PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – (December 1, 2013) — Christopher Columbus may have discovered Puerto Rico on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, but golfers from mainland United States are re-discovering this island paradise in droves. Realizing that Puerto Rico is a much easier tropical destination – more non-stop flights from the mainland, U.S. cell phones work without expensive additional plans, no passport needed, almost everyone speaks English – the island is experiencing a re-birth in tourism … and especially golf tourism.
That is the message from the December edition of the Traveling Golfer show and host Tony Leodora. The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa is the subject of the December show and Puerto Rico proves to be a magnificent setting.
“It has been 15 years since my last trip to Puerto Rico and the transformation of this island paradise was amazing,” said Leodora, after sampling the sights, sounds, tastes – and especially the golf – in Puerto Rico. “It is so easy to get there, and much easier to get around the island once you arrive. There is no language barrier anymore and the resorts are throwing big money into upgrades and renovations.”
The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort and Spa is leading the way in the new effort to keep American tourists within the boundaries of the United States. The modern resort is undergoing a $20 million renovation and some of that will spill over to the two outstanding golf courses that are part of the sprawling beachfront property.
The Ocean Course, designed in 1971 by George and Tom Fazio, is a classic style course that features one of the greatest golf holes in the Caribbean – the 240-yard par 3 16th hole that strings along the ocean. It is the epitome of a “beautiful beast.”
The River Course, designed by Greg Norman in 1994, rolls along the scenic Mameyes River and provides spectacular vistas of the nearby mountains. It is a challenging 6,945-yard course that demands precision shot-making.
“We feel we offer golfers a perfect complement of courses with our two distinctively different layouts,” explains Danny Williams, general manager at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar.
“Add the convenience of having both courses on-property, as well as having one of the finest beaches in Puerto Rico right outside the back door of the hotel, and there is no doubt that we provide the easiest first-class vacation option to golfers coming from anywhere in the continental United States.”
The December Traveling Golfer provides an up-close view of all there is to do on-property at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, as well as exploring all of the nearby attractions – including the El Junque Rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the United States.
The episode begins airing December 1 and runs throughout the month on The Traveling Golfer Network (see list of sites on www.travelinggolfervideo.com). It also will air on Monday, December 9 as part of the Press Box show in Myrtle Beach, 5 to 7 p.m. on HTC Ch. 4.
Responding to golfers’ never-ending demands to learn more about interesting golf courses and golf resorts across the country and around the world, well-traveled host Tony Leodora created the show so he could take viewers on video golf trips to some of the most exciting golf locations.
The Traveling Golfer appears as a series of monthly shows hosted by Leodora, who has 14 years of experience in televised golf shows. The featured destination stays on the website for one month, before being replaced by a new show. The old shows are archived on the home website, www.travelinggolfervideo.com.
A network of golf websites, of all sizes, has been created to host the new golf show. The show will have its own website — www.travelinggolfervideo.com. The network of additional websites includes www.golftalklive.net, the website of the award-winning GolfTalk Live radio show that also is hosted by Leodora. Some of the other early sites to agree to host the Traveling Golfer are www.myphillygolf.com, www.sportsnetwork.com, www.louguzzi.com, www.yetigolf.net, www.golfbuckscounty.com, www.phillygolffiles.com, www.playaroundgolf.com, www.awaywegogolf.com, www.sheppardgolf.com and www.golfxpress72.com.
“Those are just the first wave of websites that have agreed to host our show,” explains Leodora. “We are acquiring others quickly, at the same time that we expand our network to shows on traditional television.”
For more information about the Traveling Golfer show, contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220 or go to the website at www.travelinggolfervideo.com.
Contact:
TL Golf Services
610-279-9220
