Post by ErixonStone on Mar 4, 2016 16:36:37 GMT -5
One early Saturday morning during the fall of 1971, an otherwise unremarkable fisherman-turned-quasi-explorer, named Patricio Descontrolado, steered his personal catamaran out into the Pacific Ocean off the western shore of Costa Rica. Having recently split with his long-time girlfriend, Mr. Descontrolado had quite a bit of time to himself. The extra time was spent drifting father from the coast than he had ever gone before, heading deeper into the ocean until he was no longer able to see the shore. A few moments later, a land form emerged from the horizon.
Patricio accelerated towards the land mass and minutes later, he was ashore. Tall palm trees and luscious raintrees provided a beautiful relaxing environment where Patricio was alone with his thoughts. Lots of time was on his hands now, but he didn't have much to do. After several minutes enjoying the aroma of the trees, he spotted a small, roundish stone. Bored, but enjoying the atmosphere, Patricio began to toss the stone trying to knock it against a particular tree. Each time he missed, he would pick up his stone and try again from wherever he was standing. When was successful, he would pick out a new tree that was a little farther away than the first one.
After several hours, Patricio was still enjoying himself. The target tree was now a few hundred meters away from where he was standing, so even reaching the tree took several tosses. To make things more interesting, he thought up new rules requiring that the stone be tossed between "those two trees over there" before he allowed himself to take aim at the target tree.
The sun slowly slipped behind the ocean to west, and Patricio returned home to his cabin on the shore of Costa Rica. The next morning, he paid a visit to his dear old friend, Humberto Olgazanear. Big H., as he was called, retired at an early age with quite a lot of money, but no one really knew exactly where it came from or how Big H. earned any of it. He certainly never told anyone what he did for a living, and eventually, the townsfolk accepted that he just had money without caring.
Patricio was excited to tell Humberto about the game he had invented with the round stone and the trees, and all the enjoyment he had while playing. Big H. just chuckled when he heard the news. "Come with me, Patricio," he said, and the pair hopped into a sleek red convertible.
"Where are we going?" Patricio asked.
"Escazu, near Guadalupe. I think you'll enjoy it there."
Patricio had never been more than 30 km from the coast before, but 90 minutes later, Humberto announced that they had arrived. Patricio glared at the grounds' entrance. "bienvenido a COSTA RICA COUNTRY CLUB" read the sign on the archway. The pair entered the clubhouse and Big H. helped Patricio find a nice set of clubs to borrow that, according to Big H., were a a little bit smaller than ideal, but would do.
"Welcome to the game of golf, Patricio. I've now effectively ruined your weekends, my friend. But, I must admit, it will be quite nice to have a partner."
Patricio couldn't believe his eyes. This game was infinitely more challenging than the one he invented. It made him downright angry at times, but the challenge of the next week ate at him constantly. His thoughts alternated between slightly different versions of Just wait 'til next week, and It would be so much easier to just throw the ball.
While on his fishing canoe, memories of his now ex-girlfriend faded, and Patricio thought only of two things: playing golf and the uninhabited island no one else knew about. Then he started to think about both of them together and how he would twist his way through the trees differently, in a way the CRCC didn't.
In the spring of 1972, Patricio missed his first round with his dear friend Big H. He had fallen asleep on the island beside a bonfire and didn't make it back home until noon the next day. Humberto was at the house when he arrived. He explained that he fell asleep on this unknown island, thinking about golf course design. The island would make an ideal setting for golf, and Patricio was sure that people from the area would love to go there and try the game.
"That's not an unknown island, my friend," Humberto explained. "I own the island, but I never thought of anything to do with it. I like my home, so I didn't want to move there. I enjoy golf, but there aren't any courses there. I don't really do much else. But you're right; it really is a gorgeous setting."
Patricio was shocked. He wanted to know just how his friend got to be the owner of such a beautiful island, but he didn't dare ask. Instead, Patricio thought of a proposition: He would build a golf course. There was one problem - a major one at that. Patricio was far from wealthy. He didn't have money to build anything, let alone a full golf course. The two friends worked out an agreement. Patricio would design a course for Humberto's land. Humberto would, of course, cover all the costs of construction. Once the course was open, Humberto would pay Patricio a small salary to work the course - keeping it neat, and greeting guests on the weekends. If all went well, once the construction costs were covered, Patricio would earn a half-stake.
Patricio left the fishery to begin working on Humberto's land. Construction has begun and several holes are built. Patricio insists more planting is needed, and some minor changes are still required on the completed holes. There are still a few holes that have been marked, but no construction has begun.
Some early photos:
Patricio accelerated towards the land mass and minutes later, he was ashore. Tall palm trees and luscious raintrees provided a beautiful relaxing environment where Patricio was alone with his thoughts. Lots of time was on his hands now, but he didn't have much to do. After several minutes enjoying the aroma of the trees, he spotted a small, roundish stone. Bored, but enjoying the atmosphere, Patricio began to toss the stone trying to knock it against a particular tree. Each time he missed, he would pick up his stone and try again from wherever he was standing. When was successful, he would pick out a new tree that was a little farther away than the first one.
After several hours, Patricio was still enjoying himself. The target tree was now a few hundred meters away from where he was standing, so even reaching the tree took several tosses. To make things more interesting, he thought up new rules requiring that the stone be tossed between "those two trees over there" before he allowed himself to take aim at the target tree.
The sun slowly slipped behind the ocean to west, and Patricio returned home to his cabin on the shore of Costa Rica. The next morning, he paid a visit to his dear old friend, Humberto Olgazanear. Big H., as he was called, retired at an early age with quite a lot of money, but no one really knew exactly where it came from or how Big H. earned any of it. He certainly never told anyone what he did for a living, and eventually, the townsfolk accepted that he just had money without caring.
Patricio was excited to tell Humberto about the game he had invented with the round stone and the trees, and all the enjoyment he had while playing. Big H. just chuckled when he heard the news. "Come with me, Patricio," he said, and the pair hopped into a sleek red convertible.
"Where are we going?" Patricio asked.
"Escazu, near Guadalupe. I think you'll enjoy it there."
Patricio had never been more than 30 km from the coast before, but 90 minutes later, Humberto announced that they had arrived. Patricio glared at the grounds' entrance. "bienvenido a COSTA RICA COUNTRY CLUB" read the sign on the archway. The pair entered the clubhouse and Big H. helped Patricio find a nice set of clubs to borrow that, according to Big H., were a a little bit smaller than ideal, but would do.
"Welcome to the game of golf, Patricio. I've now effectively ruined your weekends, my friend. But, I must admit, it will be quite nice to have a partner."
Patricio couldn't believe his eyes. This game was infinitely more challenging than the one he invented. It made him downright angry at times, but the challenge of the next week ate at him constantly. His thoughts alternated between slightly different versions of Just wait 'til next week, and It would be so much easier to just throw the ball.
While on his fishing canoe, memories of his now ex-girlfriend faded, and Patricio thought only of two things: playing golf and the uninhabited island no one else knew about. Then he started to think about both of them together and how he would twist his way through the trees differently, in a way the CRCC didn't.
In the spring of 1972, Patricio missed his first round with his dear friend Big H. He had fallen asleep on the island beside a bonfire and didn't make it back home until noon the next day. Humberto was at the house when he arrived. He explained that he fell asleep on this unknown island, thinking about golf course design. The island would make an ideal setting for golf, and Patricio was sure that people from the area would love to go there and try the game.
"That's not an unknown island, my friend," Humberto explained. "I own the island, but I never thought of anything to do with it. I like my home, so I didn't want to move there. I enjoy golf, but there aren't any courses there. I don't really do much else. But you're right; it really is a gorgeous setting."
Patricio was shocked. He wanted to know just how his friend got to be the owner of such a beautiful island, but he didn't dare ask. Instead, Patricio thought of a proposition: He would build a golf course. There was one problem - a major one at that. Patricio was far from wealthy. He didn't have money to build anything, let alone a full golf course. The two friends worked out an agreement. Patricio would design a course for Humberto's land. Humberto would, of course, cover all the costs of construction. Once the course was open, Humberto would pay Patricio a small salary to work the course - keeping it neat, and greeting guests on the weekends. If all went well, once the construction costs were covered, Patricio would earn a half-stake.
Patricio left the fishery to begin working on Humberto's land. Construction has begun and several holes are built. Patricio insists more planting is needed, and some minor changes are still required on the completed holes. There are still a few holes that have been marked, but no construction has begun.
Some early photos:
