Golf

When you are thinking of golf destinations, Guatemala may not be the first that comes to mind.

For a population of about 14 million living in a country roughly the size of Tennessee, golf remains largely an elitist sport, but that is starting to change. The country is home to five courses and to date has comfortably accommodated the country’s two thousand or so active players.  The most recent addition to this stable of International courses is La Reunion located just 11 miles outside the old capital and world heritage site of Antigua.  The course is based within the 1380—acres of a former coffee plantation and in the shadows of four towering volcanoes—Agua, Fuego, Acatenango, and Pacaya. It has been appropriately named “Fuego Maya” or Mayan Fire – and was designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye. The course is relatively long, although even an average golfer should be able to complete the round in under 4 hours.  Although lacking the links (excuse pun) to the Royal & Ancient, there are indigenous links to the ancient Mayan calendar, which consists of 20 months of 18 days each. The final 5 days of the lunar calendar are then consumed by “Wayeb” which is held as a sacred time for relaxation and contemplation for the coming journey or the following calendar – much as the golfers’ consider their return to the challenges of the course or their next tee time.  Despite its only now emerging golfing population, Guatemala is starting to display its talents on the International golf scene – the country recently qualifying for the first time ever in an International event with the success of two budding stars Pablo Acuña and Alejandro Villavicencio who will represent the country at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup to be held in China November 27-30 which has a prize of $5.5 million.

If you want to try your hand on this remarkable course perhaps as an “off” day from fishing in Guatemala, The GreatSailfishing Company is pleased to arrange tee times for you – and even has a selection of golf sets for you to choose from (it can be difficult to rent clubs in Guatemala), just ask and we will be happy to accommodate you !