Caribbean golf: not quite hell, but short of paradise

I’m glad to see a little scrutiny on the Caribbean coming from this site, to the dismay of any old editors. It seems like the only things ever written about the Caribbean are how sandy white and sparkling blue the water is. Rarely is it brought to anyone’s attention most of these places are poverty stricken.

The first time I read Tim’s bashing on safety in the Caribbean I thought he went a little overboard. Recently however I recalled my one and only trip to the Bahamas.

Keep in mind this was during high school spring break in 2000 – where few activities will coincide with two retirees golfing and getting in bed just after sunset.

Taxi drivers are out of control. Aside from ripping you off, which is really the least of your concerns, you must deal with the fact they drink beer while they drive, very fast, through tight streets. On more than one night we drove by a horrific wreck, where a car was upside down and engulfed in flames. Now wise and 22. . .you couldn’t get me in a cab there ever again after sunset.

Ganja mon? I was probably offered pot about two dozen times while there, whether it was walking on the street or from the guy we were renting wave runners from. If you get caught with the stuff the police will strip you of every dime you have. Is that dangerous? To me, not really. But they’ll go after kids much younger than me, and they might get themselves in a bad situation.

Housekeeping??? Someone on the trip claimed they had $100 stolen from their hotel room and swore it was housekeeping. Management did nothing about it. You always wonder in a situation like that whether it was stolen or they flat out lost/forgot what they did with it. Unsettling nonetheless.

Scams abound. Countless offers for discount day trips, club trips, things like that. Several of us got hosed.

Now, does this mean I’d NEVER go back? No, I had a fabulous time there. However these kinds of things should be made more aware, and its a writer’s responsibility to give both sides. Say the course was “immaculate” the service is “exquisite” but to also beware.

If TravelGolf.com is going to bash a former editor, why is her stuff serving as the only authority at CaribbeanGolf.com? Readers tell TravelGolf.com we’re “invaluable". Shouldn’t any story from our archives that fails to show the good and bad be stripped then?

Frankly TG should rewrite everything at Caribbean golf.com if they want to stay credible. I know a “breathtaking", “delightful” “majestic” writer who could do it for ya. . .