[JMBroad]

Think I've posted this somewhere before, but hey... I've never played in Brazil, but I've played in subtropical locations where there really wasn't a market for it. For me it was superb because most of the days I never saw a soul on the course... I could do a full round in as long as I liked (once took 11.5 hours to do 18 hole 4 ball - was my clubs "course record") without any pressure from golfers behind me telling me to speed up.

Whenever another group did get anywhere near us, if we as much as saw them, we'd wave them through, then get back to the game. Most days though we never saw anyone. We'd amble on to the course at whatever time we liked, without booking a tee-off time then tee'd off slowly and pottered around the course at our own speed, stopped at the half way house for as long as we liked, made a day of it.

The course itself was beautiful, breathtaking views especially from the 4th green (which is now the 2nd I think)...

Of course actually playing was bloody hot and we drank a lot of water, but being able to play without any pressure was bliss. (in case you haven't twigged yet, I'm not very good at golf <understatement>).

The maximum temperature on those days was around 32 ºC and very high humidity (which means you sweat profusely and is generally uncomfortable). But I'd still much rather play in those conditions than in Scotland in the rain and fog or in Spain/Algarve with 7 4-balls queued up behind me and the ranger yelling at us from the sidelines to "hurry up or let them through".

Oh and btw if anyone wants to go play on that course, it's still open, still absolutely stunning and still hardly anyone plays it during the summer months. It's called Palheiro Golf and is on the island of Madeira, Portugal.

The challenge is to be able to make enough money to stay open and keep the course in prime condition.