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4.0
165 Reviews (165)
5 Stars
78
4 Stars
59
3 Stars
14
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.7
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.7
79.2%
Recommend this course
145 out of 165 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
25 Reviews (25)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.6
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.2
80.0%
Recommend this course
20 out of 25 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.5
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.1
72.5%
Recommend this course
29 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Executive
Par 54
Length 2923 yards
Slope N/A
Rating N/A

Located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Vidanta Riviera Maya (formerly known as El Manglar Golf Club at Vidanta Riviera Maya and Nicklaus Par Three Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya) is a par 3 Jack Nicklaus masterpiece. The contrast that exists with the colors of this course gives it a natural Caribbean beauty - its bunkers with radiating white sand, the lakes surrounded by natural stones, area part of the game, and the type of green used on this course’s greens blend your target with the outlying weeds, making it a challenge to make par.

The beauty, the nature and the timelessness of this golf course will not only challenge, but inspire you. Lakes accompany you throughout twelve of the course’s holes, the native vegetation of the Mayan Jungle is your natural enemy and spectator and will distract you. This is all part of the challenge to win and determines the time you spend in the game. Also the design of the greens reflects history since it is constructed with styles found half of century ago.

Donut hole description. The spectacular 17th hole is characterized by its great degree of difficulty. Besides having two bunkers, one at each end, it also has a bunker in the center of the green which makes it unique to its kind. Additionally, the green is in the middle of the lake which makes it very difficult to make the covered par.

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The Nicklaus Design Course at Vidanta Riviera Maya
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Course Details

Year Built 2003
Fairways Bermuda 419 Grass
Greens Tifdwarf Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Nicklaus (2003) Greg Letsche (2003)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Proper golfing attire required

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Showers, Lockers

Accolades

Reviews

4.0
165 Reviews (165)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Staff is terrible

Since I’m staying at a different hotel close by I requested shuttle service to and from which cost 750 peso for both ways so 375 each way. I did the mistake of paying the driver half and we agreed I would pay the other half on departure. He then later first claimed I never paid him, then claimed he never drove me once I called him out on his lies, then claimed to not speak any English. All 4 staff members where all in on it and I caught them since I claimed I never spoke Spanish..which I do. I brought this to the attention of upper management at the front entrance lobby. I don’t know if anything was done about it. I doubt it. 375 pesos is mere change but the staff will try to squeeze every penny outta ya any way they can. Liars and thieves. The hotel from what I know is separate from the golf course so not much can be done. Bargain to the lowest dollar with the staff to get the best rate is all I can say and ask for receipts n don’t pay a dime till you get one. Nice course. Mediocre conditions at best. Lots of potential but with staff like this it’s no wonder this course has been in decline for so long

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Excellent

As usual the course was very nice to play!

The only thing I would change is nicer sand in the bunkers as it can get fairly gravely and heavy.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun to Play

Great course. Interesting holes. Used most of my clubs including my driver.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great staff and course

Well worth playing for the price paying through golf now, lots of iguanas and other animals very fun and hard with bunkers

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun Par 3

very fun Par 3 with some challenging holes. A few over 225 yards which allows you to hit some woods too. rack rate pricing for tourists is ridiculous so find a deal on GolfNow otherwise not worth it

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Misleading.

No where on this site does it tell you this is a small par 3 course. It is very short with every hole being a par 3. Had we known this ahead, we never would have booked. It is very misleading.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Another good day on Jack’s course!

Played from the black tees for the first time … it was a fun challenge compared to our usual blue tees!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Mostly Good

We are fans of this course, although this time out the greens had been aerated and were covered with sand. This is fine except that we were never made aware of the conditions.

The traps were more wet than not and were very coarse in nature. This could be improved.

The restaraunt is a bit pricey but it is what it is.

Bottom line is that this is a nice course and well worth playing if you can get the right deal like we did. It plays more like a regular course than the usual "executive" par 3's.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

First Time at course

Very nice course. Don’t kid yourself, hard par 3. Lots of hazards and iguanas.
If you’re not staying at Vidanta employees no help. Poor directions. Poor reception after arriving via taxi.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great golf course

We’ve played this course about 10 times and have never been disappointed. Great staff, well maintained course and excellent restaurant.

We’ll be back again and again and again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Preis Leistung

Für Anfänger mit dicker Geldbörse geeignet.Ein reiner par 3 Platz. Für weniger Geld gibt es in Richtung Cancon bessere Plätze. Service Mangelhaft,mein Driver ist beim Transport gebrochen. Auf bitte eines Leihschlägers wollte der gute Mann 75€ haben.dazu noch.20 Euro für 30 bälle auf der Drivingrange..Transver wie bei den Anderen Golfplätzen nicht incl..usw.....
Ich empfehle hier Golplätze zu spielen,die keiner Hotelkette angehören

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 59
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hidden gem

This course was fun to play and a good way to spend a couple hours. Staff was friendly and rental clubs were top notch.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bunkers were filled with water, muddy rough

Was told that the course was playable, however it was way to wet. Parts of the rough was like mud, the bunkers were filled with water so all the balls that went there were lost. Other than that many good layouts.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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Golf Packages

Fairmont Mayakoba Stay & Play Package

FROM $417 (USD)
CANCUN/RIVIERA MAYA, MX | Enjoy 4 nights’ accommodations at Fairmont Mayakoba Riviera Maya and 3 rounds of golf at Playa Paraiso Golf Club and El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Club.
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