Fuego Maya Golf Course, Guatemala

The Fuego Maya Golf Course at La Reunion Resort was carved out of the base of an active volcano, appropriately named Fuego, which means fire in Spanish. This 18-hole course was Pete and Perry Dye first venture in Central America. Golfers who play Fuego Maya will need to have some level of ability. The course is fair but difficult. It rewards great shots and in some cases penalizes mediocre shots.

Every hole on this course is stunning. From the practice green to the first tee, there’s the Fuego volcano highly visible from every corner and three other volcanoes surrounding the resort. On a clear day, you can even see the Pacific Ocean some 50 miles away. 

The front nine, while no pushover, is easier than the back. The fifth hole, a 460-yard dogleg right, is the No. 1 handicap hole with an uphill approach shot to a difficult green. The seventh, a 507-yard par 4 that plays downhill from the tee, then uphill to a well-guarded green, may be even harder. There has even been some talk that it should be a par 5. The previous hole, a 531-yard par 5 that plays downhill, may actually be easier.

By the time you get to the 10th, a 427-yard par 4 that works around a canyon to an uphill green, the course really starts to get interesting. The problem here starts off the tee, trying to figure out how much canyon on the right to bite off to find the fairway. But if you bail too far left, you can hit it off the golf course.

Even when you find the fairway, the green presents a small target playing straight uphill to about two extra clubs. And it has a false front. Balls that find the front part of the green roll down to one spot, where there’s a large collection of divots. The rest of the golf course features an array of blind shots, water hazards and elevation changes.

The 13th is a 563-yard par 5 with a lake in front of the green that presents a tough tee shot and an even tougher lay-up with water right and thick rough left. The 16th is a 682-yard par 5 that plays all downhill, much shorter than the yardage but with plenty of obstacles. The 159-yard 17th may be the course’s signature hole, with a pond in front and waterfall on the right separating it from the 16th green. The elongated 17th green also has a backboard, inviting long shots that rebound back toward the center of the green.

The finishing hole, a 491-yard par 4, plays downhill to a narrow green, protected by two bunkers, one of them a pot bunker, on the left and a cliff to the right.

Practice facilities are also good here, with Fuego Maya serving as one of the most spectacular backdrops you’ll find on any range. A large practice green sits behind the clubhouse.