This oil-rich South American country's economy, politics, and society are an unholy mess thanks to rampant corruption and mismanagement. It´s a crying shame, because Venezuela possesses plenty of potentially alluring tourism offerings - including a buzzing big-city scene in Caracas, marvelous Caribbean beaches, mountain hiking, and unspoiled eco-tourism (for example, spectacular Angel Falls, the world's highest, is here). But thanks to high crime, widespread shortages, civil unrest, and political instability, most foreign offices advise their citizens against travel here, and most travel insurance companies will not cover it. So until such times as the situation improves, visiting this currently benighted country is sadly just too risky.
Cover photo: Steven Cruz
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Chávez looms large over golf: Hugo Chávez's hard-line stand against the `bourgeois sport' has led to the closing of many golf courses
Venezuelan golf fairways, bunkers and greens have become both the stage of an ideological war headed by President Hugo Chávez and a showcase for the Bolivarian revolution's internal contradictions.
After a 70-year presence in the country, golf is now the target of criticism and attacks by Chávez administration leaders and organizations.
Official measures may result in the closing of more golf courses. In the past five years, the number of courses in Venezuela has gone down to 22 from 28, and three more courses may be in line to be closed as well, according to directors of the Venezuelan Golf Federation (VGF).
Among the closed courses is one the famous designer Robert Trent Jones built on Margarita Island -- the only Venezuelan course certified by the U.S. Professional Golf Association.
The other five courses no longer operating are located near oil fields in the states of Monagas, Zulia and Falcón. The courses remain inactive because the government does not consider their maintenance a priority...
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1199514.html?storyli...