The Kia Classic 2016: Carlsbad, CA…

We’re off to Carlsbad once again but this time we’re “sniffing in” on the 2016 Kia Classic Golf Tournament (www.kiaclassic.com) at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort.

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This photo shows the Maderas Golf Club in Poway, CA since taking photographs at golf tournaments isn’t allowed. Additionally you surely can’t post any photos on your blog site if your fat finger accidentally made contact with your camera phone during the tourney. Well, at least I will comply with 50% of their policy. 😉

Upon arrival, we check in our bags at the hotel and take a shuttle bus down the hill to the tournament. Over the course of the day we see or watch the likes of: Brooke Henderson; Sei Young Kim; Lydia Ko; Alison Lee; Mo Martin; Juli Inkster; Carlota Ciganda; Pornanong Phatlum (gotta love that name); Karrie Webb; Mirim Lee; Se Ri Pak; Jane Park; Morgan Pressel; Jessica Korda; Michelle Wie; Gerina Piller; Inbee Park; Jenny Shin; Anna Nordqvist; Lexi Thompson to name more than a few.

There isn’t any “hand holding” with my imaginary mistress…I mean favorite female professional golfer, Michelle Wie.

We quickly realize that the food served at the event isn’t the greatest so it might be worth getting the clubhouse pass next year in order to gain access to “better eats”.

The Aviara Spa was phenomenal with a fully loaded quiet room with fresh and tasty macaroons, multiple teas, fruit water, mixed candied nuts etc. After our treatment they served us a small cup of almond milk chia seed pudding topped with almonds. Yum! I’m amazed at how much work the massage therapist did on me in a mere 50 minutes.

VIVACE: Mandarin orange, salmon, herb, cream etc.

We dine at Vivace (vivace-restaurant.com) at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort. While checking in we are pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant open this Sunday (normally closed on Sundays) due to it being Easter. In addition, we stay at the Park Hyatt, a hotel which was created by splitting the Four Season’s hotel into two separate hotels. And trust me when I tell you that many of the typical Four Season’s luxuries carried over to this Hyatt property.

VIVACE: Grilled octopus in a spicy sauce

The creamy peppery sauce is perfect with the octopus as is the thinly sliced al dente asparagus. The sauce almost reminds me of a creamy Tapatio sauce.

VIVACE: Danielle prosciutto with burrata cheese

The delicate prosciutto with creamy burrata cheese is something that must be experienced by all (unless you’re lactose intolerant or a vegan).

VIVACE: Alaskan halibut with asparagus

VIVACE: Ricotta gnocchi, spicy sauce, pork shoulder, broccoli rabe

I’ve never experienced this combination but I enjoy it all the same. I’ve had better ricotta gnocchi but the diverse flavors still make this a worthwhile dish.

VIVACE: Panna cotta with strawberry rhubarb

The foamy strawberry topper is like foamy fruit yogurt or a soft sherbert. It is as if an 80s’ Yoplait Frozen Yogurt Push-pop was modified into a gourmet dessert. Our dinner has a multitude of courses and is very traditional Italiano in that it may have spanned two and a half hours or more.

VIVACE: Torta foamy ricotta cheesecake with pineapple granita

This is interesting and pretty tasty but I prefer a creamy thicker dense ricotta cheesecake. The thin almond cookies are a nice touch.

VIVACE: Dining Room

Elegant and quiet…

Hyatt Guest Room: View

Okay, with a little additional help from my point-n-shoot camera’s zoom lens feature.

Park Hyatt Aviara: Bathroom

I always appreciate the separate tub and shower after a long day walking in the sun.

Hyatt Guest Room: Illy’s Coffee Machine

This is the best pod coffee system I’ve ever tasted. I’ve always been a fan of Illy’s coffee drinks (so much better than Starpuke’s) and this machine is something I would strongly consider for home use. Normally, I avoid “old ass” ground four-days-and-a-year ago coffee like the Black Plague.

Hyatt Guest Room: Illy’s Coffee

One delicious cup of java…

Maderas Golf Club: Poway, CA

This course is located in between lush and rocky hillsides. This public course (with a private feel) is very well maintained and normally goes for $150-$170 per round. They are aerating the greens so we get a fantastic deal at a fraction of that cost.

Maderas Golf Club

This par 3 hole is very pretty with drought tolerant plants between the tee box and the green. Some beautiful homes rest on the hillsides.

Maderas Golf Club: Undulating fairways

This is an interesting hole with the green to the left.

Maderas: Mansion central on the course

The greens on this course are rather slow due to being aerated and the cool overcast day.

Tuscany OR Maderas Clubhouse?

The clubhouse is very beautiful inside and out. The golf carts have super thick padded comfortable seats.

Maderas Golf Club: Poway, CA

Golfers on Segways in lieu of carts…

Very rarely do we even see anyone on the course and only on the last three holes do we have a single golfer trailing us. And we never experience anyone in front of us so there is zero waiting.