Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - Golf in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s newest Pacific vacation destination, is a fabulous work in progress. Already there are championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Robert Von Hagge, Jim Lipe - Nicklaus’ head designer, and Percy Clifford. The newest course to open in Riviera Nayarit is the breathtaking Jack Nicklaus course in Punta Mita. Still to come is a masterpiece by Greg Norman scheduled to open in 2009.
Nayarit’s appeal to leading designers and golf aficionados? Ideal year-round weather, breathtaking views of ocean, bays and coves, a backdrop of tropical forests and rugged mountains, and plentiful varying landscapes ready to be molded into fairways and greens of exceptional challenge and beauty. Golfers of all playing abilities are assured of having the time of their golfing lives. In all, golfers from around the world will have six signature courses to choose from by the end of year, in addition to three championship courses in nearby Puerto Vallarta.
The following are short descriptions of Riviera Nayarit’s golf courses; for further information, please refer to the websites listed for each golf course.
Bahia Course, Punta Mita
Opened in November 2008, this is the newest addition to the golf family in Riviera Nayarit. Already having achieved accolades for his course at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, Nicklaus returns with a much anticipated championship caliber design stretching over 7,035 yards. Among the highlights of the course are:
El Tigre Club De Golf, Nuevo Vallarta (www.eltigregolf.com)
Opened in March of 2002, El Tigre is a par-72 course with 7,239 yards, designed by Robert von Hagge, the well known Texas-based designer who is the most prolific designer in Mexico. Nine bodies of water and rolling hills make it a special gem. The course also features what may be the finest clubhouse in Mexico, elegantly Spanish in style, with 45,000 square feet that include a restaurant, lounge, pro-shop, locker room and a European spa.
The course has water in 12 of the 18 holes and a total of 144 sand traps in the entire terrain. Among the highlights of the course:
Four Seasons Golf Club at Punta Mita (www.fourseasons.com/puntamita/golf)
The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita has soared in popularity since its September 1999 opening, not only for its sumptuous resort setting, but also for its unparalleled private championship course at the Four Seasons Golf Club. The 7,014-yard Jack Nicklaus Signature course, with its renowned 3B green on a natural ocean island, has made Punta Mita a veritable paradise for world- class golfing. Recent accolades include Condé Nast Traveler's 2006 Reader's Choice of the Best Golf Resort in the World.
The Nicklaus-designed course is spread over 200 acres, and takes full advantage of its location on the Punta Mita peninsula. Eight holes border either the Pacific Ocean or Banderas Bay, and all holes offer ocean views. Along with the vistas across white coral sand beaches and of the surrounding Sierra Madre Mountains, Punta Mita's tropical landscape of palm trees and flowering trees add to the pleasure of playing this challenging course.
Among the distinctive features of the course is the signature island hole, 3B, the world's only natural island green situated 194 yards away. Driving the ball across the Pacific Ocean is a unique experience, as is getting over to the green to putt. At low tide, you walk along a connecting pathway over shallow waters. As the tide moves in, a staff member shuttles you in an amphibious version of a golf cart. The hole is known as the "Tail of the Whale," because when seen from the air, it resembles the shape of the tail of the Humpbacked whales that frequent the offshore waters of Punta Mita during winter months. According to Nicklaus (when asked to name his "best" hole), he responded, "Probably 3B at Punta Mita."
Flamingos Golf Club, Nuevo Vallarta (www.flamingosgolf.com)
Only 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Flamingos Golf Club is the oldest golf course in Riviera Nayarit. Built in 1978 and playing 6,982 yards with a par-71, it was designed by Percy Clifford, an English designer well known in Mexico for his work on several of the best courses, including the Club de Golf Mexico and Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
Masterfully integrating the natural beauty of the location, the course preserves the tropical greenery, over 1800 palm trees, and a rolling terrain that makes it challenging but enjoyable. Built in and around a series of natural marshes, lagoons and estuaries that are habitat for local fauna such as deer, hares, crocodiles, turtles and over 100 species of birds, Flamingos is a test of chipping skills and every other aspect of the game.
Purchased by new owners in 2000, the course recently underwent a 3-year, $3 million renovation, with a new club house, pro shop and restaurant, and a driving range.
Mayan Palace Golf Club, Nuevo Vallarta (www.mayanpalace.com)
Opened in 2001 and designed by Jim Lipe, the Maya Palace Golf Club, features a par-71, 7000 yard challenge, with impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, the Rio Ameca, and the surrounding Sierra Madre Mountains.
Wide fairways and tricky pin placements mean the course is a delight to players of all abilities. Of special interest are the ocean views from several holes, especially the signature 14th, a spectacular 153-yard, par-3 with the Pacific Ocean on the left side as well as a small lake and a pair of well placed bunkers protecting the approach. Because of its ocean front location and flat terrain, winds add another layer of consideration to the game and many players need to use three or more clubs. Amenities include a fine restaurant, snack bar, full service pro-shop, driving range and putting green.
About Riviera Nayarit
Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com