Montecristo Cup

For Mark Twain, golf was famously a good walk ruined. For me I generally feel the same about golf competitions, why bother when you can simply play with friends with a cooler full of beer when you want with no stress. Yet since the Montecristo (and formerly Essencia Cup) started a few years ago every April I not only find myself making the trek out to Varadero but loving it. The Varadero course stands at 6,856 yards, has a par of 72 and is beautifully maintained. Stylistically think beachfront links along a gorgeous coastline mixed with tropical parkland and Florida lakes. Re-designed by Canadian les Furber the two loops of nine-holes are challenging yet pretty fair. The competition itself is well organized, with good prizes, the weather at this time of year is great and with interesting playing companions, what’s not to like other than the invariable shank off the first, slice on the second, three put on the forth…