Join Us For the 4th of July Party At the Amazon Golf Course

Join Us For the 4th Of July Cookout At the Amazon Golf Course

If you are in Iquitos Peru on July 4th, the best place to party will be the Amazon Golf Course parrillada. Be there!

How to get there-motocarro, S/ 10 soles

How to get there-motocarro, S/ 10 soles

The details of the menu and activities are at this link titled;

Don’t Miss The Big July 4th Celebration At The Amazon Golf Course.

Bill Grimes, Amazon Golf Course manager.

Posted on Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | No Comments »

My Day At The Amazon Golf Course

My Day At The Amazon Golf Course

Guest Post by Barry Brett

This would be a first. I had no real interest in golf. Didn’t know the first thing about it, but the BBQ sounded just fine! I’d run a couple of successful businesses in California and had been invited numerous times to golf clubs. Even knowing that many a good business deal was struck on the golf course, I always turned them down. But this would be different. This would be “Open Day” at the only golf club on the Amazon.

Arriving in a motokaro with my friend Gabriel, we asked the locals for the exact location. We knew we were in the general vicinity. To our amazement it seemed that everyone within two or three kilometers knew where it was! Already the Amazon Golf Course was world famous!

As we approached the entrance I was very impressed with the club house designed by the late Wally Lloyd. The upstairs was well thought out, with plenty of viewing space to look over the greens. Bill Curtis was playing guitar with some friends. The atmosphere was electric. Everyone was having a good time. Even the rest rooms were clean and functional – a rare experience in Iquitos. Out front was a soccer field and tennis court and it goes without saying – A BBQ! The food was excellent.

Oh, and then there was the Golf course! Yes, the golf course; the only one in the Amazon. For a while, a long while, we sat and watched while other more adventurous souls pursued their sporting desires and fantasies. Then there came that moment, that awful moment when all the chips were down and there we were on the field in full view of all the professionals. We were two lonely, nervous, first-time golfers. The club hosts lent us two golf clubs (I think those in the know refer to them as IRONS) and a handful of golf balls. We were all set. It was a lot of fun and now I know to visit the optician before I take my next California Driver’s License Test!

I can see how people can get hooked on the game. It was very personal, reminded me a little of shooting pool. We could have a laugh, little mini-conversations between shots interwoven with moments of absolute total concentration as the club moved thru the arc and hit the ball. You know, that lucky ball that lands close to the hole. Yes, that’s what I said, that LUCKY ONE. Because unfortunately for us both, luck was everything, skill didn’t enter into the picture.

All-in-all it was a very enjoyable experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to take other friends out to the Golf Course in the future, should they desire. As for me, I think I’ll stick to pool. I like to win now and again!

My Day At the Amazon Golf Course

Barry Brett

Posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | 1 Comment »

The Festival of San Juan Nearly Blocks Traffic To The Amazon Golf Course

The Festival of San Juan Blocks Traffic to the Amazon Golf Course

The San Juan Festival is one of the largest parties of the year in Iquitos Peru. San Juan Bautista, or Saint John the Baptist, is the patron saint of the Amazon, and he is honored with dancing, drinking, and feasting on many…juanes, a local delicacy made from either rice, yucca, or chonta, with chicken, fish, or pork, seasoned with regional spices, and wrapped in a bijao leaf from the jungle that adds a special flavor.

This morning on the way to the Amazon Golf Course our moto-carro could barely make it through the crowd in the suburb of San Juan which is the center of the celebration. On the way back to town later in the afternoon we were caught in a traffic jam and were lucky to get through. It seemed like everyone was dancing in the streets of San Juan. In fact after we broke through the traffic, the rest of Iquitos was nearly deserted.

The Amazon Golf Course greens crew were hard at work on the back greens even if it was a holiday, and they planted several more trees today. They are hoping the patron saint of the Amazon will bless our efforts.

Two of our golf students from the Saturday classes came out and practiced today. They are going to be good golfers.

The Festival of San Juan Blocks Traffic to the Amazon Golf Course

Captain Bill Grimes also writes for the Captain’s Blog; click the live link to read more creative content about Iquitos Peru, The Amazon Golf Course, The Amazon River, the rainforest, and to catch a glimpse of our lives lived large on the edge of civilization, surrounded by jungle. Thanks.

This link is to a good article; Celebrate The San Juan Festival in Iquitos Peru.

Posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | 1 Comment »

Sabalitos Asados, Another Good Restaurant Near The Amazon Golf Course

Sabalitos Asados, Another Good Restaurant Near the Amazon Golf Course

Fresh fish caught from the lake and slapped straight onto the charcoal grill

Fresh fish caught from the lake and slapped straight onto the charcoal grill

Fish do not get any fresher than this. They catch them in the lake. Clean them. Cook them. We eat them. Fresh, simple, delicious.

Catch a few more fish, more hungry guests are arriving

Catch a few more fish, more hungry guests are arriving

As the name implies, this restaurant specializes in Sabalo, a tasty fish, but full of dangerous Y-shaped bones. When the cooks offer a choice, the average tourist will feel more comfortable eating either Palometa, or Gamitana, both delicious and safer to eat because of the bone structure.

Marmelita and her cousin Guido waiting for our sabalos

Marmelita and her cousin Guido waiting for our sabalos

Our sabalo meal with platano or tacacho, a heart of palm and avocado salad, and Inca Cola cost $5.50 apiece.

This is what the entrance looks like from the Nauta Road across from the PetroPeru gas station.

This is what the entrance looks like from the Nauta Road across from the PetroPeru gas station.

Sabalitos Asados, Another Good Restaurant Near the Amazon Golf Course

Bill Grimes, Amazon Golf Course

Posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
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Don’t Miss The Big July 4th Celebration At The Amazon Golf Course

Don’t Miss the Big 4th Of July Celebration At The Amazon Golf Course

This is your invitation to join us for a fun day and good food at the Amazon Golf Course on the 4th of July. Independence Day in the United States of America is just a good excuse to have a great party in Iquitos Peru. All nationalities are welcome to enjoy a day spent playing, eating, drinking, dancing and sports.

We will have the charcoal grill fired up cooking hot dogs, deeply flavored Peruvian chorizos and delicious spicy Brazilian calabresa sausages, with North American potato salad, and baked beans like grandma used to make, all washed down with plenty of cold beer (only S/ 5 soles now), Inka Cola, Coke, or bottled water with and without gas.

Show up any time from 10:00am till late afternoon. Food will start coming off the grill around noon. Spend a fun day with us. Bring your family and friends. We are really looking forward to being with you at the Amazon Golf Course.

Plan to play golf, hit golf balls out of sight at the driving range, :-) have fun putting on the practice green, lots of competitive volleyball, and soccer, or hanging out in the hammocks or chairs in the shade relaxing, visiting, partying, listening to music and drinking beer. Last time we danced till dark.

All profits will go into our fund to purchase a riding lawn mower for the Amazon Golf Course. Thank you so much in advance for helping with that important project. Everyone will win.

Bill Grimes, Amazon Golf Course manager

Posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | 1 Comment »

Fathers Day At The Amazon Golf Course

Fathers Day At The Amazon Golf Course

Fathers Day at the Amazon Golf Course

Fathers Day at the Amazon Golf Course

We had a nice Fathers Day at the Amazon Golf Course with Marmelita’s father and enough of her family to have a couple of hours of good volleyball games. I used to play a fairly good game of volleyball but my old injuries act up every time I think I am younger.

I hung out in the hammock, read some on Living to Tell the Tale, by Gabriel Garcia Márquez, took a nap, enjoyed a perfectly prepared fresh Palometa cooked on the charcoal grill, washed down with an Iquiteńa Extra beer, walked all around the golf course, studied the water flow from the big rain last night, made some plans about where to plant certain species of trees, did some casual birdwatching, more hammock time, and read some more.

While I was studying the water flow across the Amazon Golf Course two eating size fish jumped right in front of Marmelita. Then she pointed out several minnows. Bring your fishing gear to carry with your golf clubs, and machete.

I saw a wide variety of birds without even paying much attentions to details. Several Jacanas fluttered up off of the Lily pads while we walked along the water hazards. I watched a Road Side Hawk catch a small lizard. Two small groups of parrots flew over, and a flock of parakeets, two small green macaws, several Smooth-billed Anis, a Blue-gray Tanager, a couple of Kiskadees, other flycatchers, swallows and swifts, black vultures, several species of small brown or gray birds working the Aguaje Palms for insects. Bring your binoculars, bird watching is good at the Amazon Golf Course.

I hope you enjoyed your fathers day as much as I did. If you are a regular reader of this blog, thank you for being part of the Amazon Golf Course extended family.

Happy Fathers Day From The Amazon Golf Course

Bill Grimes, Amazon Golf Course

Posted on Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | No Comments »

Second Golf Lesson At the Amazon Golf Course

Second Golf Lesson At the Amazon Golf Course

Michael and Isacc are the star students golfers at the Amazon Golf Course

Michael and Isacc are the star students golfers at the Amazon Golf Course

We hosted 9 golf students at our second Saturday free golf lessons at the Amazon Golf Course from 10 till 12 noon. Join us for your free golf lessons next Saturday. Harry Kelly was the golf professor, assisted by Mike Collis and Margarita our course supervisor. I was impressed by the rate of improvement I witnessed today.

The golf students practiced at the driving range and the putting green

The golf students practiced at the driving range and the putting green

We learned a lot about golf today. Everyone was better at the end of practice than when we started.

Our second Saturday of golf lessons at the Amazon Golf Course

Our second Saturday of golf lessons at the Amazon Golf Course

The first half hour for the newest students was a classroom discussion about golf terminology, clubs, rules, and philosophy. Then they joined the others at the driving range. Harry taught them the proper way to hold the club and the stance, keep your eye on the ball on the tee, and follow though. There was visible improvment in the next half hour. Then we moved to the practice putting green. Well, putting is difficult. We need more practice, naturally.

We are gratified that so many young women came to the golf lessons at the Amazon Golf Course

We are gratified that so many young women came to the golf lessons at the Amazon Golf Course

We had fun today. I expect more golf students at next Saturday’s lessons at the Amazon Golf Course. Join us. Bring your friends.

Harry Kelly teaching on the practice putting green at the Amazon Golf Course

Harry Kelly teaching on the practice putting green at the Amazon Golf Course

Next Saturday we will spend more time on the driving range and practice putting green with the advanced students teeing off to the first green. Today Michael and Isacc, our star students, played the first hole several times after the lessons were over. They impressed me with their enthusiasm for learning the sport of golf. I know they will be good golfers if they keep practicing.

We are learning the sport of golf at the Amazon Golf Course

We are learning the sport of golf at the Amazon Golf Course

We are building awareness in the Iquitos community about playing golf at the Amazon Golf Course.

And who knows, you might even find romance on the practice putting green at the Amazon Golf Course

And who knows, you might even find romance on the practice putting green at the Amazon Golf Course

Bill Grimes is the Amazon Golf Course manager, and also writes for the Dawn on the Amazon Captain’s Blog.

Read about our First Golf Lessons At The Amazon Golf Course, Iquitos Peru here.

Posted on Saturday, June 20th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | 2 Comments »

Progress Report On Our Goal Of Improving the Greens On The Amazon Golf Course

Progress Report On Our Goal Of Improving The Greens On The Amazon Golf Course

We have worked on the greens every day since June 6th when I posted the article The Greens On The Back Side Of The Amazon Golf Course, and I said, “All of the greens are playable today. I expect immediate incremental daily improvement in the quality of the greens, and a noticeable improvement within one month.”

Green number 7 covered with sifted, fine, organic compost at the Amazon Golf Course

Green number 7 covered with sifted, fine, organic compost at the Amazon Golf Course

Daily progress has been made. All of the greens have been hand weeded, mowed repeatedly, and rolled. Five greens have been spread with a mixture of compost and lime. We had a new heavy duty green roller welded and delivered today that will be a big improvement over our previous roller, which I will have spikes welded on to turn it into a thatcher. Plans are slowly coming along. We will have noticeable improvements by July 6, and sooner. Come on out and play a round to see for yourself.

This is our new heavy green roller. Filled with sand it is a two or three man tool.

This is our new heavy green roller. Filled with sand it is a two or three man tool.

In the last few days we found, purchased, transported, mixed, and spread our organic compost mixture. We purchased 48 large bags of old rotten sawdust, 50 bags of old rotten chicken guano, 35 bags of finished compost, and 30 kilos of lime. Our greens crew are mixing them to the following recipe; 5 sacks of sawdust, 1 sack of chicken guano, 1 sack of black dirt finished compost, and two hand fulls of lime.

Margarita and the greens crew built a nursery from the organic compost mixture to grow grass for the greens to transplant in where improvements can be made.

We are using the organic compost mixture to side dress the greens, and established trees and plants. We will use the compost mixture to improve the survival and growth rate of the 2,000 trees and blooming bushes we are planting. Our soil is very acidic, and varies from poor nutrient clay to poor nutrient sand. We expect the organic compost mixture to be a valuable contribution to our success.

This is the worst established tree on the Amazon Golf Course. We side dressed it with our organic compost mixture. I hope to show you a photo of this tree alive and well in a few months.

This is the worst established tree on the Amazon Golf Course. We side dressed it with our organic compost mixture. I hope to show you a photo of this tree alive and well in a few months.

What do you think? Let us know your suggestions either in the comments below, by email, or in person. Collectively you know a lot more about green maintenance than any one person here can know.

Progress Report On Our Goal Of Improving The Greens On The Amazon Golf Course

Bill Grimes, manager of the Amazon Golf Course.

Posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | No Comments »

Amazon Golf Course On Channel 23 TV

Amazon Golf Course on Channel 23 TV

We received an unexpected return on our newspaper advertising dollars. Channel 23 TV saw the advertisements, thought it was news worthy, and interviewed Margarita, our course supervisor, at 3:00pm today.

The interviewer thought it amazing there is a golf course in Iquitos, and by the questions and Margarita’s answers, promoted the free golf lessons on Saturday, the half price for golf in the month of June, and the overall existence of the Amazon Golf Course.

Mike Collis was given the full credit he deserves for having the vision to begin, build, and promote the Amazon Golf Course, the 50 plus founding Peruvian and international investor-owner-members received recognition, and Margarita put in a little plug for me as course manager.

This is the type of community awareness and recognition we are looking for.

Amazon Golf Course On Channel 23 TV

Bill Grimes also wrote this informative, interesting article you might enjoy; Amazon Golf Course, Iquitos Peru, Open Under New Management.

Posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | No Comments »

My Favorite Restaurant Near The Amazon Golf Course Is La Tullpa

My Favorite Restaurant Near the Amazon Golf Course Is La Tullpa

La Tullpa is my favorite restaurant near the Amazon Golf Course

La Tullpa is my favorite restaurant near the Amazon Golf Course

My favorite restaurant near the Amazon Golf Course is La Tullpa, located across from the PetroPeru gas station on the Nauta Road just before you turn on the Zungerococha Road that the Amazon Golf Course is on. It is clean, with soap and paper towels in the restrooms. The decor is attractive, and the food is delicious. I usually order fried palometa with platanos cooked over the coals, or palometa and platanos cooked over the coals. Because La Tullpa is so far from the tourist center, I have not tried the fruit juice or refresca, preferring to play it safe with an Iquiteña beer or an Inca Cola.

Fried Palometa with cocona sauce is one of the most delicious fish in the world

Fried Palometa with cocona sauce is one of the most delicious fish in the world

La Tullpa has a S/5 sole menu, but the palometa is huge and costs S/16 to S/18 soles, well worth the extra money.

Watch for this sign to La Tullpa, across from the PetroPeru gas station

Watch for this sign to La Tullpa, across from the PetroPeru gas station

My Favorite Restaurant Near the Amazon Golf Course Is La Tullpa

Bill Grimes, My Favorite Restaurants In Iquitos Peru

Posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
Under: Amazon Golf | 1 Comment »