Puerto Rico Open: day one dampened but the fun goes on!

Round one of the Puerto Rico Open turned out to be an early wash with "unplayable conditions". Although Skip Kendall eagled the first hole at Trump International Golf Course, there is sure to be plenty of action in the coming days. Play resumes tomorrow (Friday morning) at 7:15 am with only a 30 percent chance of rain.

The golfers will be playing "Preferred lies" which is mentioned in the appendix of the official rules of golf. Briefly stated, a player whose ball is in the fairway would be allowed to improve the lie due to weather conditions.

Puerto Rico is a place where you can still have a great time in spite of the weather; a true test of a great vacation destination!

For example, shopping for clothes at Trump's Proshop while waiting for the rain to let up?

Barry and I also had the opportunity to learn more about the island "experience" as well as new and exciting plans for Puerto Rico while speaking with Jaime A. Lopez Diaz, the Executive Director (Minister) of Tourism for Puerto Rico.

One important attraction for main-landers is that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States which means no passports are required. The very tropical, caribbean feel is evident from the palm trees which sway and crackle in the breeze to the music which defines the island.

Although we played golf at Bahia Beach yesterday (where the Puerto Rico Open qualifiers were held), there are eight courses in this region with a total of twenty-three in Puerto Rico; seventeen which are championship standard.

Upscale hotels and villas are springing up all around the Gran Melia from the Wyndham (set to open in 2011) to the St. Regis, which is located on the Bahia property. The understated elegance all around us makes this area a great value for the dollar.

Sure, we'll be following the golfers at the beautiful Trump International Golf Course but I also hope that we can get in a bit of sightseeing. I understand that El Yunque is one of among twenty-eight nominees as a new "7th Natural Wonder of the World" and that there is life that exists in El Yunque that can be found no where else in the world!

More to come!