Traveling South of the boarder from San Diego

[John Gosselin]

Traveling to San Diego in a couple of weeks and need some feedback on how safe it is currently to go into Mexico for some golf? Last time I was in San Diego we went down to Tijuana Country Club and Bajamar to see something a little different and I was hoping to go again this trip. With all the news on the drug war and boarder towns is this a bad idea or is it business as usual?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Anthony_Nysse]

John,
  Sandy Clark from Barona Creek GC posted the following on the GCSAA website regarding traveling south of the boarder when the GIS is in town.

"I don't know how many of you get the National Geographic channel but last night they had a program on the drug wars and Tijuana.  It was about the time during the 90's when the Felix family ruled all drug shipments from Tijuana into the United States.  It was beyond violent and gruesome.  Unfortunately, things are even worse today.  71 homicides have occurred in December with 24 taking place in the last two days.  Wild shootouts are happening in broad daylight on the streets of Tijuana.  Beheaded bodies are being dumped to send competing gangs, the police, justice system and military a serious message.  603 murders have been recorded in 2009.  Innocent bystanders are being killed routinely since the gunfire erupts any place any time.  For all those coming to San Diego for the GIS, please eliminate any plans you may have had for crossing the border.  Tijuana must not be on your things to do list.  I mentioned this on the conference site earlier this year but I plan to mention it a couple more times before the show.  All of us locals want to see you and your families enjoy all of San Diego and Southern California but we don't want to see anyone kidnapped or worse.  Please consider this a very realistic reminder from a native San Diego GCSAA member.  We would love to see huge numbers visiting our city and enjoying the benefits of the show.  Please avoid the border!"

[Patrick Kiser]

John,

I would back Sandy's statement as well.

The bottom line is you go down there at your own risk.  That holds true even at a resort.

I commented a little while back about Mexico and was told I was throwing blanket generalities about Mexico.  The response is bullshit.  I miss Mexico and going down there, but it simply is not worth the risk in my mind and hasn't been for some time.

Especially Bajamar.  DO NOT GO THERE.  We had a buddy trip down there two years ago and we used cash for most of our trip except at that place.  Immediate card fraud upon returning to the US.  All three of us.

We also had a nice close encounter of the Federales kind on our way back for no reason.  Just a cool $300 kept us out of a ticket.

Try New Mexico instead...

 

[Kalen Braley]

"I don't know how many of you get the National Geographic channel but last night they had a program on the drug wars and Tijuana.  It was about the time during the 90's when the Felix family ruled all drug shipments from Tijuana into the United States.  It was beyond violent and gruesome.  Unfortunately, things are even worse today.  71 homicides have occurred in December with 24 taking place in the last two days.  Wild shootouts are happening in broad daylight on the streets of Tijuana.  Beheaded bodies are being dumped to send competing gangs, the police, justice system and military a serious message.  603 murders have been recorded in 2009.  Innocent bystanders are being killed routinely since the gunfire erupts any place any time.  For all those coming to San Diego for the GIS, please eliminate any plans you may have had for crossing the border.  Tijuana must not be on your things to do list.  I mentioned this on the conference site earlier this year but I plan to mention it a couple more times before the show.  All of us locals want to see you and your families enjoy all of San Diego and Southern California but we don't want to see anyone kidnapped or worse.  Please consider this a very realistic reminder from a native San Diego GCSAA member.  We would love to see huge numbers visiting our city and enjoying the benefits of the show.  Please avoid the border!"

Other than that though, sounds like a nice place to visit!! 

[Bill_McBride]

I think the problems are in the border towns and maybe in the wrong neighborhoods of Mexico City and Guadalajara.  There are always the wrong places to go in every big city.

A couple of years ago I went south of Phoenix down to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) to play Forrest Richardson's Links at Las Palomas.     No problems there at all, but again, there were most likely some places to avoid.  At my age, that's less of a problem than it used to be!

I agree that blanket negative statements about all of our neighbor to the south are not right.  Stay out of the border towns.

[John Gosselin]

Thanks for the responses and advice. Looks like crossing the border is out this year as I would make a lousy hostage.

[jeffwarne]

With all the news on the drug war and boarder towns ?

I thought this was  a surfing thread.

[Ian Larson]

I just got back from a surfing trip up and down Baja and had no trouble whatsoever. I wouldn't recommend a bunch of guys in khaki shorts, cell phones clipped to belts and logoed golf shirts going into sketchy Tijuana though. You're only asking for it. It's just knowing where and where not to go.

[Bill_McBride]

I just got back from a surfing trip up and down Baja and had no trouble whatsoever. I wouldn't recommend a bunch of guys in khaki shorts, cell phones clipped to belts and logoed golf shirts going into sketchy Tijuana though. You're only asking for it. It's just knowing where and where not to go.

Sometimes attitude can keep you safe - or perhaps a good guide.

Years ago my Orlando electrical contractor took me to a biker bar in Leesburgh after a round at Mission Hills.  I think he picked the bar after seeing my golf outfit - a pink Polo (complete with pony logo) and white shorts.

Walked out of there alive.  Won a few pool games but generally kept a low profile - as low as you can keep in a biker bar in a pink shirt and white shorts!

[Greg Tallman]

John,

I would back Sandy's statement as well.

The bottom line is you go down there at your own risk.  That holds true even at a resort.

I commented a little while back about Mexico and was told I was throwing blanket generalities about Mexico.  The response is bullshit.  I miss Mexico and going down there, but it simply is not worth the risk in my mind and hasn't been for some time.

Especially Bajamar.  DO NOT GO THERE.  We had a buddy trip down there two years ago and we used cash for most of our trip except at that place.  Immediate card fraud upon returning to the US.  All three of us.

We also had a nice close encounter of the Federales kind on our way back for no reason.  Just a cool $300 kept us out of a ticket.

Try New Mexico instead...

 

Patrick, Your blanket statements are inaccurate, uninfomred and misleading. Speak about that which you know, speculate about your golf swing rather than painting a country of 100 million by the actions of a few hundred in a couple of areas.

So based on your flawed logic the United States is off limits because of Compton, the ninth ward, liberty city... and on and on? Really?

Stay out of TJ and Juarez, enjoy the coastal areas and some of the coolest historical sites you'll see anywhere. 

[Patrick Kiser]

John,

I would back Sandy's statement as well.

The bottom line is you go down there at your own risk.  That holds true even at a resort.

I commented a little while back about Mexico and was told I was throwing blanket generalities about Mexico.  The response is bullshit.  I miss Mexico and going down there, but it simply is not worth the risk in my mind and hasn't been for some time.

Especially Bajamar.  DO NOT GO THERE.  We had a buddy trip down there two years ago and we used cash for most of our trip except at that place.  Immediate card fraud upon returning to the US.  All three of us.

We also had a nice close encounter of the Federales kind on our way back for no reason.  Just a cool $300 kept us out of a ticket.

Try New Mexico instead...

 

Patrick, Your blanket statements are inaccurate, uninfomred and misleading. Speak about that which you know, speculate about your golf swing rather than painting a country of 100 million by the actions of a few hundred in a couple of areas.

So based on your flawed logic the United States is off limits because of Compton, the ninth ward, liberty city... and on and on? Really?

Stay out of TJ and Juarez, enjoy the coastal areas and some of the coolest historical sites you'll see anywhere.  

Greg,

I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I speak from personal experience and not some logic.  It is not uninformed or inaccurate from my experience.

Sorry but I've been going down to Mexico for years.  In fact since 1985 or so.  Less this last decade, but certainly several times a year up until 2000.  I've been pulled over so many times and robbed by the Federales there it's not even funny.  I've just brushed if off in sort of being used to it.

To name a few of the places this has happened:  Tijuana (obviously), Mazatlan, Ensenada, San Felipe, Rosarito, Cabo San Lucas

It's just gotten old I'm afraid and ... even more expensive now.  The buddy trip two years ago was the end of it for me.  I was the one that recommended the trip to my friends, because I enjoy Mexico very much and remembered both Real Del Mar and Bajamar for being a not too distant getaway at a fair price.  But it's just not worth the trouble for me anymore and I regret putting my friends through this experience.  It's not worth the harassment in my opinion.

So I stand by what I stated in that you go down there at your own risk.

John specifically mentioned Bajamar and all three of us experienced card fraud from that place.  It was the only place where my two friends used their cards during the trip.  Everything else was either just on my card or just cash.  So it was the only place where the fraud could have occurred.  It appears we're not the only ones having experienced this out of Bajamar.  A little web searching will reveal the place has a problem.

I'll just leave it at that.

[Greg Tallman]

John,

I would back Sandy's statement as well.

The bottom line is you go down there at your own risk.  That holds true even at a resort.

I commented a little while back about Mexico and was told I was throwing blanket generalities about Mexico.  The response is bullshit.  I miss Mexico and going down there, but it simply is not worth the risk in my mind and hasn't been for some time.

Especially Bajamar.  DO NOT GO THERE.  We had a buddy trip down there two years ago and we used cash for most of our trip except at that place.  Immediate card fraud upon returning to the US.  All three of us.

We also had a nice close encounter of the Federales kind on our way back for no reason.  Just a cool $300 kept us out of a ticket.

Try New Mexico instead...

 

Patrick, Your blanket statements are inaccurate, uninfomred and misleading. Speak about that which you know, speculate about your golf swing rather than painting a country of 100 million by the actions of a few hundred in a couple of areas.

So based on your flawed logic the United States is off limits because of Compton, the ninth ward, liberty city... and on and on? Really?

Stay out of TJ and Juarez, enjoy the coastal areas and some of the coolest historical sites you'll see anywhere. 

Greg,

I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I speak from personal experience and not some logic.  It is not uninformed or inaccurate from my experience.

Sorry but I've been going down to Mexico for years.  In fact since 1985 or so.  Less this last decade, but certainly several times a year up until 2000.  I've been pulled over so many times and robbed by the Federales there it's not even funny.  I've just brushed if off in sort of being used to it.

To name a few of the places this has happened:  Tijuana (obviously), Mazatlan, Ensenada, San Felipe, Rosarito, Cabo San Lucas
You might be the first person ever to have lumped Cabo in with the other areas noted above. Kinda like me saying I have had less than great experiences in Torrance, Compton, Laredo and Coronado. I would be interested to hear about your experience in Cabo having lived here for quite some time and having not experienced anything dire I would offer that your blanketing the resorts of Cabo along with a drive trip through TJ to Ensaenada is indeed nothing short of absurd. Having lived in Mazatlan as well there is little your could tell me that would be a surprise. it IS the wild west.

It's just gotten old I'm afraid and ... even more expensive now.  The buddy trip two years ago was the end of it for me.  I was the one that recommended the trip to my friends, because I enjoy Mexico very much and remembered both Real Del Mar and Bajamar for being a not too distant getaway at a fair price.  But it's just not worth the trouble for me anymore and I regret putting my friends through this experience.  It's not worth the harassment in my opinion.

So I stand by what I stated in that you go down there at your own risk.

John specifically mentioned Bajamar and all three of us experienced card fraud from that place.  It was the only place where my two friends used their cards during the trip.  Everything else was either just on my card or just cash.  So it was the only place where the fraud could have occurred.  It appears we're not the only ones having experienced this out of Bajamar.  A little web searching will reveal the place has a problem.

I'll just leave at that.

[Adam_Messix]

I visited Cabo last year and found the area to remarkably safe and I drove around much of the area.  As with anywhere else, there are places to avoid, but if you stay in the Tourist corridor, you're safe. 

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