Montego Bay, Jamaica, to welcome Mojo 6, a fun new LPGA tournament

Bring on the Red Stripe. It’s about time someone came up with a refreshing new tournament format. Kudos to the LPGA for making it happen.

The LPGA has added a new tournament to its calendar, the Mojo 6. Taking place April 15-16 at the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, (www.cinnamonhilljamaica.com) though not an official LPGA event, it is sanctioned by the LPGA and is a welcome addition to its schedule, which this year is on the light side. www.themojo6.com

Sixteen players will compete for the $1 million purse in a new format called Raceway Golf™. The tournament runs two days, with eight players being eliminated after the first day of several six-hole matches.

Each six-hole set-up will change after each round. Sounds like fun and an interesting way to play the game, an idea our clubs here might consider trying.

Among the players already signed up to come to Jamaica are Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, and Suzann Pettersen.

Originally designed in 1969 by Hank Smedley, Cinnamon Hill was redesigned in 2001 by Robert Von Hagge. It’s a beauty combining steep elevations with seaside links. Overlooking historic Rose Hall Great House, the area was the tropical setting for the James Bond movie, “Live and Let Die.”

The old stone arches of an ancient aqueduct from the 1700s used in the sugar cane industry winds through the course

Certainly a couple of famous women are known to have played a part in the site’s history. The 15th green is alongside the waterfall where Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned, “How do I love thee, let me count the ways.”

Close to the 4th tee, you can spot the mid-18h century Cinnamon Hill Great House, once the home of the Barretts of Wimpole Street and for 30 years, the home of Johnny Cash and June Carter.

But sinister memories haunt Rose Hall Great House which you can see from the second tee. Once home to the notorious Annie Palmer, rumor has it she poisoned her first husband while her next two also died of mysterious circumstances.

Annie is thought to have practiced voodoo and to have beaten her slaves. Eventually murdered by her slaves, her spirit is said to haunt the house, now a national landmark.

If you play here, feel free to blame your shanks and slices on Annie Palmer’s evil spells. Rumor has it, she hates golf.

To soak up some history and play courses around Montego Bay, book a play and stay package at one of the resorts including Riu Montego Bay Hotel. Iberostar Rose Hill Suites, Half Moon, The Ritz- Carlton Golf and Spa Resort or The Rose Hall Resort and Spa.

In addition to Cinnamon Hill, you can play Half Moon Golf Club, SuperClubs Iron Shore Golf Club, Tryall Golf Club and The White Witch of Rose Hall Golf Course.

And be sure to tune into CBS, grab a Red Stripe and some munchies and watch the girls compete in Mojo 6.