Team 9 leads Latin American Travel Agents golf tournament

Well, as the first team of 64 golfers rolled in after completing the opening day’s play of the four-man scramble, before the golf cart’s engine died down, Federico Martinez of Argentina’s Team 4 asked, with a straight face, “Can we go out and play another nine holes?”

Not even bothering to think about lunch at the jerk hut near the 10th hole, Martinez and his teammates wanted to have another go at the picturesque course as the 64 travel agents from Latin America played nine holes yesterday, which Panama’s Team 9 of Julio Tapiero, Maurizio Cannizzaro and Taryn Stanton led on 31, two shots ahead of another Argentine quartet, Team 14, on 33.

“It was excellent, beautiful weather, course and fairways,” said Martinez, describing the course as “intermediate enough to let you play and enjoy this beautiful sport of golf”.

Among three annual travel agents’ tournaments staged annually by Sandals Golf and Country Club to give their partners first-hand experience of Jamaica, Martinez, who is on his first trip to Jamaica, said the contest makes it easy for his peers to market the island as a golfing destination.

“It’s perfect, the quality of service and the golf course, plus the warmth and friendliness of the caddies make you feel at home. Once you come and experience the destination, it’s easy to sell it,” said Martinez.

“I think Jamaica, as a golfing destination, is a great market for Argentina, which, in South America, has one of the fastest-growing demands for golfing destinations,” he added.