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BajaNews
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Bajamar refocuses marketing efforts on Mexican clientele
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/21/bajamar-r...
By Ed Zieralski
July 21, 2009
Former Boston native Patrick Shaw has been the head golf professional at the Bajamar Golf Course for 10 years. He married a Mexican woman and has a
family there now. He has weathered the tough times, none tougher than right now.
“While golf in the states . . . is down 10 to 20 percent, depending where you are, our play here is down 65 percent,” Shaw said. “And
that's been going on for over a year now.”
Shaw refers to the “sales objections” that keep tourists from venturing the short, less than an hour drive below the border to experience the Baja
golf adventure. The course celebrated its 33rd anniversary this month (18 years for the Oceana nine). Never has the list of challenges been more and
includes threats of violence and kidnappings, the economic recession, confusion over passports (you need one) and threats of swine flu. For an extra
challenge, throw in the time factor to cross the border and sales pitches from the Tijuana street vendors, and that's a whole bucketful of issues to
overcome.
“I repeat this often, but to me, the violence has been blown way out of proportion,” Shaw said. “There are 2 million people in Baja, and 99.9 percent
of them are good. They like Americans and want American business. It's not like Americans traveling to many other countries where they really don't
like us or want us there.”
Shaw said the return of the cruise ships to Ensenada in June after more than a month's absence because of the swine flu, has helped spike business.
The fact that the course conditions are better than they have been in years due to better water from a desalination plant is helping bring golfers
back. And Shaw said his company, Grupo Mega Tourismo, which has owned Bajamar for three years, continues to develop the surrounding area.
“What has happened here is there is renewed focus on the local community,” Shaw said. “Rather than rely on foreigners to visit and play here, we're
marketing the course in Mexico. We just did a big marketing push in Mexicali, where it's really hot right now, and this is a lot cooler place to play.
We also did the same thing in Tijuana. We just had the Ensenada City Championship that helped promote the course.”
Shaw welcomes a recent trend that has younger Mexicans taking up the game.
“I call them Mexican yuppies, a very classy group that has started playing the game,” Shaw said. “It's a new experience for them. They dress nice,
play the nicest clubs and have lots of style. In the states, the kids who play often don't wear the best clothes. Down here, this is more old style,
like golf was in the U.S. in the '70s.”
Shaw plans to host the Vendimia Open to celebrate the local wine country and to raise funds for underprivileged kids who need money for education.
There will be prize money and a new Hummer for a hole in one.
“A lot of local Baja charities come together to help fund a youngster's education from his or her early years right through college,” Shaw said. “It's
a great deal for kids who study hard and work hard and get rewarded with scholarship money. The program just recently took a youngster from elementary
school all the way to his first year as a intern doctor in Tijuana.”
Shaw has a message to golfers who haven't been to Bajamar in a while.
“Tell everyone we're still down here, alive and playing golf,” Shaw said, laughing. “We still have cold margaritas and cold Coronas. And they still
taste good.”
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Cyanide41
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I was in Rosarito a couple weeks ago and noticed that it seemed aimmed much more towards Mexicans now. Anyone know what a round a Baja Mar costs these
days?
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNews
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/21/bajamar-r...
Shaw welcomes a recent trend that has younger Mexicans taking up the game.
“I call them Mexican yuppies, a very classy group that has started playing the game,” Shaw said. “It's a new style for them. They dress nice, play the
nicest clubs and have lots of style. In the states, the kids who play often don't wear the best clothes. Down here, this is more old style, like golf
was in the U.S. in the '70s.” |
lol!!! The rest of us call them the Narco Juniors. How else are kids going to spend all that hard earned narco cash their families smuggle back or
extort from their neighbors? They all try to impress each other and live the Hank Rhon lifestyle. Maybe they'll turn the water hazard into a hippo
refuge. This author is totally out to lunch- or blind as a bat.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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DesertDawg
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The last time I played there in the fall, 2008, they charged us $83.00 to tee off mid-morning on a Friday. While standing on about the 15th tee box a
cart rolls up with the young lady that charged us earlier to play. She informed us that she had under charged us by $31.00 each and that she would
have to pay the difference from her wages - so we ponied up another $30 apiece.
So they now charge $104 for Friday or Saturday play before 2PM. Up here in the Palm Desert area I haven't paid more than $45 to play since last fall.
When the economic downturn really started to excellerate last fall, all golf courses up here started to adjust to the lack of play. But not Baja Mar
- they raised their prices.
After the round mentioned above, I asked some people in the bar what they were charged. They were members but said that they only had four or five
foursomes on the course that day. They also said that the pro at Baja Mar had told the owners that they were way overpriced and needed to lower rates
to increase play.
Was thinking of tryng Ensenada Country Club next time we go down. Any comments on the course and drive down to it?
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DanO
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DesertDawg
The last time I played there in the fall, 2008, they charged us $83.00 to tee off mid-morning on a Friday. While standing on about the 15th tee box a
cart rolls up with the young lady that charged us earlier to play. She informed us that she had under charged us by $31.00 each and that she would
have to pay the difference from her wages - so we ponied up another $30 apiece.
So they now charge $104 for Friday or Saturday play before 2PM. Up here in the Palm Desert area I haven't paid more than $45 to play since last fall.
When the economic downturn really started to excellerate last fall, all golf courses up here started to adjust to the lack of play. But not Baja Mar
- they raised their prices.
After the round mentioned above, I asked some people in the bar what they were charged. They were members but said that they only had four or five
foursomes on the course that day. They also said that the pro at Baja Mar had told the owners that they were way overpriced and needed to lower rates
to increase play.
Was thinking of tryng Ensenada Country Club next time we go down. Any comments on the course and drive down to it? |
I assume you are referring to Baja Country Club south of Ensenada. There are Nomads with houses on the course who can give you current conditions. I
will tell you that the drive is no big deal, just another 45 minutes past Bajamar, part of it through Ensenada city traffic. The course ain't Trent
Jones, but it's fun, you won't be charged even half as much to play as they're apparently nailing people at Bajamar, and cold beers are cold beers
wherever they're served.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by DanO]
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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bajadock
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Dawg,
Ensenada Country Club does not have the spectacular views of Bajamar.
But, not many players break 80 from the blue tees at BCC. It's 6,850 yds from blues and the wind in the canyon can add to challenge. Greens are in
great shape from a few years ago with minor repairs still going on at edges of some greens.
Tour or $300+ resort quality at BCC? No. Solid muny design with lots of quality shot values and "Let's play another round."? SI
Director Jose Luis Vasquez just dropped his rates to $30-$45 during week, depending on day/time. Tell them Dan or Doc sent you and they'll add $10.
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNews
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/21/bajamar-r...
Shaw welcomes a recent trend that has younger Mexicans taking up the game.
“I call them Mexican yuppies, a very classy group that has started playing the game,” Shaw said. “It's a new style for them. They dress nice, play the
nicest clubs and have lots of style. In the states, the kids who play often don't wear the best clothes. Down here, this is more old style, like golf
was in the U.S. in the '70s.” |
lol!!! The rest of us call them the Narco Juniors. How else are kids going to spend all that hard earned narco cash their families smuggle back or
extort from their neighbors? They all try to impress each other and live the Hank Rhon lifestyle. Maybe they'll turn the water hazard into a hippo
refuge. This author is totally out to lunch- or blind as a bat.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh] |
Why is it so hard to accept that Mexicans can be succesful and have money? i used to work in many of the top restaurants in Tijuana, and there is
indeed a big upper middleclass community in Baja. Very respectable hard working people who are now even branching out to San Diego. And it has nothing
to do with drugs.
Baja Norte has a GDP of about 30 billion dollars, its only logical that there has to be a proportional upper class.
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Bajahowodd
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Stereotypes.
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DesertDawg
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Dan & Doc - thanks for the info. Your right, a tecate or pacifico tastes great anywhere with a lime. What are the weekend rates?
Dan-O where does your handle come from? The real Dan-O lives on my street. You might be my neighbor?
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arrowhead
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If you live in the City of San Diego you can play the Torrey Pines South course for $58 weekdays, $41 if you are 62 or older. Even on the weekends it
is only $73 for the South Course. The North Course is even about $20 per round cheaper than the South Course.
That's less than one-half of Bajamar when you add in the auto insurance and tolls...and no border lines. I think Bajamar'sg reen fees are set at the
price point where it is breakeven for the Mexicans to stay in Mexico and play instead of cross the border. It's no deal for Gringos.
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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DesertDawg
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It's still bad business to price yourself out of the market when there's no one playing your golf course. Like I said earlier, there was no one there
on a Friday morning, afternoon in September when the weather was beautiful outside. The gringo members I spoke with were just shaking their heads.
No one paying green fees = no one maintaining the course.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DesertDawg
Dan-O where does your handle come from? The real Dan-O lives on my street. You might be my neighbor? |
Negative. Having the first name Dan means that a certain percentage of the population will insist on adding O to the end. That said, I'm a fan of
the show, and if the real Dan-O lives on your street, I am not worthy.
Be there. Aloha.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Woooosh
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Location: Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNews
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/21/bajamar-r...
Shaw welcomes a recent trend that has younger Mexicans taking up the game.
“I call them Mexican yuppies, a very classy group that has started playing the game,” Shaw said. “It's a new style for them. They dress nice, play the
nicest clubs and have lots of style. In the states, the kids who play often don't wear the best clothes. Down here, this is more old style, like golf
was in the U.S. in the '70s.” |
lol!!! The rest of us call them the Narco Juniors. How else are kids going to spend all that hard earned narco cash their families smuggle back or
extort from their neighbors? They all try to impress each other and live the Hank Rhon lifestyle. Maybe they'll turn the water hazard into a hippo
refuge. This author is totally out to lunch- or blind as a bat.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh] |
Why is it so hard to accept that Mexicans can be succesful and have money? i used to work in many of the top restaurants in Tijuana, and there is
indeed a big upper middleclass community in Baja. Very respectable hard working people who are now even branching out to San Diego. And it has nothing
to do with drugs.
Baja Norte has a GDP of about 30 billion dollars, its only logical that there has to be a proportional upper class. |
Just to update you a bit since you left your country- ALL the successful businessmen bailed out of TJ to Chula Vista last year out of safety. Even
the Mayor of Rosarito said he would move away if he only owned a hot dog stand- not a hotel.
Any show of wealth is by narcos right now- or those soon to be victims of them. What do you think their kids do with the money? Well- most of them
spend it schooling and living in La Jolla or traveling the world- not playing golf in a rattlesnake infested, overpriced, ball sucking excuse for a
golf course (my last round there cost me seven and the snakes hampered my recovery efforts). I hosted a foursome there a few years back and no one was
impressed with anything. These "yuppies" are the left behind wannabees.
I have a Mexican college student nephew living with us- I have a handle who is doing what from his perspective.
And on the Baja economic engine powerhouse comment- You think Mexican families own those factories? Sharp, Sony, Panasonic? or do all those BillionS
come from the curious shops and hair braiders at the beach? That number is pure bull now- and was probably always overinflated.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNews
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/21/bajamar-r...
Shaw welcomes a recent trend that has younger Mexicans taking up the game.
“I call them Mexican yuppies, a very classy group that has started playing the game,” Shaw said. “It's a new style for them. They dress nice, play the
nicest clubs and have lots of style. In the states, the kids who play often don't wear the best clothes. Down here, this is more old style, like golf
was in the U.S. in the '70s.” |
lol!!! The rest of us call them the Narco Juniors. How else are kids going to spend all that hard earned narco cash their families smuggle back or
extort from their neighbors? They all try to impress each other and live the Hank Rhon lifestyle. Maybe they'll turn the water hazard into a hippo
refuge. This author is totally out to lunch- or blind as a bat.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh] |
Why is it so hard to accept that Mexicans can be succesful and have money? i used to work in many of the top restaurants in Tijuana, and there is
indeed a big upper middleclass community in Baja. Very respectable hard working people who are now even branching out to San Diego. And it has nothing
to do with drugs.
Baja Norte has a GDP of about 30 billion dollars, its only logical that there has to be a proportional upper class. |
Just to update you a bit since you left your country- ALL the successful businessmen bailed out of TJ to Chula Vista last year out of safety. Even
the Mayor of Rosarito said he would move away if he only owned a hot dog stand- not a hotel.
Any show of wealth is by narcos right now- or those soon to be victims of them. What do you think their kids do with the money? Well- most of them
spend it schooling and living in La Jolla or traveling the world- not playing golf in a rattlesnake infested, overpriced, ball sucking excuse for a
golf course (my last round there cost me seven and the snakes hampered my recovery efforts). I hosted a foursome there a few years back and no one was
impressed with anything. These "yuppies" are the left behind wannabees.
I have a Mexican college student nephew living with us- I have a handle who is doing what from his perspective.
And on the Baja economic engine powerhouse comment- You think Mexican families own those factories? Sharp, Sony, Panasonic? or do all those BillionS
come from the curious shops and hair braiders at the beach? That number is pure bull now- and was probably always overinflated.
[Edited on 7-22-2009 by Woooosh] |
Wooosh,
You obviously don´t know the area or the culture. The drug trade is being run by men in their 30s, i doubt they have kids old enough to play golf and
buy a condo. All the rich Mexicans that left to San Diego, do come and visit Baja, but not Tijuana. I invite you to visit the Guadalupe Valley on the
weekends, 95% of the people staying there and spending money are Mexicans who live in San Diego.
You claim Narcos are the ones showing their wealth, but thats a ridiculous statement. Narcos in Tijuana have stopped going to clubs, restaurants, and
off course, driving around fancy cars and buying expensive homes. They are afraid of getting arrested or killed. Anybody that knows a little bit about
the situation in Tijuana, would know this.
And finally, only 20% of Baja Nortes GDP comes from Manufacturing, and of those 35% are Mexican owned.
You can´t deny facts.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
I invite you to visit the Guadalupe Valley on the weekends, 95% of the people staying there and spending money are Mexicans who live in San Diego.
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Nice place...that valley. Wonder why it is when cartel functionarys attack and blow up hospitals and police stations in Ensenada, they escape out
HWY 3 and disappear into the hills behind San Antonio and Guadalupe.
They just vanish into thin air.
I'll bet I'm the only person in the whole world who saw this pattern. Police didn't see it....Military didn't see it....just me. Hmmmm....
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
I invite you to visit the Guadalupe Valley on the weekends, 95% of the people staying there and spending money are Mexicans who live in San Diego.
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Nice place...that valley. Wonder why it is when cartel functionarys attack and blow up hospitals and police stations in Ensenada, they escape out
HWY 3 and disappear into the hills behind San Antonio and Guadalupe.
They just vanish into thin air.
I'll bet I'm the only person in the whole world who saw this pattern. Police didn't see it....Military didn't see it....just me. Hmmmm....
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So what besides trolling around does this have to do with our discussion?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
So what besides trolling around does this have to do with our discussion? |
My life is an adventure. I've taken it upon myself to confront boredom wherever I find it and, with your last post, I hit paydirt. You turned me
loose to do what our creator intended me to do and for that, I'm ever thankful.
Keep posting. I need you. 
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fishbuck
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This should be good! We're waiting...
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishbuck
This should be good! We're waiting... |
You owe us for taking the heat off you and the Colorado Dude.
OK....Here's a BIG grin
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Bajahowodd
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Of course, this all works on a golf course thread.
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