| RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico — Golf in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s newest Pacific vacation destination, is a fabulous work in progress. Already there are championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Robert Von Hagge, Jim Lipe – Nicklaus’ head designer, and Percy Clifford. Still to come are masterpieces by such luminaries in the field as Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf and Joe Finger. Nayarit’s appeal to leading designers and golf aficionados? Ideal year-round weather, breathtaking views of ocean, bays and coves, a backdrop of tropical forests and rugged mountains, and plentiful varying landscapes ready to be molded into fairways and greens of exceptional challenge and beauty. Golfers of all playing abilities are assured of having the time of their golfing lives. In all, golfers from around the world will have seven signature courses to choose from.The following are short descriptions of Riviera Nayarit’s golf courses; for further information, please contact the course directly via the websites listed.El Tigre Club De Golf, Nuevo VallartaOpened in March of 2002, El Tigre is the newest addition to the growing family of golf courses in Riviera Nayarit. At 7,239 yards and par 72, it was designed by Robert von Hagge, the well known Texas based designer who is the most prolific designer in Mexico. Nine bodies of water and rolling hills make it a special gem. The course also features what may be the finest clubhouse in Mexico, elegantly Spanish in style, with 45,000 square feet that include a restaurant, lounge, pro-shop, locker room and a European spa. The course has water in 12 of the 18 holes and a total of 144 sand traps in the entire terrain. Among the highlights of the course:* the 185-yard, par-3 6th hole, which plays over water to a picturesque island green, considered the most beautiful par 3 in Mexico* the 421-yard, par-4 16th hole, a long dogleg right with a peninsula green* the 17th: a 250-yard, par-3 with plenty of sand and water* the daunting par-5 18th, a monster at 621 yards with water all down the left side and the green firmly entrenched in sand – the longest hole in Mexico, and one of the most difficult par 3 in the country.Four Seasons Golf Club At Punta MitaThe Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita has soared in popularity since its September 1999 opening, not only for its sumptuous resort setting, but also for its unparalleled private championship course at the Four Seasons Golf Club. The 7,014-yard Jack Nicklaus Signature course, with its renown 3B green on a natural ocean island, has made Punta Mita a veritable paradise for world- class golfing. Recent accolades include Condé Nast Traveler’s 2006 Reader’s Choice of the Best Golf Resort in the World.The Nicklaus-designed course is spread over 200 acres, and takes full advantage of its location on the Punta Mita peninsula. Eight holes border either the Pacific Ocean or Banderas Bay, and all holes offer ocean views. Along with the vistas across white coral sand beaches and of the surrounding Sierra Madre Mountains, Punta Mita’s tropical landscape of palm trees and flowering trees add to the pleasure of playing this challenging course. Among the distinctive features of the course is the signature island hole, 3B, the world’s only natural island green situated 194 yards away. Driving the ball across the Pacific Ocean is a unique experience, as is getting over to the green to putt. At low tide, you walk along a connecting pathway over shallow waters. As the tide moves in, a staff member shuttles you in an amphibious version of a golf cart. The hole is known as the “Tail of the Whale,” because when seen from the air, it resembles the shape of the tail of the Humpback whales that frequent the offshore waters of Punta Mita during winter months. According to Nicklaus, when asked his “best” hole, he responded, “Probably 3B at Punta Mita.”Flamingos Golf Club, Nuevo VallartaOnly 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Flamingos Golf Club is the oldest golf course in Riviera Nayarit. Built in 1978 and playing 6,982 yards with a par-71, it was designed by Percy Clifford, an English designer well known in Mexico for his work on several of the best courses, including the Club de Golf Mexico and Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City. Masterfully integrating the natural beauty of the location, the course preserves the tropical greenery, over 1800 palm trees, and a rolling terrain that makes it challenging but enjoyable. Built in and around a series of natural marshes, lagoons and estuaries that are habitat for local fauna such as deer, hares, crocodiles, turtles and over 100 species of birds, Flamingos is a test of chipping skills and every other aspect of the game. Purchased by new owners in 2000, the course has just completed a 3-year, $3 million renovation, with a new club house, pro shop and restaurant, and a driving range.Mayan Palace Golf Club, Nuevo VallartaAs the name implies, the Mayan Palace Golf Club is located only 15 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport on the Mayan Palace property in Nuevo Vallarta, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Rio Ameca. Opened in 2001 and designed by internationally renowned Jim Lipe, the course features a par-71, 7000 yard challenge, with impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, the Rio Ameca, and the surrounding Sierra Madre Mountains.Wide fairways and tricky pin placements mean the course is a delight to players of all abilities. Of special interest are the ocean views from several holes, especially the signature 14th, a spectacular 153-yard, par-3 with the Pacific Ocean on the left side as well as a small lake and a pair of well placed bunkers protecting the approach. Because of its ocean front location and flat terrain, winds add another layer of consideration to the game and many players need to use three or more clubs. Amenities include a great restaurant, snack bar, full service pro-shop, driving range and putting green.
About Riviera Nayarit
Riviera Nayarit is Mexico’s newest travel destination stretching along 100 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by spectacular mountains which unfolds minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Mostly undeveloped, the destination extends from the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta to the historic, colonial town of San Blas, including exclusive Punta Mita and the spectacular Banderas Bay. The region features luxury resorts and eco-tourism boutique hotels, world-renowned surfing, four professional golf courses, rare native wildlife including sea turtles and tropical birds, mountain and island adventures, shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts, charming fishing towns and miles of serene beaches. For more information, visit www.VisitRivieraNayarit.com. Media Contact
M. SILVER ASSOCIATES Tel: (212) 754-6500 Fax: (212) 754-6711 Carrie Hyman, ext. 245 [email protected] Maria Castro, ext. 246
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