Royal Isabela - New On the Northwest Coast of Puerto Rico - David Pfaff

[Mike Sweeney]

Saw this in Golf Digest and did a search to see if it has been mentioned. Looks pretty interesting:

http://royalisabela.com/our-story.php

[Mike Sweeney]

Weekends seem to more international, thought I would try again:



http://www.golfvacationinsider.com/caribbean-golf-vacations/royal-isabela-5761

[Matt Schmidt]

I'm in Puerto Rico for a cruise first week in April.  I have a day ahead of the cruise and two after in Puerto Rico.  So I've already reached out to this club and they are willing to let me come check it out.  It looks interesting enough for a visit.

Big question is whether my wife and kids will let me!  I think it is about 1.5 to 2 hours from San Juan.

[BHoover]

I'm going to Puerto Rico with the in-laws in two weeks for a wedding. The groom has arranged a pre-wedding outing at Royal Isabela. I finally received word today that we will be able to play there. Each of us had to submit bios--education, job history and club memberships--before we were approved. I'm not really sure why we had to jump through so many hoops, but whatever.

I'm looking forward to the opportunity...not least because it's a chanc to escape the Ohio winter.

[Tom_Doak]

I have not heard David Pfaff's name in many years.  He worked for Pete Dye for a while, several years before I did ... Pete had him do the drawings for golf courses when he had to have some.  If I remember right, he drew the original plan set for the TPC at Sawgrass.

[Brad Klein]

The place is an interesting mix of a spectacular setting and an inconsistent execution. It's run by world class tennis guys who think they know golf and come close.

http://golfweek.com/news/2011/may/09/raters-notebook-royal-isabela/?RatersNotebook

[David_Tepper]

Brad K. -

Charlie Pasarell is more than just a "tennis guy." He was on the U.S. Davis Cup team several times and he played (and lost) one of the truly epic matches in the history of Wimbledon against Pancho Gonzales.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/pancho-gonzales-and-charlie-pasarell-1.913067

DT

[Brad Klein]

David, so noted -- and edited. Thanks. You are right about that.

Their penchant for testing people to the extreme pushes the golf course just a little too much in places, but it's still a fun place and worth a visit. They have land for 3-4 more courses, though I don't think the other (adjoining) sites are quite as dramatically perched on the water.

[BHoover]

Personally, I was a bit surprised and taken aback at the fact that we were asked (required) to provide a biography before being "approved" to play.  As I mentioned, we each had to provide the club with our educational background, job history and other club memberships.  The whole things smacks of elitism run wild...but I'm going along with the wedding party, so I'm not going to rock the boat.

[Carl Nichols]

Brad:
How do you think Royal Isabela stacks up against other courses on Puerto Rico -- especially those West of San Juan?  Will be in Dorado Beach in April with some, but not unlimited, license to play. 

[Doug Lindahl]

Check out the course ratings and slopes:
  Naturals 80.3  155   
 Black 78.2 148     
 Blue 75.7  145
White 74.3 142       
  Gold 74.0 140     
 Red 73.5 136

Ouch!

[Tom Yost]

I have not heard David Pfaff's name in many years.  He worked for Pete Dye for a while, several years before I did ... Pete had him do the drawings for golf courses when he had to have some.  If I remember right, he drew the original plan set for the TPC at Sawgrass.

Hmm... surprise!

[Anthony Gray]

  Jump through hoops but at least you can get on. I don't have a problem with a course protecting its members. Is that island green at this course or a different Pfaff course?

  Anthony

[BHoover]

  Jump through hoops but at least you can get on. I don't have a problem with a course protecting its members. Is that island green at this course or a different Pfaff course?

  Anthony

I agree that a club has every right to protect its members by not allowing unfettered access.  But, I don't see the point in asking for educational background and job history as a condition for granting access.  I think it's reasonable to ask if one is a member at another club and to ask for proof of handicap.  But to ask for education and job information seems a bit elitist, IMO.

[Anthony Gray]

  Jump through hoops but at least you can get on. I don't have a problem with a course protecting its members. Is that island green at this course or a different Pfaff course?

  Anthony

I agree that a club has every right to protect its members by not allowing unfettered access.  But, I don't see the point in asking for educational background and job history as a condition for granting access.  I think it's reasonable to ask if one is a member at another club and to ask for proof of handicap.  But to ask for education and job information seems a bit elitist, IMO.

  Tell them you've golfed with Mayhugh. Works for me.

[BHoover]

I just got back from a week in Puerto Rico where we attended my wife's cousin's wedding. I had the chance, along with some guys in the wedding party, to play a round at Royal Isabela on the NW side of the island. When I'm not quite so tired, I'll post some thoughts and even try to post some pictures that I took of the course. It was definitely a memorable experience, but I'm not sure whether it would be an absolut favorite with the GCA community. Nevertheless, it's worth playing if you're going to find yourself in that part of the world...and the views from the cliffs overlooking the sea are worth the (rather hefty) price of admission.

Now, off to bed...

[Mark Bourgeois]

Must have been one hell of a wedding. Any chance of sobering up and posting a pic or two?

[BHoover]

Must have been one hell of a wedding. Any chance of sobering up and posting a pic or two?

Sorry for the delay...still recovering. Actually, I completely forgot about posting pics. I put them on Facebook, but I'll have to figure out how to put them up here.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Saw this course/resort on Golf Channel this morning as Matt Ginella did a review after spending a few days there.

[BHoover]

I played Royal Isabela back in February 2012 when my wife and I went to Puerto Rico for a wedding.  The course sits on the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean.  The front nine (which I forgot to photograph) plays inland but features some dramatic elevation changes.  The back nine plays along the cliffs and, although more flat than the front, is full of great views.  I played with a group of guys who wanted to play from the tips.  From all the way back, the course plays to about 7500 yards, but the elevation and the firm & fast playing conditions make the course play much shorter than the yardage on the card.

I will post some photos later today as soon as I can upload them to my computer.

View of #10 from the tee


#10 fairway


#10 green


#12 tee


#12 green


#12 green


#12 green


#14 tee




#14 fairway




#14 green (huge double green shared with #12)


#17 tee




#17 green






Long and left over #17 green


#18 fairway looking back toward tee


Clubhouse view from #18 green

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Here's Matt Ginella's video:

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/ginellas-journeys-puerto-rico/