Vidalago.com All About Lake Chapala Living

Question: “I’ve heard that golfing in Mexico is very expensive. Is that how it is in the Lake Chapala and Guadalajara area?”

Answer: “Yes, and No. But like most things Mexican, there is a work-around…”

For expert and casual golfers alike, the Guadalajara Mexico area offers a number of outstanding championship golf courses. The beautiful weather provides for a year-round golfing season in Lakeside and Guadalajara. Many  of the the championship 18-hole courses in Guadalajara – Guadalajara Country Club, El Palomar, Atlas, Santa Anita, Las Canadas – are either Members Only or Resort Courses. Read on to find out about the work-around if you don’t want to stay in a resort hotel in order to play the golf courses…

In Lakeside, we have Chula Vista Country Club,  a charming 9-hole Executive course, which is short on yardage but long on challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Nestled in a hillside overlooking Lake Chapala

Chula Vista Golf

(“Chula Vista” means “Beautiful View”), you will find some exceptionally long par 3′s and short par 4′s that gobble up golf balls belonging to many seasoned golf afficianados. Chula Vista features extremely affordable year-round membership rates, or a daily greens fee of 400 pesos (less than $40 US). There are no carts, but lots of friendly and skilled caddies if you don’t want to lug your own bag up and down the hills. I recently signed up for annual greens fee membership with another golfer, for a cost of 10,300 pesos (around $1000. US) which covers unlimited play 7 days a week.  Finish off your round with a drink or lunch with friends at the terrace restaurant and you have a nearly clublike experience for very few dollars.

Chula Vista Golf Club Rates updated January, 2009

# of months                1 person (Pesos/DollarsUS)            2 person (Pesos/DollarsUS)

1                                    4000 / 308                                       8000 / 616

3                                  10500 / 808                                    18000 / 1385

6                                  13000 / 1000                                  23000 / 1769

12                                18000 / 1385                                   27000 / 2077

Monthly memberships include unlimited play, caddies required weekends and holidays. This is a hilly walking course with lots of trees and hazards. Pullcarts permitted, no riding carts.

Single play 18 holes       350 / 26.93

Caddy fee                       150 / 11.54

“OK, OK, but what if I want to play a regular 18-hole championship course?”  Oh yes, now for the work-around: You don’t have to be a member or resort guest in Guadalajara to play those great courses. Instead, say hello to the friendly pro at Chula Vista, tell him you would like to play at one of the courses in nearby Guadalajara, and he will call their pro shop to give you an introduction.  You will find 18-hole greens fees with carts and caddy there to be anywhere between $80 – $150 US.

Another local course is Chapala Country Club a full-sized 9-hole course, also with breathtaking views and private homes surrounding the golf course. Contact the club directly for membership information and rates.

The Atlas Country Club, with a championship 18-hole layout, also features a state of the art clubhouse with banguet and convention facilities, tennis, swimming and many other amenities. Atlas is located just past Guadaljara Airport, about a thirty minute drive from Lakeside.

Currently Atlas is offering full memberships starting as low as $5,500. US.

For serious club golfers, Atlas offers the best value in the Guadalajara area. The course and clubhouse facilities rival any top-shelf golf club anywhere in the world. For more information about golf in Lake Chapala and Guadalajara, be sure to contact us.

Bruno is an avid golfer and would enjoy playing a five-peso (fifty-cent) skins game with you when you come to visit Lakeside, or if you just need a break from house hunting with Elliott! 

Talk to me about Real Estate in Ajijic!

Since this article was first published we have seen an economic rebound. Now is the time to buy real estate in Ajijic Lakeside Mexico while prices are still low.

In today’s challenging economic times, an increasing number of baby boomers are considering full or part-time living in Lake Chapala Mexico as a way to budget and conserve their nest eggs.

Living in the Lake Chapala region, with the nearby international city of Guadalajara, has been steadily gaining in appeal to to many of the estimated 70 million North Americans who are in or approaching retirement age. Here at Vidalago.com we strive to give you a personal, honest insight into the daunting question of making a major move, not just down the street or to another city or state, but to Mexico! For this article, we have compiled a few of the more frequent questions that many people ask about lifestyle, finances, and health concerns as they make decisions about their future:

Question: Is the cost of living in Lake Chapala really that much of a difference?

Answer: Depending on your needs, everyone from single retired folks to families with children are discovering that Lake Chapala living is very affordable, without sacrificing quality of lifestyle.

For basic monthly expenses, living in Lake Chapala is inexpensive by most North American comparisons.

Heating and air conditioning are a thing of the past, because of the temperate year-round climate in Lakeside. Most people find that using an extra blanket in the winter, and turning on their ceiling fans in the summer is all that they need for comfort.

The homes in Lakeside are constructed from non-flammable materials like brick, mortar, cement and tile, which renders the need for homeowner’s insurance unnecessary. Frequently, an open floor plan to a patio or pool provides plenty of ventilation and adds to ease of living.

Be sure to visit the free MLS Listings page at Vidalago.com!

These homes and others are more affordable than you may think!

Question: If I move to Lakeside, can I still get a home with a modern kitchen?

Answer: Most of the available homes and condos in Lakeside are either recently constructed or may have updated kitchens and facilities if the homes are somewhat older.

Many people prefer gas for cooking and hot water, which is readily available through numerous suppliers of propane delivered on a schedule to hour home.

Stone masonry and tile work is a centuries-old craft here in Mexico.

Real marble countertops, rather than Corian  and Formica abound!

Question: “I don’t want to learn Spanish. Will I have trouble communicating with people and being understood?”

Answer: Most of the locals you will talk to in your day to day activities actually prefer to speak English.

There is a very high level of English education amongst the Mexican population in the Lake Chapala area. Some learn in school, while others have actually lived in the states on visas for long periods of time before returning or choosing to live in Lakeside. You find many friendly and helpful men and women working in the service and medical community who are bilingual. After a while many of us “Gringos” actually like the idea of learning a bit of Spanish ourselves, and the locals put up with our attempts to practice our words and phrases in the stores and restaurants.

One of the resources available online is a free translation website, which comes in handy if you need to get across a more complex idea.  You can type in your english sentences, then print out the translation to take with you:

“Excuse me, I am looking for Elliott Joachim at Absolut Fenix Realty. Do you know where the office is?”

“Perdone, busco Elliott Joachim en Bienes raíces de Absolut Fenix. ¿Sabe usted donde la oficina es? ”

Add your questions below for next month’s article!