Is it a ghost town or a golf course?

South of Antigua and west of the Volcano named Agua, past the mountain-side concrete block cluster of a village called Santa Maria de Jesus is a mystery and an enigma. Once through the narrow streets and down about another mile of a dusty and rutted road, lies the entrance to what once was the Monte Maria Country Club.

Tired and dusty villagers,their mules laden with freshly cut stalks of cane trudge up the hill as you drive past, until the faded and peeling sign points to the deserted guardhouse, with one rusty semaphore barring the exit lane.

The course was built about twelve years ago, with fountains, clubhouse, pro shop and a tennis court. It was designed as a housing development for gringos with dreams of grandeur. Two houses were almost completed but never lived in...there was a water problem: they didn't have any. The developer took the money and left for parts unknown.

About a dozen of empty and semi-completed houses line two of the fairways, with broken windows and weathered paint. The air has the freshness of pine and the distances are deceptive. The tennis court has recently been refinished but with no nets or backscreens to catch the errant shots...another mystery. The bizarre miniature golf lay-out in front of the empty clubhouse has been spruced up: play your way through the ugly cement versions of the Taj Mahal or the Sphinx. Why? Who?

What once were water hazards are now rock-filled impossible bunkers..once in, never out unless your ball takes a mean bounce, and it'll be ruined even if you find it. There's usually one or two local youths waiting to caddy and they know the course well. If you want anything to drink or eat, bring your own.

The bank eventually took the project back, until a Korean golfer came along and bought it for a song, if not a dance. The course rules are written in Korean and a few of his compatriots can still be seen on the fairways from time to time.

The setting is stunning, with some holes(#3)framed by tall pines with the distant Volcano Pacayo standing watch over the flag pin. The volcano erupted last week, killing three people: death by falling debris.

What you have are nine holes in average condition, 3000 +/- yards, up and down, raked sand traps and fabulous views. $12 for 9 holes and $5 for a caddie. It's the ghost town golf course.

 

 

Source: Guatemala News-El