Hola and Gracias Lorena Ochoa

Hola and Gracias Lorena Ochoa

Riviera Maya Mexico – Dave Finn plays golf with a former world No.1

24 December 2013

By Dave Finn

Riviera Maya Mexico – How often do you get the chance to play golf with a former number #1 golfer in the world? No, not Rory, Lorena Ochoa – the #1 female golfer in world for 157 weeks in a row and Mexico’s national icon.

That was my great fortune when I was invited to participate in the Annual Aero México Golf Tournament at the El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. While it was only a single hole and a single shot, I understand how Lorena has managed to win the hearts of not only her fellow Mexicans but fans around the world.

Lorena did more than simply lend her ‘Celebrity’ name to the event. From the Opening Celebration Dinner to the charity auction held to raise funds for her foundation and throughout the entire event, Lorena was engaged and involved creating magic ‘Mexican moments’ not only for the tournament participants but for others who did not have the same opportunity that I had to meet her personally. More on that later…

I had played the El Camaleon Golf Course on a previous visit to Cancun and in my mind I rated it one of my ‘top 5’ favorites so it was with great anticipation that we headed out for our day of play. When we signed up for the tournament, we had been asked to submit our official handicaps and upon arrival that morning learned that we were playing individually using the ‘Stableford’ scoring system. What can I say, I was ‘jacked up’ to say the least for the opportunity to play with Lorena Ochoa and the possibility of winning a return trip to Mexico!

Our group started off on the 13th hole, a narrow Par 5. I drew first and hit my first drive straight down the middle of the fairway, in prime position to attack the green in two. My guest Mark launched his drive just as straight and almost as long. Meanwhile our playing partner Patricio snap hooks his and Humberto slices his into the mangoes that line the fairway. Unfortunately, they both have to hit provisional shots, my worst nightmare. Fortunately for them both found their first shots but had to lay-up. Feeling confident that I could make the green in 2, I pulled out my trusty 3 wood, only to chunk it 20 yards. Determined to salvage the hole I take out my 5 wood and hook it into the mangoes and its’ all ‘downhill’ from there. My opening hole scores as a triple bogey 8. Everyone else bogeyed. All I can say is thank goodness the drinks on the course were included in our round!

Finish reading Dave’s article on Golf Travel and Leisure.com