Reserva Conchal Pura Vida Costa Rica Golf

Reserva Conchal Pura Vida in Costa Rica

By Tim Cotroneo

The Central American country of Costa Rica has an unusual way of helping golfers get over first hole jitters. At the Guanacaste region’s plush Westin Golf Resort and Spa, golfers at the Reserva Conchal Golf Course are often greeted by the startling treetop growl of howler monkeys either before, during, or after your backswing.

You call that a swing?

Monkeys aren’t the only back-to-nature ambassadors greeting golfers at the Westin’s serene Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course. Iguanas, crocodiles, Coati-Mundi, and white throated Magpie all make spontaneous appearances during the course of 18 spectacular Reserva Conchal golf holes.

If you’re not star-struck by the wild kingdom aspect of Reserva Conchal’s 7,000-yards of jungle splendor, the sheer environmental radiance of your golf round can take your breath away.

Breathe the Air of Costa Rica

If you’ve never contemplated the world’s environment prior to your Costa Rica vacation, Reserva Conchal will graciously introduce you to what a wonderful world it can be. The Westin Golf Resort and Spa is so-eco conscious, they’ve set the bar into the hospitality stratosphere for combining luxury and sustainability.

The ocean, the mountains, the air and the golf

The air, the terrain, the ocean, and the Westin Golf Resort and Spa is so environmentally pure, they’ve achieved something called a Positive Carbon footprint. That means when you play at the Reserva Conchal, you’re actually breathing and experiencing a round of golf that creates 25 percent more oxygen than necessary for the good.

So regardless of what your scorecard shows after playing 18 holes featuring ocean views, detours into the jungle, and elevations worthy of your first foray into Costa Rican yodeling, at the end of the round you’ve done everyone on the planet a positive carbon good thing. Talk about a golf win-win.

The surrounding scenery is breathtaking

Your Reserva Conchal golf round is surrounded by lush green hills, fresh air bordering on obscene, and service from a golf course team that is so friendly it could make Mother Teresa blush. When you’re not being offered a cold towel, a slice of fresh pineapple, or a home brewed Imperial beer, the Reserva Conchal team makes you feel like you’ve achieved VIP status, regardless of your scorecard.

Bullish on Golf

The ringleader of the Reserva Conchal goodwill team is Carlos Rojas Soto, the course’s Director of Golf. For Carlos, smiling is a way of life. Soto offers a wealth of knowledge for any golfer looking to improve his or her game, the best place to purchase sushi in the neighboring town of Tamarindo, or how to ride a bull during Costa Rica’s festival season.

The dramatic 7th hole at Reserva Conchal

Soto is the person in charge of coordinating long distance tee times at the award-winning Reserva Conchal Golf Course. He’s also in charge of maintaining the course’s pristine conditions. Soto’s team annually hosts a Latin America PGA event, so his goal is to balance the best of both worlds for both vacationers and A-player alike.

A Positive Experience

The Reserva Conchal is a glorious mix of Pacific Ocean shots, course management doglegs, undulating greens, mind-testing approach shots, and interacting with the wildlife that coexists amiably with this Robert Trent Jones Jr. prized offspring.

Reserva Conchal 18th Hole

After 18 holes of 82-degree adventure, you’re handed another cold towel to refresh. As Soto and attendant Calis, his golf loving right hand, clean your clubs, they ask what you think about Costa Rican golf. You can’t help but smile back at the beaming duo’s loaded question that has but one answer.

Just then, you hear another Howler Monkey barking from the treetops. It’s at that point you realize that the Reserva Conchal golf experience has left a positive carbon footprint on your heart.

Sunset at Reserva Conchal

For more information on custom golf packages to Reserva Conchal visit Tee Times Costa Rica at http://www.teetimescostarica.com/ or give Fabio a call at toll-free 1-866-448-3182.

Tim Cotroneo is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer specializing in travel, business, and golf.