Central America’s first Pete Dye golf course opened on 28 March on a tract of land that once housed a coffee plantation outside the ancient colonial town of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The golf course has been named ‘Fuego Maya’ or Mayan Fire and will be the centrepiece of a resort community known as La Reunion.

The course has been built alongside the base of an active volcano and offers views of three other volcanoes, plus the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Stretching to 7,302 yards, Fuego Maya features carry over deep canyons and signature Dye bunkering.

“La Reunion will be Guatemala's first foray in the golf tourism business,” said Roberto Roesch, co-developer and a member of the board of directors. “We hope to put Guatemala on the map as a world class destination and attract golfers and general tourists to our resort.”

La Reunion comprises 1,384 acres and when fully complete will include 950 units split between private lots, villas and residences. The project will also include 26 golf course casitas, a luxury hotel, a boutique eco-hotel, a spa, observatory and a cultural centre.

“We are very proud of La Reunion's golf course and we believe that it will be recognised as one of the great courses of the world,” said Perry Dye, who oversaw the development Maya. “An especially notable feature is that we have the only bentgrass greens, tees and fairways in Central America. This magical, majestic setting has allowed us to create a spectacular layout that golfers of all ages and abilities will enjoy for years to come. This is a very special place and we cannot wait to share it with the world.”