by David Connell - November 9, 2016
Below is a directory of golf courses located in or near Puerto Vallarta. For information regarding golf club memberships and their rates, visit here.
El Tigre was designed on a flat surface. To make the course more interesting, sand and water define the golf holes: 12 holes feature water with three “beach” bunkers. In addition, Hole 1 starts on a shallow green alongside a street, and Hole 18 certainly offers the toughest finish. This course hosts a number of national and international tournaments. Paradise Village created the additional draw of a full-service spa in the club house and a complete sports club nearby.
Although this was the first golf course in the area, the design by Englishman Percy Clifford took total advantage of the natural terrain. Over the years, it fell on hard times, but the recent renovation brought it back to its deserved professional level. Three tee boxes from each hole offer every golfer a truly challenging game. Here you can appreciate wildlife such as crocodiles, turtles, birds and even anteaters during the course of a game. Flamingos hosts a number of local fundraisers and other charity events for the community.
The Four Seasons Punta Mita Golf Courses are located on one of the most beautiful spots at the north end of Banderas Bay, with magnificent ocean frontage. It is home to the acclaimed Tail of the Whale, an optional hole on a small islet accessible by an amphibious golf cart during low tides. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Pacífico course has been voted “Best Course in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler. While Pacífico follows the contours of the coastline, Bahía include lagoons, stunning slopes and the beach just below the El Faro lighthouse.
The Greg Norman Signature Golf Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta encompasses the finest in golf with unsurpassed course conditioning on wall to wall Paspalum playing surfaces. The exciting layout winds along the banks of the Ameca River providing views of the Sierra Madres from every hole. Large landing areas off the tee give way to large undulating greens protected in typical Norman fashion by cavernous bunkers. Indigenous trees, native grasses and jungle surround the core course layout which is uninterrupted by housing and civilization throughout. As challenging from the championship tees as it is forgiving from the forward tees, the Norman course offers four different options for players. All this and a trip across the world’s longest golf cart suspension bridge spanning the Ameca River from Nayarit to Jalisco, and you’ll not experience a round like it anywhere else in the world.
Surrounded by lush jungle and the Sierra Madre Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, The Nicklaus Design Golf Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta is a natural and technical masterpiece. This 6,668 yard, par 70 course is a joy to play for every player, from your low to high handicap. But with seven lakes, 49 strategically placed bunkers, and constant, strong crosswinds coming off of the ocean, this course always presents a challenge.
The Marina Vallarta Golf Course was one of the early ones, and continues to be one of the most popular because of its proximity to town, the Maritime Terminal and airport. Its unique feature is that your game includes the added dimension of crocodiles, iguanas, turtles and a wide variety of native birds. Located in what was originally a swamp, water is a characteristic of most of the holes. It’s a challenging course and fun to play.
Vista Vallarta features two distinct designers. Tom Weiskopf retains as much of the original landscape as possible, making modifications only to accommodate the game. The feeling is very natural; the trees are native and the contours follow the curves of the hills. Jack Nicklaus likes to start with a clean slate, so he clears away to create wider greens. In fact, his stadium effect is what made this course function so well for the World Cup and other competitions. It’s a great course to see golf as a spectator. And the spectacular views include the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, a unique feature. Access from the airport or Maritime Terminal is an easy ten-minute drive.
Located in Nayarit, near Punta de Mita on the back road that links Punta de Mita with Sayulita, in a government built resort development. Designed by Greg Norman, it is a challenging course where seven holes are "link" style holes and eight other holes are surrounded by jungle. The last three Litibu golf course holes run along the Pacific Ocean with impressive views of Punta Mita and Mexico's western coastline.
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