| Vallarta Golf Cup 2005 - Interview with Mr. Antonio Palacio
By: Editor -
Translated by Marianne Klahre - Leer
Español |
 This year again, the month of November will be a witness of our city and its surroundings dressing up in order to receive and enjoy the realization of international events that distinguish us as a destination with a high level of organization. Amongst the main events that will be carried out we find the golf tournament Copa Vallarta, which this year will celebrate its 3rd birthday. The uproar of the tournament begins to be heard and it is predicted that it will be a glamorous and spectacular happening.
With the purpose of knowing what is being prepared for this tournament of 2005, we interviewed Mr. Antonio Palacio, member of the organizing committee and like always he attended us kindly and answered our following questions:
PVM: For how many consecutive years has this event been carried out?
AP: This will be the 3th consecutive year in which we carry out this event
PVM: What are the dates scheduled for the tournament this year and in which golf course will it take place?
AP: From November 10th to 12th, in the golf courses of Vista Vallarta par 72 designed by Tom Weiskopf and Mayan Palace par 71 designed by Jim Lipe.
PVM: What is the registration fee for this year?
AP: In this moment I cannot guarantee the exact fee yet, however I consider it to be around USD $450.00 per entry.
PVM: What is the total number of participants for the previous tournaments and how many participants do you expect will sign up for this year?
AP: In the previous tournaments we had one hundred players registered and for this tournament we estimate that one hundred and twenty players will participate.
PVM: From your perspective in what way do you think that the tournament contributes to the strengthening of PV as a tourist and golf destination?
AP: I am personally convinced that the strengthening is obtained through the seriousness with which the tournament will be organized and carried out. It has scarcely been three years of work and I consider that very little time in order to already speak about a considerable contribution towards the strengthening of Puerto Vallarta as a tourist and golf destination.
I am sure that if we continue to receive the support and help of the authorities, impresarios and local press, we can arrive at creating and maintaining the achievement of a complete and excellent golf tournament. Puerto Vallarta is and will continue to be the best place to visit. I am certain that by combining the huge range of activities that can be carried out in our port with an international golf tournament of renowned quality, the result will be extraordinary. I imagine it and I think...what else could you ask for?
PVM: What has been the most difficult to toss up for organizing and carrying out the event this year?
AP: First of all the complete understanding of the people that make up the committee, where everybody offers his point of view and proposes fantastic ideas. This has been a process through which we had to make decisions creating the reality of the group and which at the end is what really matters in order for our acts to always be based upon mutual respect.
PVM: Which has been the most satisfying anecdote which was generated by you or which was given to you?
AP: Having carried out the first tournament without the support of a sponsor who really stood up to the costs and expenses plus the incredulity of the locals. This was truly difficult; however when the tournament ended being a success, the feeling of satisfaction for everybody was simply sensational.
PVM: If Aladdin [the one with the magic lamp] would be here to grant you one last wish, what would you ask him for in order to help you to achieve that this year's tournament will be acknowledged as the best golf event in Mexico?
AP: That any of the players of the first 5 rankings would bring along their own team of players and thus being able to make the tournament known in all mediums (of communication). However in order for this to happen we would have to offer very high prizes.
After all, this is a very good question in order to measure in some way up to where it is possible for us to arrive at as the committee organizing this event.
PVM: Which will be the main prizes this year?
AP: At present I can say this: the prizes will be equivalent to 600 000.00 U$. For a "hole in one" different prizes will be offered, amongst them a luxury condominium in the Shangri-la development in Marina Vallarta, 2 new GM and Chrysler automobiles, as well as a prize of 10 000.00 U$. And the amount of 200 000.00 U$ in cash will be divided amongst the first professional places.
PVM: Who are the present members of the organizing committee?
AP: Mauricio Pellegrini, Mario Nunez, Luis Angarita, Joe Hoston, Pablo González, Fernando Cuevas, José Carranza and Antonio Palacio.
PVM: Whose idea was it originally three years ago to organize this tournament?
AP: During a breakfast that I did not attend, it was mentioned that, considering the number of golf courses already existing in the area, Vallarta now needed to have a golf tournament of world quality. In that moment one of the people present said that I had been organizing professional sports events before moving to Puerto Vallarta to live here and in that instant I was contacted on the phone in order to notify me that they has just elected me as the coordinator for carrying out the first tournament.
That is how the idea was born and how the adventure started, which will have its 3rd birthday this year and we all feel very grateful and proud about it.
PVM: Thank you very much for giving us this interview. Thanks to you and the rest of the organizing committee. We acknowledge you for your high level of commitment and devotion. We are sure that your contribution will once again increase Puerto Vallarta's prestige as an international golf destination.
We will see you at the tournament.
* To learn more about the Vallarta Golf Cup 2005 please visit: http://www.vallartagolf.com
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