THINGS TO DO :-- Golf Courses
GOLFING IN PUNTA DE MITA, NUEVO VALLARTA & PUERTO VALLARTA
There are seven world-class golf courses located in the Banderas Bay areas of Punta de Mita, Nuevo Vallarta, and Puerto Vallarta. The region has risen in the ranks to challenge Cabo San Lucas as the leading golf destination in Mexico and is now considered to be the 14th most popular international golf destination. Some of the great players and course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge have all designed courses here. Golfing on championship courses with stunning views of the tropical Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean is what draws top golfers back to Banderas Bay year after year. So over the next two articles, I will have a quick look at each of them.
Marina Vallarta Club de Golf
This exclusive golf course located in Marina Vallarta was the second golf course built in Puerto Vallarta. Some consider this course to be one of the toughest in the area. It offers an 18-hole, par-71, 6, 700-yard championship course designed by the famous American architect Joe Finger. Many of the holes are long, and 10 have water. Additional features include crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, and birds. There is a charge for storing clubs and the drinks are expensive.
Vista Vallarta Club de Golf
This club is spread across 48 acres and it encompasses two 18 hole, par-72 championship golf courses: a Signature Golf Course designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, and a Signature Course designed by Tom Weiskopf. The Club’s amenities include practice facilities, a luxurious clubhouse, restaurant, bar and lounge, verandas, a golf shop, and on-course beverage service.
Four Seasons Resort
The Four Seasons has two courses the Pacifico Golf Course & Bahia Golf Course. The Pacifico Golf Course is a 200 acre, par-72, Jack-Nicklaus designed course that uses an island off Puerto Vallarta, 194 yards from the coast, as one of the greens. Eight of its holes have a view of the ocean. The Bahia Golf Course just like the Pacifico is a fabulous course as it follows the contours of the coastline. This lets it offers additional challenges like lagoons and slopes. Both courses are obviously intended for use by Four Seasons Resort guests. Non-guests can play if they are willing to pay the hotel 50% of the room rate plus 28% tax and service fee.
El Tamarindo Golf Club
Many golfers claim that this masterpiece, created by architects Robert Trent Jones Jr. and David Flemming, is the most beautiful golf course in the world. Also, a number of golf publications have rated it as The Best Hidden course in the World. It is a two-hour drive south of Puerto Vallarta and is located in a vast ecological preserve. This is a mighty 6, 615 yard, par-72 course which features stunning fairways that wander through the jungle. It boasts three breathtaking oceanfront holes, and nine holes with incredible views of gorgeous beaches on rocky untouched coastline.
Continued in part 58.
GOLFING IN PUNTA DE MITA, NUEVO VALLARTA & PUERTO VALLARTA
There are seven world-class golf courses located in the Banderas Bay areas of Punta de Mita, Nuevo Vallarta, and Puerto Vallarta. The region has risen in the ranks to challenge Cabo San Lucas as the leading golf destination in Mexico and is now considered to be the 14th most popular international golf destination. Some of the great players and course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge have all designed courses here. Golfing on championship courses with stunning views of the tropical Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean is what draws top golfers back to Banderas Bay year after year. So over the next two articles, I will have a quick look at each of them.
Marina Vallarta Club de Golf
This exclusive golf course located in Marina Vallarta was the second golf course built in Puerto Vallarta. Some consider this course to be one of the toughest in the area. It offers an 18-hole, par-71, 6, 700-yard championship course designed by the famous American architect Joe Finger. Many of the holes are long, and 10 have water. Additional features include crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, and birds. There is a charge for storing clubs and the drinks are expensive.
Vista Vallarta Club de Golf
This club is spread across 48 acres and it encompasses two 18 hole, par-72 championship golf courses: a Signature Golf Course designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, and a Signature Course designed by Tom Weiskopf. The Club’s amenities include practice facilities, a luxurious clubhouse, restaurant, bar and lounge, verandas, a golf shop, and on-course beverage service.
Four Seasons Resort
The Four Seasons has two courses the Pacifico Golf Course & Bahia Golf Course. The Pacifico Golf Course is a 200 acre, par-72, Jack-Nicklaus designed course that uses an island off Puerto Vallarta, 194 yards from the coast, as one of the greens. Eight of its holes have a view of the ocean. The Bahia Golf Course just like the Pacifico is a fabulous course as it follows the contours of the coastline. This lets it offers additional challenges like lagoons and slopes. Both courses are obviously intended for use by Four Seasons Resort guests. Non-guests can play if they are willing to pay the hotel 50% of the room rate plus 28% tax and service fee.
El Tamarindo Golf Club
Many golfers claim that this masterpiece, created by architects Robert Trent Jones Jr. and David Flemming, is the most beautiful golf course in the world. Also, a number of golf publications have rated it as The Best Hidden course in the World. It is a two-hour drive south of Puerto Vallarta and is located in a vast ecological preserve. This is a mighty 6, 615 yard, par-72 course which features stunning fairways that wander through the jungle. It boasts three breathtaking oceanfront holes, and nine holes with incredible views of gorgeous beaches on rocky untouched coastline.
Continued in part 58.