Forget the cold winds and spitting rain of Ballybunion and Bandon Dunes. Golfers who visit the Caribbean are willing to forsake a little history and tradition for a kinder and gentler climate. “Clients who consider the Caribbean are looking for an island golf experience,” said Matthew Diehl, marketing manager for Links Golf Travel [www.linksgolftravel.com]. “They want to play in the jungle, with views of the ocean and the mountains. They want to play along the coast, with palm trees swaying.”
Amongst aficionados of golf course design, the Caribbean has not traditionally been viewed as a standout destination. This, simply because the sun and surf that make the islands so appealing on so many levels is hell to pay on turf grass. The challenges of growing and maintaining first-rate playing surfaces have historically discouraged many top-shelf designers and developers from doing adventurous work in the Caribbean. But in the last ten years, this has changed, with the introduction of a new turf hybrid — Seashore Paspalum. “Agronomic advances are making golf more viable on the islands,” said Brian McCallen, acclaimed golf travel writer. “The new hybrids require less than half the pesticides of earlier grasses, are salt tolerant, and can even be irrigated with brackish water. They’re low maintenance, they’re very playable, and their fueling a boom in new, high quality courses.”
Among gorgeous golfing destinations, Caye Chapel [www.cayechapel.com] in Belize was chosen as one of the ten best.
Caye Chapel is the name of the island a short flight off the Belizean mainland that the golf course graces; in fact, most of this smallish caye is given over to the track, which moves north and south between saltwater ponds inhabited by tarpon and saltwater crocodiles. (Be VERY careful about retrieving errant shots!) The par-5 16th stretches 623 yards along the west side of the island, offering distant views of Ambergris Caye and the mainland.
Other destinations picked were: Punta Espada at Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, Four Seasons – Nevis, and Cinnamon Hill Ocean Course, Rose Hall Resort, Jamaica.
An unfortunate accident involving a KIA Sportage and a Club Car Golf Cart took place this evening at the North-East corner of the San Pedro Airstrip (on Coconut Drive).
Details are sketchy at this point as to what led to the accident, and The San Pedro Sun will be investigating and getting the details as they become available.
Amongst aficionados of golf course design, the Caribbean has not traditionally been viewed as a standout destination. This, simply because the sun and surf that make the islands so appealing on so many levels is hell to pay on turf grass. The challenges of growing and maintaining first-rate playing surfaces have historically discouraged many top-shelf designers and developers from doing adventurous work in the Caribbean. But in the last ten years, this has changed, with the introduction of a new turf hybrid — Seashore Paspalum. “Agronomic advances are making golf more viable on the islands,” said Brian McCallen, acclaimed golf travel writer. “The new hybrids require less than half the pesticides of earlier grasses, are salt tolerant, and can even be irrigated with brackish water. They’re low maintenance, they’re very playable, and their fueling a boom in new, high quality courses.”
Among gorgeous golfing destinations, Caye Chapel [www.cayechapel.com] in Belize was chosen as one of the ten best. 
Last night around 7pm electrician Secundino Gonzalez was making a house call to the residence of Elito Arceo when his parked motorbike was run over by an out of control golf cart. Witnesses report that the driver of the cart, Reed Purdy, appeared under the influence of alcohol and was speeding along the road that borders the south side of The Mansions Gated Community in the San Pablo area. Somehow Purdy lost control of his cart and completely ran over the parked motorbike while also damaging a section of the Arceo fence.
Police were called but had not yet arrived when The SPSun reported to the scene. At that time Purdy was not with his vehicle and witnesses stated that he claimed to be on a mission to replace the motorbike.
Early this morning at approximately 6:30 a.m. a collision between a truck and a golf cart claimed the life of a 21-year-old resident of Belmopan City. Vidal Escalante was driving Captain G's cart number 17 from the Mosquito Coast Area to town. The San Pedro Town Council dump truck was coming in the opposite direction heading to the dump site. Edmir Dominguez, 32, resident of San Pedro Town was the driver of the truck at the time.
Reports claim that Vidal fell asleep while driving and the cart swerved into the back wheel of the truck. Vidal was transported to Ambergris Hopes Clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body has been transported to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where it awaits a post mortem examination. Allegations are that Vidal had been drinking the night before but that has not yet been proven. According to Officer in Charge Dennis Arnold, that will be revealed during the post mortem.
Dominguez has not yet been charged with any crime since police investigations continue.
