excerpt from Escapes Magazine article "The Baja Trail" by David Bennett
As a golf professional who played golf throughout college, played professionally for several years and went on to make a career out of golf, it was nearly unthinkable to take a vacation that included the four letter word which had consumed our lives. So when my gorgeous wife Amy, came to me with the idea of a golf getaway for just the two of us, it was almost too good to be true. Our lives have changed dramatically over the past several years. l have moved into Resort management, Amy has a thriving photography business and we have three beautiful little girls at home. We rarely have time to think, let alone spend some time together. The thought of planning a vacation is daunting and the reality is that we cannot set up the logistics for more than a few days. Having moved to the Baja over a year ago, we have not had the chance to travel around and see the beauty of this magical land. So we took the plunge and headed out on a three day journey around the southern tip of the Baja that we have since dubbed "The Baja Golf Trail"and we returned with memories of a lifetime.
The goal of our trip was simple, spend some time together as a couple, experience the beauty of the Baja as it was meant to be seen, eat some amazing food and, yes, play some golf along the way. Setting out from Cabo San Lucas mid morning on Thursday we began our adventure up Mexico 1 toward the Bay of Dreams or Bahia de Los Sueños. Perhaps nowhere in the world will you find a better collection of golf courses in such a perfect setting. With almost all of the courses playing along or with views of the Sea of Cortez, Cabo is guaranteed to satisfy all of your golf desires. Each course offers a desert golf feel mixed with the seaside look found only in a few locations worldwide. While it is possible to spend a week playing just the courses around Cabo, this trip was about exploration in addition to golf and thus we continued on with our appetite whet for what lay ahead.
The drive north was great. Rigid mountains and desert landscape are broken up regularly by the most spectacular aqua clear water of the coastal villages. You can truly get a sense and feel for the Baja prior to any civilization. The towns are unique, the landscape amazing and, as our good friend told us, “stay on the pavement and you won't get lost.” He was correct. When the road turned to dirt we had arrived!
Parallel with Key West and 1,800 miles towards the setting sun lies a small city called La Paz. Located slightly north of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz is snugly nestled between mountains, desert and a pristine, azure bay. The city has all the traditional Mexican culture, architecture, foods and customs that one might expect to find anywhere in Mexico but this is where the similarities end. La Paz literally means peace and this is exactly what can be found here. La Paz stands in stark contrast to the crime and violence that has been reported so frequently in other parts of the country. Here, it’s a crime if you don’t watch the sun set with a cold drink in your hand and the only violence comes in the form of an occasional thunderstorm. They’re not exactly the things that makes headlines but it is precisely those aspects which set La Paz apart from the rest of mainland Mexico. Peace is not the only foundation for this tranquil town. There are four universities, several acclaimed hospitals and one of the highest per-capita income levels in all of Mexico. Maybe that’s why it was rated by Money magazine as “one of the best place to retire”. But that was in 2003 so maybe something has changed since then. In truth, it has, but pretty much all for the better.
In 2003, there were a few thousand foreigners, who had discovered the secrets of La Paz. Seven years later, that number is well over 10,000. This influx has also resulted in the emergence of more shopping malls with anchor stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Sam’s Club. The home construction industry has reaped the benefits too. Suburbs were sparsely populated just a few years ago now boast active homeowners associations, private streets and underground services. A few savvy companies have even worked environmental planning into their aspirations and their consideration for the environment has paid off in home sales. Fortunately, home prices remain reasonable and a Mexican style home with well appointed amenities can still be found for under $200,000.
GranSueño Founder Steve Games featured by Baja Traveler Magazine 2011 Edition
Delivering the Bay of Dreams
excerpts by Ingrid Hart, Baja Traveler Magazine
Steve Games knows how to tell a good fish story. Like the first time he ever set foot in Baja as a sixth grader in 1960. His mom came to get him from the principal's office-he was under suspension for a mild infraction. A few days off from school seemed like a good time to go fishing near Cabo San Lucas, although it wasn't meant as a reward. His mom, a multi-instrument rated pilot flew them on a Cessna 310 from Los Angeles onto a dirt strip in Rancho Buena Vista.
When they got there, the weather was rough. The 24 foot wooden fishing boat that was to take them out to sea was anchored offshore and couldn't come get them. Steve and his mom swam out to it through the roughest water he'd ever been in. Climbing onboard a boat without a foot step was no small task- but they were undaunted. His mom got on first, pulled Steve in and they were off to go fishing. They caught a 100-pound tuna. The weather got worse and they had to exit the boat and swim back to shore through the pounding surf. Steve asked his mom what to do with the tuna and she told him to bring it along. So there was little Stevie Games swimming to shore with a tuna as big as he was, exhilarated. "That was my first taste of Baja," said Games. "As they say, once you have the dust of Baja in your nose you can never get it out."
As a golf professional who played golf throughout college, played professionally for several years and went on to make a career out of golf, it was nearly unthinkable to take a vacation that included the four letter word which had consumed our lives. So when my gorgeous wife Amy, came to me with the idea of a golf getaway for just the two of us, it was almost too good to be true. Our lives have changed dramatically over the past several years. l have moved into Resort management, Amy has a thriving photography business and we have three beautiful little girls at home. We rarely have time to think, let alone spend some time together. The thought of planning a vacation is daunting and the reality is that we cannot set up the logistics for more than a few days. Having moved to the Baja over a year ago, we have not had the chance to travel around and see the beauty of this magical land. So we took the plunge and headed out on a three day journey around the southern tip of the Baja that we have since dubbed "The Baja Golf Trail"and we returned with memories of a lifetime.
Parallel with Key West and 1,800 miles towards the setting sun lies a small city called La Paz. Located slightly north of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz is snugly nestled between mountains, desert and a pristine, azure bay. The city has all the traditional Mexican culture, architecture, foods and customs that one might expect to find anywhere in Mexico but this is where the similarities end. La Paz literally means peace and this is exactly what can be found here.
Steve Games knows how to tell a good fish story. Like the first time he ever set foot in Baja as a sixth grader in 1960. His mom came to get him from the principal's office-he was under suspension for a mild infraction. A few days off from school seemed like a good time to go fishing near Cabo San Lucas, although it wasn't meant as a reward. His mom, a multi-instrument rated pilot flew them on a Cessna 310 from Los Angeles onto a dirt strip in Rancho Buena Vista.