No one here would ever blame you for opting for that second 18, but if you’re looking to add a little adrenaline to your next golf trip, check out these exotic locales and the thrills they can serve up.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific, has become a links-lover’s paradise. Landlubbers will never tire of the dramatic ocean views on courses by Fazio, Nicklaus, Weiskopf and other top designers. But for those with a little Hemingway in their blood, Cabo is a true paradise. The warm waters off Cabo are often called “the marlin capital of the world.” Tuna and wahoo also abound.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The World Cup came to Vista Vallarta, a 36-hole facility in the Sierra Leone foothills above Puerto Vallarta, and the golf is indeed world-class. The adventure? A zip-line tour through more than two miles of rain forest canopy. Get in touch with your inner primate, and get a unique look at an endangered ecosystem.
St. George, Utah. The golf is great–Coral Canyon and Entrada at Snow Canyon lead the way. Gamblers can make an easy trip to nearby Mesquite in Nevada. And intrepid souls–with hearty soles–can venture into the mind-bending slot canyons of nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. The Narrows Trail is gentle at the start, but the river has carved a canyon some 2,000-feet deep in places.
