A perfect day of golf and spa at El Tigre in Mexico

We don’t get to do this all the time, but one of the best parts of this job is living the life of the rich and pampered on occasion. Such was my fate today.

After a round on the terrifically conditioned and fun El Tigre Golf Club at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta, I spent a couple of hours in the El Tigre spa, which is right next to the golf shop. Nothing like an 80-minute sport massage to get out the kinks following a round of golf.

I don’t know what was more enjoyable – the golf or the massage. I do know this, however; my massage therapist, Adelaida, worked a lot harder than I did on the course.

Being Valentine’s Day, she greeted me with Kisses, Hershey’s Kisses, that is. Then she went to work, pulling, stretching, kneeding, cracking. She found tight spots I didn’t know existed. At times, the deep tissue and stretching therapy almost hurt (in a good way), and the hot stone part of it really felt good. Followed by the steam room and a soak in the Jacuzzi, I was good to go for another 18 holes.

Learned a little more Spanish today as well: buen tiro (nice shot). I got to say that to my playing partner, my new amigo and El Tigre pro Francisco Javier Salazar Merino, more than I heard it. But I had my fair share buen tiros, too, with three birdies.

Oh yeah: I also got to pet one of the Tiger cubs they keep at the course.

All in all, a pretty good day.