Golfing on the Mayan Riviera

If you’re a golfing devotee, you need to plan a getaway on the Mayan Riviera. Just look at the choices:

Cancun Golf Club at Pok ta Pok (Robert Trent Jones Design

Designed in 1976 by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., hundreds of meters of dramatic shoreline and Mayan ruins make this an extraordinary experience for golfers at all levels of ability. Located between the Nichupte Lagoon and the Caribbean, it is in the heart of Cancun’s hotel zone. Sandstone Mayan ruins are one of the hazards. Open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk, meals are served daily until 9:00 p.m.

Hilton Cancun Golf Club

This club offers Cancun’s only par 72 hotel golf club. Located on the Nichupte Lagoon, this club has been hosting golfers for years. It’s an 18-hole full-service complex available to Hilton guests but also to others who wish to play here. The fairways and greens are beautiful in and of themselves, but the scenery and exotic wildlife make a visit here never-to-be-forgotten. Scratch-players and high-handicappers alike will enjoy playing this course.

Golf Club Moon Palace (Nicklaus Signature)

This is a golf club extraordinaire not only with a boutique but also 27 holes. It’s the only Nicklaus Signature Course in the Riviera Maya. Ecologically designed, it’s beautifully landscaped with natural mangroves and exotic animals. Only 10 minutes from the Cancun airport and 15 minutes from Cancun’s Hotel Zone.

Cozumel Country Club (Nicklaus Design)

Cut out of limestone and the coral and saltwater marshes on the northwestern shores of Cozumel Island, this is the island’s first golf course. The environment has been respected in the creation of this club, and it is surrounded by mangroves, marshlands, and a tropical rainforest. It offers a first-class golf test for players at whatever level of proficiency. It’s challenging for serious golfers but fun for not-so-serious ones. There’s a golf store, snack bar, and two tiered tees for practice or warm-up. The club also offers a putting green and chipping green for practice.

El Manglar Golf Riviera Maya (Nicklaus Design)

Beautiful and challenging par 3, this course is between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Its 18 holes offer traps of white sand and lakes surrounded by natural rocks. The greens are 1950s style, but are considered the best conditioned in the area. It’s a good place to practice short play, and it is known for its personalized service. This club also has a putting green and a driving range. You can rent clubs, and transportation to the course from your hotel is available.

El Camaleon Mayakoba (Greg Norman). Host of the 2007 PGA Mayakoba Golf Classic Cancun-Riviera Maya.

This club has been described as a work of art. It’s in the Mayakoba luxury resort, but its name comes from its diverse layout and ever-changing landscape. Bending through the tropical jungle, dense mangroves, oceanfront stretches of sand, and long channels with limestone borders, this course has unusual hazards and beautifully clear lagoons.

Playa Mujeres Golf Club (Greg Norman design)

This club is five miles north of Cancun’s hotel strip and is surrounded by white beaches and tropical jungle. It’s a premium course, considered one of the finest in Mexico. The views of lakes, oceans, and extraordinary plant life as well as exotic animals are outstanding. This club is also considered a model for one that respects nature and protects local wildlife. It’s a spectacular par 72 with traps and challenges even for the most skilled golfer. Besides the club house, there is an exclusive Pro Shop in addition to a fine restaurant. The first woman-friendly course in Mexico as rated by the Executive Women’s Association.

Playacar Spa and Golf Club (Robert Von Hagge’s)

Located only 35 minutes from Cancun’s hotel zone, this golf club sits right in the heart of the Riviera Maya. The course covers 7,144 yards. Its design and construction were overseen by the famous architect Robert Von Hagge. Surrounded by lakes and astonishing vegetation, this club is considered by players the most challenging golf course in the Mayan Riviera.