Golf Costa Rica – Pura Vida

Golf the Pura Vida in Costa Rica

By Dave Finn as published on pages 36 and 37 of  the January Issue of  Golf Central Magazine

Costa Rica is one of the most environmentally conscious countries in the world.  In fact, 25% of the land mass is dedicated to parks, marine reserves and wildlife refuges.  It’s no wonder they have adopted the motto “Pura Vida” which translates to “Good Life”.

Costa Rica offers temperatures that hover between 70 and 80 degrees all year round. Perfect weather for golf.  There are two main seasons – the ‘dry season’ and the ‘green season’ which starts in mid May and lasts until mid November.  Either way you can always get you round in during the mornings as it only rains like clockwork in the afternoon.  There are 11 golf courses to be tested and below are my favourite 4 courses in descending order.

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Riviera Maya Golf

Monumental Memories of Riviera Maya Golf, Mexico

By Dave Finn as published in the October 2024 issue of Golf Central Magazine

What’s your pleasure?  Is it wading into the Caribbean Sea or plunging into the crystal-clear freshwater cenotes?  It is exploring the many archeological sites or simply chilling around the pool with a cool beverage.  Either way the Riviera Maya Golf in Mexico is the perfect winter getaway – me included, on more than one occasion.  It stretches over 140kms along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum to just south of Cancun and is home to several world-class golf courses just waiting to be played.  Here is a quick rundown of the courses I’ve recently played just to ‘whet your whistle’.

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Bermuda Grand Slam of Golf

Bermuda Grand Slam of Golf

By Dave Finn as published on pages 38 and 39 of November 2024 issue of Golf Central Magazine.

Port Royal Golf Course – Hole #16

Rich with history and architecture, blessed with safe friendly people, Bermuda offers world-class golf, pink sandy beaches, crystal clear water and magnificent restaurants all within an easy 2½ direct flight from most major cities on the eastern seaboard of North America.  The weather is perfect year-round, and the scenery is second to none.

For us golfers there are five 18-hole championship courses, one 9-hole and an 18-hole par-3 to test your skills.  In fact, Bermuda boasts as having the highest concentration of golf courses per square mile in the world that takes up almost 17% of the country’s 21.6 square miles of real estate.

From 2007 to 2014, Bermuda proudly hosted the PGA Bermuda Grand Slam of Golf in mid-October pairing the winners of all four majors in a 36-hole event vying for bragging rights and a $1.3 million prize purse.

Here you can play some of the more picturesque courses in the world as well as follow alongside the footsteps of the most decorated professional golfers. 2010 participant Martin Kaymer reportedly said, “It’s like a paradise, playing golf in paradise” and I could not agree any more.

During my brief visit I only got a chance to play four of their courses and I was not disappointed.

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Laying Low in Abaco Bahamas

Laying Low in Abaco

By Jane Finn, Photography by Dave Finn as published in the November 2023 Issue of Planet Golf Review

The Bahama Breeze is a popular drink here in the Outer Islands, but for a sailor yearning to set out on a sea of adventure, it’s the wind in your sail, the song in your heart and the skip in your step that gives you the courage and freedom to chart your own course.

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life

It’s late afternoon and a balmy 27° Celsius when we touched down in Marsh Harbour, the nation’s third-largest settlement behind Nassau and Freeport. Still, there’s plenty of time to pick up groceries at Maxwell’s and store our gear aboard our rental boat before heading to Snappas Chill & Grill for dinner. It’s Monday, and the place is hopping. William Albury is tinkling the ivory keys, and as we went our way to the back of the restaurant, the crowd erupts in a passionate, if not precisely harmonious, rendition of Brown Eyed Girl. A local tribute to all the mothers and daughters, sisters, friends, and girlfriends gathered here to celebrate that life is good today!

As we settle in at our table overlooking the twinkling lights of the harbour, I take a deep breath, willing myself to slow down, relax and enjoy being on ‘island time.’ Magically, a Hibiscus Kiss appears before me, and the blackened mahi-mahi and grilled shrimp that follow are equally delicious. Gradually, the busyness of the past several weeks starts to fade, and I soon feel like I don’t have a worry in the world. Gone is the stress of packing, repacking, answering last-minute emails, plane delays, and then racing to make connections. For the next ten days, we are going to disconnect to reconnect. No cell phones, no Netflix, no What’s App, no Mr. Google – only our wits, GPS to navigate the waters and a marine radio to communicate with those onshore. I can’t wait for the journey to begin! Continue reading

Born To Be Wild – Costa Rica

BORN TO BE WILD

Jane Finn immerses herself in nature and discover why Costa Rica may be “The Happiest Place on Earth!”

By Jane Finn, Photography by David Finn

As published in the April 2021 edition of Planet Golf Review

¡Pura Vida! ¡Pura Vida! In Costa Rica, whether you’re traversing a mountain trail, hiking in the jungle, relaxing by the water or ordering shi-frijo for lunch, you’re bound to be the recipient of this distinctive Tico greeting. Two simple words that translate as “Good Life,” but how do you define it?

Is it catching the perfect wave, thundering across a deserted beach on horseback or playing a round of golf beneath a jungle canopy? Is it meeting new people, savouring the local cuisine, volunteering or a combination of all or some of these pursuits?

For me, ¡Pura Vida! means doing more of what you love to do. Walking your happy path, wherever it may lead, and on this trip, it led us to the magical, majestic Pacific Coast.

I have to admit as I touch down in Costa Rica, I am not too impressed with San Jose. It’s boisterous, crowded and sprawling.  Where is the peace and serenity, the nourishment I crave to feed my soul? However, within minutes of leaving the city, I get the answer to my question.  Zipping along the highway en route to Jaco, the buildings that lined the narrow city streets soon give way to green, verdant rainforests, and the rallying cries of scarlet macaws replace honking horns, welcoming me to a piece of paradise on earth.

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Challenge Golf in Costa Rica

Challenge Golf: Empowering People of All Abilities

by Jane Finn

As published in the April 2021 Issue of Planet Golf Review

I have listened to hundreds of TED Talks and paid big bucks to hear motivational speakers, but it has been a long time since I have been as inspired as I was after having lunch at the 18th & Greene with José Quesada.

José is a natural redhead, a spitfire, a bundle of energy, and a force to be reckoned with, who happens to be the PGA Director of Golf for Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort whose commitment and contribution to the game far exceeds his position. When José is not dreaming up innovative events or making improvements to an already exceptional course, he finds ways to make golf accessible to anyone who wants to play.

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Cooking Lessons at Los Tamarindos Mexico

Los Tamarindos and Tequila Restaurants

as published in the November 2018 issue of Planet Golf Review.

San Josè del Cabo Mexico – It’s just after eight on Saturday morning. The hotel is quiet at this time of day with only a few people on the beach catching some early rays. With cafe in hand, I thought this would be a great spot to sit and quietly make notes, but I no sooner got settled into my lounger when I spotted a whale spout and then another and another. It was game on as they arched and breached and cavorted along the ocean’s surface before making a deep dive that signalled they were moving on to entertain another group of onlookers.   What an awesome way to start my morning! I figure it was nature’s way of reminding me that you’ve got to do more than just sip the coffee, you’ve also got to savour the moment, wherever you are.

Los Tamarindos Owner and Chef Enrique Silva

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with one of the most gracious chefs I have ever met and a man with a vision. Twenty two years ago Enrique Silva decided to move from “the front of the house” to the kitchen when he opened the Tequila Restaurant in the historical district of San José del Cabo, and despite the challenges, he’s never looked back.

Before becoming a restaurateur, Chef Enrique was an agricultural engineer which perhaps is the reason he gives “farm-to-table” a whole new meaning. In 2003, he bought a 17-acre farm on the edge of town where he grows organic produce to supply not only his restaurant and others in town but also his outdoor café and cooking school Los Tamarindos.

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Escape to Nature – where to golf, explore and unwind in Costa Rica

Escape to Nature

Where to golf, explore and unwind in Costa Rica

By Jane Finn as published in the Summer 2018 Issue of Travel Life Magazine

¡Pura Vida! ¡Pura Vida! In Costa Rica, whether you’re traversing a mountain range, hiking in the jungle, relaxing by the water or ordering shi-frijo for lunch, you’re bound to be the recipient of this distinctive Tico greeting. Two simple words that translate as “Good Life” but how do you define it?

Is it dangling on the precipice of a volcano, zipping above the treetops, hearing the roar of a waterfall or playing a round and spotting an animal in their native habitat? Is it meeting new people, savouring the flavours of a region, volunteering or a combination of all or some of these pursuits?

Whether you’re traveling solo, as a twosome, ‘fore-some’ or family, in Costa Rica you can immerse yourself in nature, get grounded and rediscover the essence of who you are.

For me, ¡Pura Vida! means doing more of what you love to do. Walking your happy path, wherever it may lead. For now; we’ll focus on the magical, mystical Pacific Coast.

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Costa Rica Challenge Golf

Costa Rica Challenge Golf

Algo Mas Por Que Vivir – Something Else to Live For!

by Jane Finn

I’ve listened to hundreds of TED talks and paid big bucks to listen to motivational speakers, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been as inspired as I was today after having lunch at the 18th with José Quesada.

José Quesada

José is a natural redhead, a spitfire, a bundle of energy, and a force to be reckoned with, who just happens to be the PGA Director of Golf for Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort. When José is not dreaming up innovative destination events or making improvements to an already exceptional course, he’s giving back to the community and that is the focus of this post.

Golf is an amazing game and a challenging sport for those of us who are able bodied. Just imagine how much more challenging it would be if you were blind, had autism or Down’s syndrome, were missing a limb, or were completely paralyzed.

Challenge Golf Amputee

Twelve years ago, after a close friend became disabled after an accident, José set out, with the support of his employer, on a mission to help people with physical or mental disabilities find hope to overcome their difficulties to not only survive but thrive.

Disabled golfer at Costa Rica Challenge Golf

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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.

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