Published July 17, 2008 on May 31, 2020

Ochoa Ventures Into Building Golf Courses in Belize and Mexico

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Two time LPGA Major champion and Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa of Mexico has ventured into a new career as a golf course architect. The 27-times winner on the LPGA Tour retired from competition in 2010 to start a family with husband Andres Conesa, the CEO of Aeroméxico. They have three children now.

 

With her Lorena Ochoa Foundation for underprivileged students in her hometown of Guadalajara doing well, she has now decided to build golf courses.

“I admire all different types of golf courses,” said Ochoa on a recent Symetra Tour Twitter Live segment. “For me, playing in Mexico was the most special thing in my career especially in Morelia where I won a few times. Being able to play in front of the fans in your country—the feeling, the cheering—is special. It was the top moments in my career.”

 

Ochoa is constructing new courses in Belize as well as Mexico. The first project is in her native country and situated along the beautiful beaches of Riviera Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta. An 18-hole golf course with two holes parallel to the Pacific Ocean co-designed by Ochoa and 2001 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Greg “The Shark” Norman, it is called Costa Canuva.

 

Ochoa’s project in Belize is on a small island located about 20 minutes away from Belize City by boat. The name and location are still to be announced. Ochoa has worked on both projects for almost a year now.

“It is going to be a beautiful resort,” said Ochoa in reference to her Belize golf course. “I really want to finish one of them to say I have finished a golf course design. Especially in my country, that is something I’m really excited about.

“I’ve been learning a lot from Greg Norman. He and his team have been great to work with. Everything is new to me. I want to say thank you for the chance to learn. I’m in this new stage of my life doing different activities, golf course design is something really special. I am excited to finish them, and people can start playing some of my golf courses.”