Florida Golf Monthly - Costa Rica Golf

Costa Rica: Golf Comes to Paradise
The fishing and surfing capital of the hemisphere is golf's next hot spot.
by Stephen Michaels

Endless beaches gently washed by warm water waves. Lively music and laughter emanating from a small, palm-lined coastal village. Golf courses that blend in with all of the above to create an atmosphere in which even the most nervous golfer would crave a few lingering moments to savor the experience as if it were a mellow wine.

What's missing from this picture? You are. If you want to be a part of it, you'd better hop on the next flight to Costa Rica because when the word gets out that the place is becoming the best tropical golf vacation spot in the northern hemisphere, things might get a bit crowded there. Seriously. It's that good and it's that accessible. Pictured here: Fairway view of 2nd hole at Conchal Campo de Golf.

Misconceptions about Costa Rica abound. First, many people think it's an island. It's not. Rather, Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered on the north by Nicaragua, on the south by Panama and the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans on its coasts. It is on the west coast that golf is about to explode like one of the country's volcanoes.

Second, Costa Rica, like many Central American countries, is often perceived as a "banana republic." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Costa Rica has no military whatsoever, and the absence of such force is reflected in the serene attitudes of the native people.

Third, many think that Costa Ricans regard U.S. visitors as "ugly Americans." Unlike many countries around the globe where American tourists meet with contempt, Costa Ricans actually welcome us with open arms. Fortunately, those arms aren't reaching for American wallets. There's no price gouging the visiting gringos, and tipping is done on a minor scale (Ten percent on meals, if not included in the bill, and a $2 tip for a bellman are sufficient).

The fourth misconception is that Costa Rica is so hot that it makes the Florida summer feel like the inside of a refrigerator. The truth is, Costa Rica has seven vastly different climates. The Guanacasta region is cooler than Florida in the summer, and reduced off-season prices make it a very attractive summer destination. Pictured here: The 18th hole at Conchal Campo de Golf, a challenging risk-reward par 5.

The fifth and probably biggest misconception about Costa Rica is that it has no golf courses. The truth is, Costa Rica offers some great golf today and it will offer even more the near future. The entry-level standard of excellence of Costa Rica's courses, those available for play now and in the near future, ensures that Costa Rica will soon be one of the hottest golf destinations in the world. While tourists once visited Costa Rica for its other beautiful attractions and discovered its golf courses accidently, the tide is turning. Soon visitors will be booking golf trips and setting tee times first and leaving a few hours for the other beautiful attractions.

Golf isn't a totally new concept for Costa Rica. The game was first introduced in the capital city of San Jose 26 years ago. On the outskirts of the bustling downtown area of San Jose sits the Melia Cariari Resort. Here, architect George Fazio was commissioned to create a golf course on a site that would challenge the creative abilities of any designer. The result? A wonderful golf experience that has changed dramatically through the years.

When Fazio was first issued the challenge, he had a small hilly piece of land to develop. Somehow he managed to build a very strong golf course that, at 6,590-yards from the tips, also is very playable. To add to the challenge, Fazio planted hundreds of trees. After 25 years of intense growth, those same trees now comprise a major part of the challenge of Cariari Country Club. It's safe to say that on just about every hole, accuracy is much more important than length on this course. If you miss a fairway, the minimum cost will be one stroke. The thick, wiry rough coupled with the dense forest dictate that you get your ball back in play. A good score is available at Cariari Country Club, but the double and triple bogey is always in play. Never be overconfident that you're on your way to a low round until you hole out on the 18th. You're always one bad swing away from disaster.

Because most flights into Costa Rica land in San Jose, Cariari Country Club will usually be your first Costa Rican golf experience. From there, you have two travel options to the province of Gaunacasta in the country's northwest region. You can either drive over the Andes and through the coffee plantations of the central part of the country, an incredibly beautiful four-hour drive, or catch a commuter flight to the city of Liberia. Driving one way and flying the other is highly recommended because flying both ways will cheat you out of one of the greatest visual treats you'll ever experience.

The golf flagship in the west is the Melia Playa Conchal Resort. Owned by the same company that owns the Cariari Resort in San Jose, Conchal is the first major Costa Rican resort to offer a championship golf facility. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Conchal stretches to a mighty 7,033-yards from the back markers with more playable courses at 6,593, 6,045 and 5,396-yards. Not only does Conchal challenge golfers with its length, it also confronts them with constant elevation changes. Sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic (e.g., the 100-foot drop from the tee box to the fairway on the 435-yard, par 4 12th hole), the elevation shifts play an integral part of every club selection you make.

The key to success in playing Conchal is to hit the ball solidly. The course is too long to allow mis-hits to go unpunished. To balance out the demands of length, Jones provides you with ample landing areas on the longer holes.

Unlike many resort courses, Conchal is a true test of golf from the opening tee shot to the final putt. You may be lulled to sleep by the relatively straightforward 318-yard, par 4 first hole, but the second tee will rudely awaken you. Forget that this may be one of the most beautiful holes in Costa Rica; it's also one of the toughest. Out of bounds creeps in close to the right side of the fairway on this dogleg left hole, and a ravine guards the left side. This same ravine curls across the fairway to protect the front of the green. Miss the green to the left, and a cavernous bunker will all but guarantee a bogey. If this isn't enough of a challenge, factor in a subtle uphill elevation change that adds half a club to the equation.

If you master the second hole and limp away with a hard-earned par, the 467-yard, par 4 third hole will render your chances of maintaining that string improbable. Not only is the hole extra long, the second shot is uphill, and a pair of bunkers guards the left side of the green. The design dictates that you approach the green from the right side because the ball will feed to the green from there. There's just one other slight problem. Out of bounds runs close to the right side of the fairway all the way to the green, so don't give the right side of the green too wide of a berth, or the phrase, "I'm hitting a provisional ball," will be quick to your lips.

Even if the challenge of Conchal leaves you somewhat disheveled, relief is at hand. The Melia Playa Conchal Beach and Golf Resort is a world class facility that caters to your golf needs while perfecting the art of relaxation in all its forms. The resort offers many ways to dust off the effects of a challenging round of golf. A dip in the long, winding resort pool surely will wash away all your memories of missed shots. A stroll along the adjoining beach will allow the gentle Pacific breeze to clear your mind as well. If you require a change of scenery, the villages of Flamingo and Tamarindo enable you to soak up some local flavor, and they're just a few moments away. After enjoying the local culture, you can return to the resort for an outstanding dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants.

While Conchal will provide all the challenge your game needs, you'll want to book at least one tee time at the nearby Las Colinas Golf & Country Club. Just 20 minutes from Conchal, Las Colinas provides an interesting and challenging contrast. Here, Lakeland-based architect Ron Garl took a diverse piece of land and created a flowing golf experience, building from the first tee to a formidable final exam of skill and patience on the 18th green.

The front nine of Rancho Las Colinas was built on the ranching parcel of land. When Garl was given the property, it was a flat expanse of underbrush. You'd never know it today.

After a resounding choral send-off from the family of howler monkeys that inhabits the thicket of trees to the left of the first tee, you're eased into the round, and sometimes lulled into inattention, by the majesty of the surrounding mountains. You'll also note that Garl's mounding on the front nine carefully duplicated these peaks and valleys. Everywhere you look at the mountains in the distance, just lower your eyes and the mounding on the hole will replicate it.

Perhaps the best combination of aesthetics and challenge on the course is the 383-yard, par 4 fifth hole. From an elevated tee, the hole bends to the left while water running down the left side dares you to take the short route while promising a double bogey should you fail. The combination of tee elevation, mounding and beach bunker at the far end of the water makes this an exciting hole.

While the fifth hole will whet your appetite, the back nine offers even more temptations. To create the back nine par of 36, Garl designed three par 3's, 4's and 5's, each with its own personality. The stretch running from the par 3 11th through the 606-yard, par 5 15th will give you ample opportunity to use every club in your bag.

An exciting alternative to Conchal, Rancho Las Colinas is well worth the short trip. And if you happen to be at Rancho Las Colinas around 8:30 on Saturday morning, you might want to join in on the weekly scramble tournament with some of the locals. It's a great way to learn more about the area.

As great as Costa Rica's golf is &emdash; and it's really great - be sure to avail yourself of the country's other charms. For example, when deplaning in Costa Rica, you'll notice many long, thick bags amidst all the golf bags &emdash;they're surfboards. Surfing dudes and dudettes from around the world flock to Costa Rica to ride the waves. Why not catch a few yourself? Not up for that much action? Spend some time engaged in the other favorite recreational activity of golfers around the globe&emdash; fishing. Costa Rican waters offer some of the best fishing in the world.

While in Costa Rica, plan to visit Arenal, one of the country's many live volcanoes. Avoid the scheduled guided tour, however. It's a long ride packed into one very full day, and you're forced to view the molten mountain during daylight hours - absolutely the wrong time to see this sight. Instead, head to Arenal after a day of golf and stay overnight to view the fires in the dark. It's spectacular. The rooms in the area are very reasonable, and you can drive back to Guanacasta for your afternoon tee time the next day.

Another great way to acquaint yourself with the beauty of Costa Rican golf is to participate in the Pro-Am tournament run in Gaunacasta from December 6-13. Why not put together a team for this elite 20-team field? For further information, contact Landy Blank at Costa Rica Golf Adventures S.A., Interlink 854, P.O. Box 02-5635, Miami, FL 33102. His telephone number is 011-506-446-6489, and his e-mail address is Golf@centralamerica.com.

The truth is, any way you can get to Costa Rica is worth the effort. And don't forget your golf clubs. If you visit now, you'll avoid the impending rush.