Favorite Golf Courses in the Riviera Maya.
Golf, yes I said it, golf. The dreadful, frustrating, incapable game that the majority of people never excel at because we are really just out there for a good time with friends and family.
An avid golfer might disagree with me but the numbers speak for themselves: only 5% of golfers shoot under 100, and of that 5%, only 2% will ever break 80. That is not the point though. Golf has become a spectator sport as much as an active one.
Golf is a lifestyle; it is waking up at the crack of dawn, rolling out of bed, grabbing your clubs, and meeting up with your friends to see if the ball decides to fly straight that day.
When I first moved to the Riviera Maya over 10 years ago, I never would have imagined how many golf courses exist along the 90-mile coastline from Cancun to Tulum (there are more than 10 courses to choose from). Not only the sheer amount of them but their quality as well. Designers like Tom Lehman, Nick Price, Jack Nicolas, Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and more have left their mark on the area. Once I realized how diverse my options were, I began trying them out to see which of them would become my favorites. Here are a few of them:
1- El Camaleon – Mayakoba
Far and beyond my personal favorite as a course is El Camaleon at Mayakoba. It is an 18-hole, par 72 courses designed by Greg Norman. It is also one of the first courses to host a PGA event outside of the U.S.: the “Mayakoba Classic,” which brings some of the top tour players to the area every year. The course is immaculate, and at times, quite difficult (no one wants to look for their ball in a cenote or mangroves. A few of the holes have stunning views overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
2- Robert Trent Jones Jr. –Bahia Principe
Next on my list is the Robert Trent Jones Jr, 18-hole par 72 Championship course. It also features a 9 hole Par 27 Executive Course. This is a beautiful wide open course with excellent service and amenities. If you are lucky you might get to see foxes, coatis, raccoons, and other local fauna during your round. The wonderful advantage of this particular course is that it is also located just 15 minutes north of Tulum’s world-famous beaches.
3- Gran Coyote – Corasol
Located in the Corasol master-planned community, Gran Coyotel features an 18-hole, par 71 courses designed by Nick Price. Very nicely laid out course with full amenities for the moderately skilled golfer. When I want to feel good about my golf game, this is a great option.
4- Hard Rock Golf Club- Playacar
I had mixed feelings about featuring this course on my list. I still have a bitter taste in my mouth from the last round I shot there a few months ago. Even though it ranks as one of the most challenging courses in the Riviera Maya, it emanates a unique type of discomfort that is incomprehensible and entices you to keep coming back. What also helps are the attractive local rates, as well as the all-inclusive food and beverage feature, which makes for a great round amongst friends and family. The world-famous architect Robert Von Hagge was responsible for designing this course.
Believe it or not, the Cancun and the Riviera Maya do not only provide some of the best beaches in the world. It caters to the golf enthusiast just as much. Many of these courses are surrounded by beautiful real estate investment opportunities, which one of our agents here at Colibri Property would be happy to discuss with you.
