WHITE SHARK SEEN IN BAJA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

(So…what is a headline like this doing in a golf magazine?)

No, not cruising around the water, but cruising the hills scouting the best locations for golf holes. Yes it is Greg Norman in the hunt again for other award winning projects.

In mid-March a helicopter sat down around 10am near the Bajamar Golf Course, a few K south of Rosarito Beach, sort of midway between there and Ensenada. Out strode the Shark. It was the press preview of La Punta, another Bay View Grand development, one of the biggest developers in Mexico. The building plans for the condo units at La Punta were well laid out. This was documented by glimpses of the foundations and first walls going up above the ocean cliffs. Then Greg took a stride around the site for the golf course La Costa, 250 acres of hills and gullys. The press rushed (struggled) up the nearby mountain with Greg as he explained his latest calculations.

Then it was back in the heli to somewhere in Southern Cal for an inspection of his project there. (Driving back on I5 there was an outdoor board with a picture of Norman supervising that golf course. At 75 mph it is hard to read exactly where it is going to be. Maybe some aware S.Cal person can fill me in).

La Costa when completed will join a quartet of Baja courses that dissolve the myth that Mexican golf courses are all that expensive. As you cross the border there is the Tijuana Country Club, an excellent track. Just a few miles later going south is Real del Mar, an undulating 18 with water and trees. Then to Bajamar for 27 holes with almost no trees and semi flat with four holes along the ocean. Besides being $79 midweek, with the twilight rate $40, they have the best triple-decker tuna sandwich with fries for $6. The final stop was just outside Ensenada for the Baja Country Club. How’s M-F for $47? S-S for $57 and senior rates at $41 and $45. It is most challenging of the courses with 12 acres of lakes in their 250 acres.

No comprende espanol? No es problema. Tourist places all know English. A few gas stations may not be as good, but sign language works for “fill it up” or just hand $20 and let them do it. Let’s discuss money. They take American dollars so changing into pesos is really not necessary but you do get about 10% more from it. Credit cards, especially MasterCard, AMEX did not do well. VISA fair, travelers checks …nada.

So learn a little Spanish, dress comfortably, drink bottled water and drive CAREFULLY on both the toll and free road. The toll road is better maintained and faster but the free road is picturesque (and a lot more of a challenge) going through roadside shopping areas and native towns. The tolls are around $2.50 every 50 miles or so. Stay in the right lane as signs come at you fast for exits and some drive like they are in the famous Baja road races.

My overall impression of Baja? There is Michaelangelo doing the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Father asking when will it be finished. His reply, “When it is finished”.