TOP 30 Golf Courses in Mexico
Baja Sur - Mexican Riviera - Cancun/Riviera Maya - Baja/Sea of Cortes - Inland/Colonial Routes
Two and a half hours north, along a peaceful highway dotted with small town
pueblos and attention getting topes (sleeping policemen) is Puerto Vallarta. This
city hosted the PGA-sponsored World Cup in December 2002 and The Champions
Tour in 2006. Puerto Vallarta is no longer a one-course beach town.
The development of the Vista Vallarta Golf Cluband its two dynamic cham-
pionship courses established Vallarta as a major golf destination in Mexico.
Occupying the property’s highest elevations, Vista Vallarta’s first course was
designed by Jack Nicklausand offers golfers a variety of terrain and challenges as
they play across rolling hillsides, dense forests of palms, giant ficus trees, and
NUEVO & PUERTO VALLARTA
at least a dozen natural arroyos. With dramatic views of the town & bay, golfers
will want to play this course twice: once with a camera, and again with clubs.
The second Vista Vallarta course, designed by Tom Weiskopf, takes players
across deep natural ravines and swift creeks, all characteristic of the property’s
lowest elevations. Weiskopf has done a masterful job of working the terrain’s
natural features into an incredibly playable and memorable course, from the first
tee to the green of the “drivable” 18th hole.
Diamond Golf Construction, the leading golf course builder in Mexico, trans-
The preservation of the
formed the property from wild jungle into landscaped fairways and greens. natural beauty of this idyllic
The preservation of the natural beauty of this idyllic setting appears to have
setting appears to have been
been a key directive throughout the project. In the words of Mexico’s foremost
a key directive throughout
agronomist, Bobby Heine, “The result is one of the best golf complex in Mexico…
the project. In the words of
difficult to duplicate anywhere in the world.”
Mexico’s foremost agrono-
The Marina Vallarta Golf Course, designed by Joe Fingerin 1985, was Puerto
Vallarta’s first golf course. Located between the marina and the ocean, the
mist, Bobby Heine, “The
course is owned and managed by ClubCorp. Resident Director of Golf, K.C.
result is one of the best
Crandallmaintains US standards, services, and maintenance. Several notable
golf complex in Mexico…
hotels surround the course; one in particular is Casa Velas, a boutique all-inclu-
difficult to duplicate any-
sive spa resort located on the course, with access to the beach club. where in the world.”
An array of first class hotels including the Westin, Sol-Meliaand the Marriott
Casa Magna are located on the oceanfront. High-rises overlook the mega
marina full of large, expensive yachts on one side, and a perfect sunset that
overlooks the Pacific Ocean on the other. Bay View Grandgroup is the power-
house here with several condo options to choose from, including the new
Venetiandevelopment with all of the lifestyle amenities to complete your Puerto
Vallarta investment.
Going north toward Nuevo Vallarta in the State of Nayarít, one crosses the
Rio AmecaBridge to a magnificent destination featuring golf properties such as
the Peninsula de Cortes. This course is a highly successful timeshare project that
has five locations throughout Mexico under the brand of Albatross Golf.
Currently the front nine holes are closed for a complete redo by the Nicklaus
design team, which will be finished by October, 2009.
Here in Nayarít, several important resorts and developments are midway
through their build out. Paradise Villageis Graziano Sovernigo’s brainchild with
his vast real estate development including a hotel, sports-oriented residential
beach resort, and the famous El Tigre Golf Course, a Robert von Haggedesign
with eleven water holes to keep you cool. Look closely and you might just see
Jesus Carmonataking the bengal tiger cubs for a walk.
Originally designed by legendary Percy Cliffordand now under the Davis fam-
El Tigre Golf Course
at Paradise Village
ily’s attentive management, Flamingo Golf Clubis one of the up and coming OLD by Robert von Hagge
WORLD courses a favorite of a loyal locals and international winter residents.
Inlay: Jesus Carmona,
Director of Golf & Cubs
26 BEST’S GOLF GUIDE TO MEXICO WWW.GOLFINMEXICO.NET
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94