Royal Isabela - both great and strange

[Jay Flemma]

http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/the_golf_rum_diaries_royal_isabela_puerto_ricos_garden_of_delight

[Daniel Jones]

Great read, Jay. Enjoyed the background you provided before diving into the golf stuff. Those palm trees have got to go! But...looks like I have another reason to head to PR.

[BHoover]

I haven't read the article.  But I played Royal Isabela a few years ago when we were on vacation in PR.  I enjoyed it and would play it again.  I don't think "strange" is the word I would use to describe this course.

[Amol Yajnik]

Enjoyed your writeup Jay.  This resort has been on my list ever since it opened, sounds like a great place to take my wife for a long weekend, especially to escape the winter up here in Boston.  The picture of the trees on 13 is odd to say the least, but it sounds like there are plenty of good holes on the course to take away from the tree issue on a couple of holes.

[Jay Flemma]

10 and 13 need to be fixed and a few tee boxes have issues with shrubs and bushes in your face as you tee off...but the geen complexes are superlative and the terrain is magnificent. More pix coming shortly.

[Greg Tallman]

10 and 13 need to be fixed and a few tee boxes have issues with shrubs and bushes in your face as you tee off...but the geen complexes are superlative and the terrain is magnificent. More pix coming shortly.

Tell me about the turf and playkng options, thus far your top facilities are pure aerial golf... And dont forget we have played together,  sure would have thought you would appreciate playing options more than your list has revealed.

[Jay Flemma]

Here's just a few of the trees that pepper the 13th fairway



Here's the curtain of trees you have to go around or hit over on the par-5 10th.  the green is tucked behind them waaaaay left.  I hit a 6-iron over them, but ran through the narrow fwy into a bunker.  Same hot next day clipped trees, dropped straight down and was at the base of the roots. it took me three more just to get back into play.



This avocado tree you have to carry on 7 is a rarity and I guess is easy to avoid...most of the time...



But there are great things too!

It's a blind tee shot, but a big fade off the tee may drive this green!



It's a phenomenal opening hole:



See the pin tucked behind the volcano bunker? Cool!



View from behind the mound



The private 11th green!



I'm standing on the tee box of the amazing 12th



17

[BHoover]

10 and 13 need to be fixed and a few tee boxes have issues with shrubs and bushes in your face as you tee off...but the geen complexes are superlative and the terrain is magnificent. More pix coming shortly.

In what way do 10 and 13 need to be fixed? What does that even mean? Why?

[Jay Flemma]

Greg, it's a mix...some holes are penal architecture, some are strategic.  Most are sublime, some are ridiculous.  It varies from hole to hole.  And remember, this 18 will be split up as more golf holes come on line.  The entire thing is still a work in progress.

Off shore Rank order is still:

1 Dye Fore
2 Teeth
3 Mid Ocean
4 Diamante Dunes/Cabo Ocean

You cant putt RI anywhere on any list since they are going to mix and match as more holes get designed.

Brian - look at the photos...it's nothing a chain saw and machete can't fix.

[BHoover]

I played the course, I don't need to see the pics. I think your "fixes" are superfluous, except I do concede that the treeson 13 are a bit odd.

[Greg Tallman]

This avocado tree you have to carry on 7 is a rarity and I guess is easy to avoid...most of the time...

How many tee boxes in front of the one from which the photo was taken? Still no issue carrying the tree? Ladies tee?

[Jay Flemma]

The ladies' tee is to the side of the tree.  The course has a whopping 126 tee boxes...that averages out to seven per hole.  A little overkill in places.  Others are scattered on cliff edges along the coastline.