HOLY GOSH! Golfing In Medellin It's a well kept secret? Women allowed to play?

ColombiaBoard says on Feb 19, 2008, 10:50:

It had nothing to do with the fact that she's a lady. It's just that it's an old money private club, they look down on everybody and are not easily impressed, literally, not even by powerful drug barons, there's the story of Pablo Escobar trying to join the club and they said "Never", imagine that, so what did the infamous drug lord do? he told the union to go on strike, so they did for six months, the members said they'd rather close the club than let him join their little haven.

Actually there's another private club with a larger and better golf course, Club El Rodeo, so tell your wife to call or email them. There's another club outside the city, next to Rionegro, their location is beautiful and their golf course is the largest one, it's Club La Macarena.

If you plan to live in Medellin you'll eventually meet somebody who belongs to either of those clubs and they'll invite you there.

huskie says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:10:

The Club is private, you need to know someone to bring you as a guest, nothing to do with ladies not being allowed to play golf, lots of women play golf in Colombia.
If you belong to a private golf club where you live, maybe you can bring your membeship and perhaps the Club will have exchange privileges that will let you use clubs in Colombia
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:17:

Uh, I can't plan to live in Medellin unless there is golf assured...jajajaja We will bring the clubs if nothing more than a prop for the first ever public protest of no golf for tourists. Wonder if it would make Fox news.

WTF

The City of Medellin including businesses there must be out of the fricking minds, do they not travel to any popular vacation destinations? Don't offer golf to tourists, they will want the native women instead. Good gosh holy crap...I am so uptight about this...jajaja

Ready, Fire, Aim

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:19:

wah!

Ready, Fire, Aim

pedro says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:30:

Who administers the golf course that's built right near the Olaya Herrera airport?

que nota!

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:32:

huskie thanks, we don't need to belong to a club here really, as there are golf courses everywhere and in general are open to the public for a price...capitalism.

I suspesct that the clubs there are really more of a safe haven for the monied and their kids. Hopefully as things become more stable there both in reality and in people minds, they might open up the safe zones.

I am happy to hear that the women are playing there. Paraguay won the 2007 world cup of golf, women's, Colombia has about one of everything but nobody on the LPGA that I have heard about. Nor did I see a team (2) in the 2008 ladies world cup of golf.

What about the youth there?

Is Villeas doing anything to be a good role model for youth golf there?....

Ready, Fire, Aim

LDW says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:32:

Women golf in Colombia. I am sure of that.

I have never been to Medellin. When my life slows down, I will really need to check that place out, though I believe that Armenia's weather is very similar. What I don't know is what it would cost to get into any of the clubs in Cali, Medellin, or Armenia (Bogota would be too cold for golf and Cartagena would be too hot). I would have to assume that there would be an initiation fee (a share purchase??) and a minimum monthly amount that must be spent using the club's facilities.

Anyhow, I have my sights set on this one:

http://www.clubcampestrearmenia.com/

ColombiaBoard says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:45:

The golf course next to Olaya Herrera regional airport belongs to El Rodeo Club

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:52:

http://www.federacioncolombianadegolf.com/

thanks to google, I got the xlated version. My rosetta stone spanish 1-2 hasn't kicked in yet...I think there is a much more vibrant golf culture there I am able to see from here. We are going to bring the clubs no matter what..

Bucaramanga seems to be the golf nuts retreat

Ready, Fire, Aim

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:54:

Past PBH post on the subjet:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/golf-courses/

Ready, Fire, Aim

yummyj says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:57:

Villeas is only famous in the US? He only earns US dollars? Aren't we arrogant? (arrogant also = misinformed) What a shame the US dollar is weaker than the Canuck buck at the moment.

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 12:03:

yummy...sorry you lost me...on the arrogant portion

I suspect that Villeas is famious in Colombia. Not Tiger Woods famous but pretty well known.

Be a good time yummy with I suppose your currency being the looney, to move to America now. American know others compare much to us, but pointing it out just gets old. :)

Ready, Fire, Aim

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 12:23:

LDW- Armenia?...you been reading to much "international living" emails..jajajajaja

Ready, Fire, Aim

Medellin Traveler says on Feb 19, 2008, 14:07:

azunoman,

I have great contacts with the family who owns Club Campestre and Club La Macarena in Medellin.

Tell me more about yourself, golf background (you mentioned youth program) and any and all ideas related to what you would like to accomplish with regards to golf in Medellin.

If it sounds interesting enough, I will make a phone call on your behalf, but not promising anything.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

huskie says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:21:

Take a look here:

http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/murcia_juliana00.html

http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=1087

http://www.gatorzone.com/golf/women/bios.php?year=1998&bio=gonzalez.ht...

http://www.federacioncolombianadegolf.com/noticia.php?nt=21738

Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

durito says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:34:

His name is Camilo Villegas.

María José Uribe won the US women´s amatuer last year . There are a few other Colombian women playing professional golf in the US, though I´m not sure if any have yet made the LPGA tour.

LDW says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:25:

azunoman.....I have recently subscribed to International Living. I will have to look at their website again, because I do not recall seeing anything being posted in there about Armenia. I have seen an interesting article about Popayan, but nothing about Armenia.

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:59:

Medellin Travller, Me, I am a 2007 Tiger Woods Xbox 360 Legend, Muscular Dystrophy has kept me from what would be now my Championship Tour years, 50 I taught my wife to play so that when we travel I could still go the the course albeit as a caddy and sugar daddy..jajaja Uh...she getting pretty good for a rookie but he attitude of loving the game is there.

I am an avid supporter of youth sports with the credo "it takes an adult to take the fun out of a kids sport".
I don't want to be very hasty to judge a place I have yet been, I think there is a junior golf tournament taking place starting next week in Medellin.

For now I want my wife (Luz) to be able to play and me tag along and figure once we get to the Sheraton, the concierge will arrange something for us. Any other in to the local clubs would be much appreciated. Oh and I collect hats/towels and other memorabilia from the clubs that let us in...jajajajaj

Ready, Fire, Aim

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 17:07:

María José Uribe is attending UCLA...and yea..she can certainly golf....

Ready, Fire, Aim

azunoman says on Feb 19, 2008, 17:14:

huskie Thanks for the links to the Colombian lady golfers....we shall look out and root for them!

Juliana Murcia is going to ASU...uh..that right here in our hometown.

I fond the federacion link, thankfully google would xlate it for me. It looks that golf is healthy and alive there for sure.

Ready, Fire, Aim