The Golf Channel's Big Break will showcase Mexico's Riviera Maya and the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Paraiso and Playa Paraiso Golf Club starting in May

I tried to tell the golf world how awesome the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Paraiso and Playa Paraiso Golf Club in Mexico’s Riviera Maya is after I visited last fall.

I gushed about my experience there, something I rarely do, but that’s how thoroughly surprised I was at the quality of the luxury all-inclusive hotel (pictured above) and the P.B. Dye-designed golf course. Read my reviews here, here and here. There’s also a sister IBEROSTAR property and golf course in Cancun (read about it here).

Doubters who still don’t believe me can see for themselves. The 19th season of the Golf Channel’s popular Big Break reality competition series will premier Monday, May 13, showing off the Grand Hotel and Playa Paraiso.

Big Break Mexico, produced in partnership with the Mexico Tourism Board, will feature a cast of six men and six women competing in a mixed team format in an attempt to win an exemption to compete either on the LPGA Tour at the 2013 Lorena Ochoa Invitational presented by Banamex and Jalisco or on the PGA TOUR at the 2013 OHL Classic at Mayakoba (both Nov. 14-17).

The highlight of the series will be a guest appearance from former World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who will compete in a challenge alongside the contestants.

The Big Break remains one of The Golf Channel’s most-watched programs, but a lot of golf people I meet complain about the show. I still haven’t figured out why. The show is much more ‘real’ than other reality shows. American Idol hasn’t produced nearly as many pop stars as the Big Break has legitimate professional golfers.

Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, the Big Break VII: Reunion champion, captured his first PGA TOUR victory in 2012 at The McGladrey Classic. Several other past Big Break competitors are currently competing on the world’s top tours, including Matt Every (PGA TOUR), James Nitties and Mark Silvers (Web.com Tour) and Kim Welch, Nicole Smith, Gerina Piller, Kelly Jacques, 2011 Solheim Cup team member Ryann O’Toole and 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Kristy McPherson (LPGA Tour).

I watch to see the beautiful golf courses in exotic locales. The show is bound to entice a golfer or two to discover the wonderful world of IBEROSTAR.