RESOURCES
Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit Golf Guide
A Practical Overview Homebuyers and Retirees
From marina-side parkland to jungle-and-ocean championship tracks, the Bahía de Banderas corridor offers year-round golf with modern amenities and strong course variety. Use this guide to compare layouts, access, and neighborhood fit.
Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco)
Marina Vallarta Club de Golf — @Marina Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta
- Holes / Par / Type: 18 holes, par-71, resort/public.
- Designer / Opened: Joe Finger, 1989.
- History notes: Longtime PV favorite; underwent a full greens rebuild with Platinum Paspalum completed in 2025.
- What it plays like: Tropical parkland with water in play and wildlife sightings; compact routing near hotels and the marina.
Vista Vallarta Club de Golf — @Pitillal in Puerto Vallarta
- Nicklaus Course: 18 holes, par-72, private/resort play available.
Opened April 1, 2001; sits on the property’s highest ground with bay and city vistas; hosted the 2002 WGC-World Cup. Plays as a modern parkland with elevation, creeks, and strategy off the tee. - Weiskopf Course: 18 holes, par-72, private/resort play available.
Opened November 1, 2001; lower-elevation routing through jungle, ravines, and creeks—noticeably different feel from the Nicklaus.
Riviera Nayarit (Nayarit)
Vidanta Vallarta — @Vidanta Resort in Nuevo Nayarit
- Greg Norman Signature Course: 18 holes, championship layout; current tournament setup par-71, approximately 7,436 yards.
Home of the PGA TOUR Mexico Open since 2022. A wide-corridor Norman design with demanding approaches and tournament-grade conditioning. - The Nayar Course (Nicklaus Design): 18 holes, par-70, 6,668 yards. Open, resort-friendly landing areas with seven lakes and 49 bunkers.
- The Lakes: 10-hole, par-3, lighted executive/short course (walkable; evening play).
- What it plays like: Norman = “big canvas” off the tee, exacting into greens; Nayar = classic resort test with water strategy; Lakes = fun night-golf skills track.
El Tigre Club de Golf — @Paradise Village in Nuevo Nayarit
- Holes / Par / Type: 18 holes, par-72, 7,239 yards (champ tees); private/resort play.
- History notes: Used as a final qualifying venue for the 2002 World Cup week.
- What it plays like: Championship parkland with 12 water-affected holes and notable beach-style bunkers; emphasizes controlled driving and approach precision.
Flamingos Golf —@Flamingos Residencial in Bucerías
- Holes / Par / Type: 18 holes, par-72, 6,853 yards; resort/public. Bermuda greens and fairways, nine water hazards and 43 bunkers.
- History notes: First course in the Vallarta area (1978).
- What it plays like: Classic, gently rolling parkland with slightly narrow corridors and fastish putting surfaces — an “oldie but goodie.”
Punta Mita Golf Club — @Four Seasons Resort in Punta de Mita
- Pacifico (Nicklaus Signature) and Bahia (Nicklaus Signature) — private 18-hole courses; Pacifico features the famed “Tail of the Whale” natural island green.
- What it plays like: Resort-coastal shotmaking with ocean carries, wind, and immaculate conditioning; Bahia is the tighter, more undulating test.
Higuera Golf Club—@Litibú in Higuera Blanca
- Holes / Par / Type: 18 holes, par-72, 7,022 yards; public/resort. Greg Norman design with paspalum turf. Opened 2010; hosted a Canadian Tour event the same year.
- What it plays like: A hybrid of links-style seaside holes and jungle corridors with elevation movement; big visuals and coastal winds.
Las Huertas Golf & Beach Club — @San Pancho (San Francisco)
- Holes / Par / Type: 9 holes, executive par-32 (approximately 1,953 yards); public.
- What it plays like: Orchard-garden setting with short-game emphasis — ideal for beginners, juniors, and relaxed loops.
Mandarina Golf Club — @One & Only Mandarina in El Monteón
- Holes / Par / Type: 10-hole par-3 short course (family-friendly); described as nine holes plus an extra “challenge” hole near the polo fields.
- What it plays like: Walkable short-course golf with ocean breezes and mountain backdrops — perfect for sharpening wedges and putting.
Quick Buyer Comparables
Tournament pedigree & modern amenities: Vidanta Vallarta (Norman) hosts the PGA TOUR Mexico Open; big-resort infrastructure and multi-course variety (Norman + Nayar + Lakes).
Prestige twin-course destination (private): Punta Mita (Pacifico & Bahia) — membership/guest access only; iconic island green.
Classic championship feel near services: Marina Vallarta (airport/marina adjacency; 2025 greens renovation) and El Tigre (Paradise Village community).
Value and heritage: Flamingos (area’s original course; straightforward, enjoyable parkland).
Scenic jungle-coast hybrids: Higuera (Litibú) and Vista Vallarta (two contrasting 18s).
Short-game / Family: Vidanta Lakes (lit night golf), Mandarina par-3, Las Huertas (9-hole executive).
