Due to a change in work schedule, I was able to join my family for a final trip in 2011. Thanks to the fun of holiday travel and a mechanical problem we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day flying from Minneapolis to Phoenix to Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Cabo San Lucas. I appreciated Pat Mucci’s link to the Norad Santa tracker so that I could make sure we did not collide during the night.
The Cabo area has endured a number of challenges to its tourist business – (1) the economy; (2) the H1N1 scare (3) Violence in other areas of Mexico and (4) a lack of rainfall resulting in decreased quality irrigation water. While these factors are tough for the locals, they also provide opportunity for us to experience a wonderful destination that is eager to attract visitors.
A thrill during the trip involved catching a Striped Marlin in the Sea of Cortez with my son. My experience with such fishing was limited to watching old Wide World of Sports episodes involving B-List celebrities in very short shorts. In real life, Marlin fishing is more akin to hunting. You drive around looking for a fin and then throw out bait to entice the trophy. Our first target got away within minutes. Our second was a shark that put up a ferocious fight before figuring out how to bite the line.
Our third attempt was the charm. After getting the marlin near the boat 3 times, I allowed my son to wrestle with the thing. It took him about 15 minutes to get the job done. The captain encouraged us to keep the fish for a trophy and we agreed. I quickly regretted that decision with the dull thud of a club against the head of such a magnificent creature. The captain then urged us to have the fish mounted as a trophy. The Captain was quite vague about the cost but given my new status as a murderer I knew I was stuck. I paid a hefty deposit and read the fine print later – both the cost and the fact that the trophy would likely be a replica ensured this trophy will serve the purpose of providing a memory learned the hard way. Nonetheless, pictures like this temper the guilt:
During the trip I played one round at the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol. The Ocean Course is a fabulous experience, made the more so by an opportunity to meet the Director of Golf – our own Greg Tallman. The Ocean Course presents a unique experience of desert golf with ocean views. The 18th is a serious contender for one of the best closing holes anywhere. It is around 430 yards along the beach with a green that bears some resemblance to the 17th at the Old Course.
Ran’s write up is a wonderful overview.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/mexico/cabodelsol2/ These pictures of the 18th are stolen from him:
Tee shot:
Approach:
I strategically handled this hole by hitting my tee shot on the beach, a recovery shot on the back portion of the green and then four putting. It was an appropriate finish to a wildly inconsistent year of golf.