IBEROSTAR Golf Team Championship Mexico review

By Tim Thompson, amateurgolf.com Player Staff Member

The IBEROSTAR Cancun Resort seen from the golf course Photo by Matt Fisher for amateurgolf.com | PHOTO GALLERY »

As golfers across the United States --- especially in the north --- crossed their fingers that a long and warm golf season was on the horizon, the inaugural IBEROSTAR Golf Team Championship Mexico played host to 66 players of varying skill levels at the IBEROSTAR Cancun Resort in late February.

Fourteen pro-am teams and a handful of am- am groups took part in a unique event, featuring six different styles of competition played over three days at the IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso and IBEROSTAR Cancun Golf Club.

The event was very well organized and The Golf Connection, the firm organizing the event, was very organized. It's clear they have a real heart and passion for golf events.

The opening-night reception outside on the deck was great --- a really great start to the festivities. Hanging out with the other competitors on the beach made you feel like you were attending a fun, big event. And the presence of the Golf Channel’s, Stephanie Sparks, was an added bonus!

It was my first time playing golf in Mexico. The conditions were nice but extremely windy. The two courses were great hosts to this type of event and the IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso is a course I'd come back to play again.

I was pleased that the event had all the different formats. All told, there were six separate tournaments: daily 18 hole team Pro-Am, daily 18-hole team Am-Am, Overall Team Pro- Am, Overall Team Am-Am, Overall 36-hole individual amateur net and overall Professional individual gross.

The range of events meant that, regardless of skill level, there was a game for everyone. With the different time-spans of the competitions, it also meant that one bad day wouldn't hurt you.

The pool was simply awesome! Photo by Matt Fisher for amateurgolf.com

The service provided by The Golf Connection and the resort staff was terrific. We were picked up at the airport, which was slick and smooth. I came in a day early to get a nice lay of the land --- the water and beach were great. The pool (pictured) was impressive. Everyone on the service staff was kind and hotel staff and concierge were a big help in planning a big night out at a nearby club.

As part of the media, we took a tour of the nearby IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Paraiso in Riviera Maya. That property was impressive and surrounded by the Pete Dye Playa Paraiso Golf Resort which is the Monday qualifier for the Mayakoba Golf Classic and host of The Golf Channel's Big Break Mexico. That was impressive.

The Golf Connection closed the event with a great awards dinner and while my team didn't win, it was great to see pictures from the event and have a nice dinner, drinks and fun with new friends. A great experience!.

Learn more about IBERO STAR and its Golf Events and Resorts, including the IBEROSTAR Golf Team Championship Mexico. Also, see our extensive course reviews for the IBEROSTAR Cancun Golf Club and the IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso Golf Resort.