to the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in
1994. “I love the fact that young golfers and their families come to Puerto
Rico for its golf. We have many wonderful
courses, and the weather is almost always perfect,” he says.
To
find the right course for you, see our Great Golf Course list in this issue. To
learn more about the Puerto Rico Open and other major golf events, such as
Puerto Rico Junior Open and the Puerto Rico Classic, visit www.gotopuertoricoopen.com
and www.prga.com. For advance tee times,
visit Caribe Golf’s website www.caribegolf.com, or call 787-278-3442 or
1-888-588-8670.
Un sueño para los amantes del golf
Su combinación de atributos—clima de verano todo el
año; campos de golf enmarcados por playas, montañas, bosques y lagos; y
vibrante cultura, gastronomía y vida nocturna—hacen de Puerto Rico un destino
ideal para el golf. A esto se añade la octava edición del Puerto Rico Open en
el Trump International Golf Club en Río Grande del 2 al 8 de marzo—único evento
del PGA Tour en el Caribe—y la isla se convierte en el sueño de cualquier
amante del golf.
“El Puerto Rico Open se ha establecido como una de las
paradas más comentadas, amigables y agradables para los fanáticos en el PGA
Tour. Cada año, el torneo atrae un grupo cada vez más fuerte de jugadores,
atraídos a la isla por su clima perfecto, un hermoso campo de golf en el Trump
International y la excepcional hospitalidad del Caribe”, comentó Sidney Wolf, presidente
de la Asociación de Golf de Puerto Rico y del Puerto Rico Open.
El ganador el año pasado lo fue Chesson Hadley, de 27
años y oriundo de Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. Presenciando el triunfo
estuvieron su esposa, Amanda, y su hijo recién nacido, Hughes. Miles de
jugadores de golf, espectadores y personal asisten al evento anual. Después de
cada día en el campo de golf, ¡comienza la fiesta! Además de los ganadores
compartir un premio de $3.5 millones, varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro
locales se benefician del evento.
 |
First Runner Up Danny Lee; Alex Alverio; Emiliano Grillo & Jonathan Byrd
Prácticamente todo golfista o entusiasta conoce a Juan
“Chi Chi” Rodríguez, el golfista más famoso de la isla, con 38 victorias
profesionales durante su carrera, incluyendo ocho en PGA Tour y 22 en Senior
PGA Tour. Es el primer y único puertorriqueño exaltado al World Golf Hall of Fame,
y fue elegido al World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame en 1994. “Me encanta
que jugadores jóvenes y sus familias vengan a Puerto Rico por el golf. Tenemos
muchos campos maravillosos y el clima es casi siempre perfecto”, comenta el
golfista.
Para encontrar el campo más adecuado, vea nuestra
lista Great Golf Courses en esta edición. Para conocer más sobre el Puerto Rico
Open y otros eventos importantes, como
el Puerto Rico Junior Open y el Puerto Rico Classic, visite www.gotopuertoricoopen.com
y www.prga.com. Para horas de salida anticipadas, visite www.caribegolf.com, o
llame al 787-278-3442 o 1-888-588-8670.
Great
Golf Courses
Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club—Río Grande. 787-809-8920 x 3000. Time: Daily 7:00
a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 72/6,979. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Call for details. Rental Clubs: Call
for rates. Golf Director: Alberto Ríos
Bambúas Golf Club, Las—Gurabo. 787-712-0018.
Time: Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 36/3,315.
Green Fees weekdays/Weekends (9 holes):
$20-$35. Rental Clubs: $15. Head Golf Pro: Rey Caballero.
Caguas
Real Golf & Country Club—Caguas. 787-653-4653. Time: Tue.-Fri. 7:00
a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Par/Yard: 70/6,900. Green Fees
(18 holes): $37-$55. Rental Clubs: $30. Head Golf Pro: Arnaldo Valentín.
Club Deportivo del Oeste—Cabo Rojo. 787-851-8880 or 787-254-3748.
Time:
Mon.-Sun. 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 70/6,400. Green Fees weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Members $21-$37;
No-members $37-$47. Rental Clubs: $32. Pro: Dennis Cabán.
Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club—Ponce. 787-812-2650. Time: Mon.-Tues. 8:00
a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sun. 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Par/Yard: 72/6,474. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): $56-$69. Rental
Clubs: $38. Head Golf Pro: Ellie Rodríguez.
Dorado Beach Golf Club—Dorado. 787-796-8961. Time: Call 24 hours in advance. Par/Yard:
Pineapple 72/7,030: Sugar Cane 72/7,119 & East 72/7,000. Green Fees
Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs: $75. Director of
Golf: Jeff Willenberg.
El Conquistador Golf Club—Fajardo. 787-863-6784.
Time: Reserve tee times in advance; Nonresidents 30 days and P.R. residents 1
week. Par/Yard: 72/6,746. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18 holes): hotel guests
$120-$180, P.R. residents $55-$75, nonresidents $145-$200. Rental Clubs:
$50-$75. Director of Golf: Seth Henrich.
El Legado Golf Resort—Guayama. 787-866-8894.
Time: Tues.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: Call
for details. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (9-18 holes): $46-$60. Rental Clubs: $45. Golf Director: Carlos Matos.
Palmas Athletic Club—Humacao. 787-656-3015 or 787-656-3016. Time: Mon.-Sun. 6:30
a.m.-5:30 p.m. Par/Yard: Flamboyán 72/7,117; Palm 71/6,675. Green Fees
Weekdays/Weekends (Twilight/18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs & Shoes
available. Golf Director: Seth Bull. Assistant Golf Professionals: Eduardito Figueroa
& Juan Velázquez.
Punta Borinquén Golf Club—Aguadilla. 787-890-2987.
Time: Mon.-Sun. 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 72/6,870. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends/Holidays
(18 holes): $20-$35. Rental Clubs: $10-$25. Head Golf Pro: Ángel Núñez.
Río Bayamón Golf Course—Bayamón. 787-740-1419. Time: Mon.-Sat. 7:00 a.m.-8:45 p.m.;
Sun. 7:00 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Par/Yard: 34/2,546. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends (18
holes) $45. Rental Clubs: $25. Director of Golf: Carlos Crespo.
Royal Isabela—Isabela. 787-609-5888 or 855-609-5888. Time: Mon. 12 p.m.-5:00 p.m.;
Tue.-Sun. 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Par/Yard: 73/7,667. Green Fees
Weekdays/Weekends/Holidays (18 holes): Available for resort guests or by
invitation, call for rates. Rental Clubs: $65. Director of Golf: Miguel Suárez.
TrumpInternational Golf Club P.R. (Coco Beach)—Río Grande. 787-657-2000. Time:
Mon.-Sun. 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Par/Yard: Call for details. Green Fees Weekdays/Weekends
(18 holes): Call for rates. Rental Clubs: $60. Golf Director, PGA Class A:
Brian Shaver.
Note:
Schedules and rates are subject to change; please call to confirm.
