Choose from 10 Courses to Play Golf in Banderas Bay Virtual Vallarta
go to original August 1, 2012

Puerto Vallarta has come a long way from the days in which it only offered two golf courses. While those pioneering clubs were very professional, Puerto Vallarta was not known as a destination for golfers. Everything changed, however, during the EMC World Cup 2002, held at Vista Vallarta, resulting in worldwide attention and investments to the area.

With ten golf courses, Vallarta has become a golf destination for professionals the world over.

Whether you are a professional, aficionado, or even a spectator, do your game a favor and try each of these courses. The variety and breadth is astounding and will make your stay in the region even more enjoyable.

In addition to the courses listed below, there are 18 holes at El Tamarindo and 27 holes at Isla Navidad, both located in Costalegre.

El Tigre Club de Golf, Paradise Village • Riviera Nayarit

• 18 holes, par 72, 7239 yards
• Blue tee box: 6607 yards
• Rating: 74.5; Slope: 133
• Designer: Robert Von Hagge Group

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 clubhouse and a complete sports club nearby.

Flamingos Club de Golf • Riviera Nayarit

• 18 holes, par 72, 6853 yards
• Blue tee box: 6982 yards
• Rating: 72.5; Slope: 130
• Designer: Percy Clifford

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 renovations in 2006 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.

Mayan Resorts Golf Course Nuevo Vallarta • Riviera Nayarit

• 18 holes, par 71, 6936 yards
• Blue tee box: 6197 yards
• Rating: 70.4; Slope: 122
• Designer: Jim Lipe

The Mayan Resorts Golf Course in Nuevo Vallarta underwent a major renovation, completed in mid-2010. The project, undertaken by Jack Nicklaus Design, provides for a fresh look for the professional 18-hole course.

Marina Vallarta Club de Golf • Puerto Vallarta

• 18 holes, par 72, 6701 yards
• Tee box: regular, 6093 yards
• Rating: 70.0; Slope: 125
• Designer: Joe Finger

The Marina 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 Club de Golf • Puerto Vallarta

First Course

• 18 holes, par 72, 6976 yards
• Blue tee box: 6993 yards
• Rating: 71.6; Slope 134
• Designer: Tom Weiskopf

Second Course

• 18 holes, par 72, 7057 yards
• Blue tee box: 7073 yards
• Rating: 71.6; Slope 134
• Designer: Jack Nicklaus

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 spectator 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 five-minute drive.

Punta Mita Golf Courses • Riviera Nayarit (Private)

• Two 18-hole courses (plus one optional Hole 3 on the Pacífico course)
• Par 72, 7001 or 7014 yards
• Designer: Jack Nicklaus
• Private courses, available exclusively to members and Four Seasons or St. Regis guests

The Punta Mita Golf courses (Pacífico and Bahía) are located on one of the most beautiful locations at the north end of Banderas Bay, with magnificent ocean frontage. Pacífico 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 Course Pacífico has been voted "Best Course in the World" by Condé Nast Traveler. Both courses follow the contours of the coastline, along with lagoons, stunning slopes and challenging greens.

The Condé Nast Traveler 2008 Reader's Poll also voted Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort as the world's most luxurious golf resort. Completed anonymously by guests, this poll is considered to be among the most reliable sources for unbiased ratings of top luxury destinations.

Litibú Golf Course • Riviera Nayarit

• 18 holes, par 72, 7022 yards
• Designer: Greg Norman

Litibú Golf Course is located close to Punta Mita, one of the most exclusive areas in Riviera Nayarit, and just 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. Designed by Greg Norman, this challenging course covers 169 acres, with 18 holes at par 72. While the course's first seven holes are links-style, eight more are located in the jungle, with the rest on the Pacific ocean.

The Litibu Course will ultimately feature a Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Snack Bar, practice tee, driving range, rentals of carts, clubs, and equipment, as well as sale of golf equipment and clothing.

Las Huertas Golf Course • San Pancho, Riviera Nayarit

• Executive 9-hole golf course, par 32, 3,958 yards

Recently certified by the Mexican Golf Federation and open to the public in October, 2012.

Picturesque golf course surrounded by gardens can be a challenge even for the lower handicapper. Built in the middle of an orchard of mangos.

If you play it twice and use the 2 extra higher tee boxes it will add distance to your second round of golf and not to mention the views to the ocean. It will also make you feel like you played a different 9 hole round of golf. You will be playing in about 7,916 yards of gorgeous seashore paspalum grass with beautiful gardens.

Open 6 days a week, from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, closed Mondays for maintenance.