TOP 30 Golf Courses in Mexico
Baja Sur - Mexican Riviera - Cancun/Riviera Maya - Baja/Sea of Cortes - Inland/Colonial Routes
Good golf travel advice would not be complete without a few words about the
Mexican Riviera, located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, an area that stretches from
Mazatlán in the north to Acapulco in the south. In the center you will find the
heart of this golfing Mecca, from Manzanillo to Nayarit, including Puerto
Vallarta, which claim to have the best golf in the world.
More than 40 years ago, billionaire tin magnate Antenor Patiñofrom Bolivia
gave us a golf course rated “10” at Las Hadasin Manzanillo. Designed in 1969 MEXICAN RIVIERA
by Roy Dye, La Mantarrayabegan the move to hire top-rated US golf architects
to design courses in Mexico. This is the Dye family, including son Andy, at its best,
with a wonderfully crafted course surrounded by sand traps in the middle of the
greens. An addition to the original plan, the famous million-dollar hole, is a 144-
yard par-three 18th hole with the green positioned on a man-made island built in
the ocean. The view from the tee is spectacular with the all-white Las Hadas
resort in the background. The best advice is to take a couple of extra balls! Next
door, the all-inclusive Barceló Karmina Palace shares the spectacular view of
the 18th hole and offers a super package that includes golf and many other activ-
ities for the entire family.
Heading north up the coast is the “kingdom” of Isla Navidadand its deluxe
Grand Bay Hotel, one of only two properties in Mexico to receive Golf Magazine’s
Gold Award (the other is Los Cabos’ One & Only Palmilla). Here Robert von
Hagge has built a masterpiece with 27 holes of oceanfront and bay front fairways
and green s. Isla is poised, for the first time, to expand their real estate offerings
with a series of oceanfront single family offerings and a lagoon view condo pro-
ject. The tiny town of Barra de Navidad, just a short panga ride across the
lagoon, offers an enjoyable, laid back environment for strolling amid shops,
restaurants, and even a church with a history of miracles.
Thirty-five minutes north, lies El Tamarindo, Best’s Golf Guide Top 30 No. 5
Resort golf course in Mexico. It is a spectacular, modern wonder in the world of
golf, with its own unique village-like retreat and an ocean side golf course carved
out of the jungle, designed by David Fleming. This property now boasts the
ultrachic El Tamarindo Resortwith an incredible array of villas with views rang-
ing from forest to ocean. Sophisticated and adventurous golfers would be able to
brag to friends about their experience of a lifetime with a visit to El Tamarindo.
The ninth hole is a “black diamond” vertical descent with a Par 3 drop-dead
vista view of plush green vegetation and the sparking blue Pacific. So awesome
is the spectacular scene that a palate respite will prolong the Kodak moment,
stay as long as you like, review the round with a few Coronasand shrimp tacos,
no need to hurry. Limited, exclusive and pristine ocean view lots are available
at El Tamarindo through Grupo Plan. Play golf, stay a lifetime.
Enrique Valenzuela, famous Mexican architect, is building Corazon de
Manzanillo, a new course near Manzanillo with commanding views of Santiago
Bay that is scheduled to open in 2009.
The entire Costa Alegre area between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, in the
State of Jalisco is gearing for mega developments in conjunction with the new
regional airport being built close to Chamela. Future Jack Nicklaus and
Greg Normangolf developments are slated to make this southern area of the
The World Famous
La Mantarraya
Mexican Riviera a carefully planned growth area for golf, boutique resorts, and also known as
residential communities.
Las Hadas Golf Course
by Roy Dye
22 BEST’S GOLF GUIDE TO MEXICO WWW.GOLFINMEXICO.NET
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