Grupo Mayan Activities and Sports

As if the last few years could get any better for México’s golf industry, the PGA Tour went outside the US and Canada for the first time in 2007, taking it to the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón Golf Course on the Riviera Maya for the PGA Mayakoba Golf Classic. Better yet, El Camaleón has the honor of being the second of México’s courses certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Furthermore, the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol in Los Cabos which was designed by Jack Nicklaus took the number 24 slot on Golf Digest’s 2008 “100 Best Courses Outside The United States” and snagged the fifth spot on their list of best courses in all of México.

With 200-plus golf courses and counting, many of which are also award-winning, practically everywhere you look, you can play on both nine- and 18-hole courses, public or private - and each one is guaranteed to come with lushly landscaped greens and drop-dead scenery that can “drive” you to distraction.

JOIN THE CLUB
Some say the best courses are in Los Cabos because they’re quite challenging. They also offer sigh-inducing vistas across the Sea of Cortés, the majestic Sierra Madre and the deserts.

Originally built as the Old San Jose del Cabo Golf Course by architects M. Schjetnan and Joe Finger, the 3,153-yard, nine-hole Grupo Mayan Punta Sur Golf Course (par 35) is a very popular course in Los Cabos because it offers all golfers a fairly challenging game. Filled with million-dollar views of the Sea of Cortés, count on a handful of holes that will give you pause. For example, hole five. A par five with green on top of a small hill, is surrounded by two bunkers. Hole seven features all-the-time crossing winds. The ninth is a good finishing hole with a wide sloping fairway with sand traps to the top, right and bottom of the green.

A PLACE IN THE SUN
A magical combination of incredible beauty and hypnotic charm, golf is the sport of choice in Acapulco. Golfers can play the Pedro Guereca-designed Grupo Mayan Copra Course. Coming in at 6,156 yards, this 18-hole (par 72) course is considered one of the most beautiful courses on México’s Pacific coast. A semi-flat field with soft undulations, this course offers the challenges of 49 bunkers and four lakes. No wonder Golf & Life magazine dubbed this course of the top 100 courses in the world.

Duffers and Grupo Mayan aficionados are happy to know that México holds the number two spot, behind Hawaii, as best golf destination for US travelers - and in 2007, México was honored with IAGTO´s (the global trade organization for golf tourism) prestigious “Golf Destination of the Year” for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

FIT TO A TEE
Bring your A game to the brand new Península de Cortés course at, Grupo Mayan’s very own, Mayan Palace designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack II. Only a three hour-plus drive from Arizona, the Mayan Palace and Península de Cortés are part of an alliance with Arizona Golf Partners (AGA), and have hosted two AGA events. This 7,210 yards, elite 18-hole (par 72) beauty is set along a two-mile peninsula with a tidal estuary and the Sea of Cortés on both sides. 

Half the holes are ocean side. The signature hole three will have you on your toes from tee to green. A blind shot off the tee box plays slightly uphill, guarding the visual delight you’ll enjoy as you approach your second shot. And – the course was featured in Nicklaus’ calendar as one of the most stunning new courses. 

VIVA VALLARTA
16 miles apart, Puerto and Nuevo Vallarta overlook the Pacific Ocean. An amazingly popular golf destination, the number of view-infused world-class courses has grown substantially in recent years.

A Grupo Mayan course originally designed by Jim Lipe, Jack Nicklaus redesigned the 18-hole (par 72), 6,936-yard Nayar Course. Surrounded by the Sierra Madre and Banderas Bay, this course comes with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Ameca River. Boasting a 129 slope rating, the signature hole is the 14^th, 153-yard par 3 with the beach and a lake guarded entry on either side of the green.

Nicklaus also designed Grupo Mayan’s El Manglar, set along the Riviera Maya. An 18-hole (par 54), 2,923 yard course where water plays an important role throughout. Hole 7 is surrounded by sand traps and a tee box facing the ocean, hole 13, no less challenging, is played against the wind. “Donna Green,” signature hole 17, features two strategically placed bunkers on either side of the green and another at its center, making rather difficult to reach the desired par.

At the Grupo mayan Riviera Maya, just everything is enchanting from the vibrant late night scenes, mystery of the ancient cultures, various and plentiful natural attractions inland and underwater offering countless adventures, sumptuous cuisines, and a whole lot more.  The Grupo mayan serves as a truly exquisite way to discover what the Riviera Maya, the resort’s Mexican-Caribbean home, has to offer.

The Grupo mayan Riviera Maya is an exotic haven of luxury that makes every minute of your vacation truly cherished with the various amenities and abundant activities it has in store.  Whatever your style or preferences, the Grupo mayan with its traditional Mexican hospitality and grand setting, will surely keep every bit of your senses more than satisfied.

One of the premier features of the Grupo mayan Riviera Maya is its executive-type signature golf course designed by world renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus.  The 18-hole par 54 course extends itself in a lush area between Playa del Carmen and Cancun.  The greens were brilliantly set amidst the grounds, highlighting the natural beauty that the landscape holds that features the exotic native vegetation offering various hues and depth and two lovely lakes embraced by rock formations carved by elements over time.

The Grupo mayan Golf Course of the Riviera Maya stretches over an area of 2923 yards and is dotted by obstacles, making up for the challenges.  With its greens laid out in a ‘50s architectural design, the golf course area features the best conditioned greens in the area with exciting sand traps filled with radiant, powdery white sand.  From the lively morning sun and down to its golden glow as it sets, golfing at the Grupo mayan will prove to be invigorating all day long with the revitalizing energy brought by the ocean breeze.

A regular or twilight Green Reservation at the Grupo mayan Golf Course comprises of a round trip transportation via shared electric cars from any location within the Mayan Riviera and Cancun and a golf cart once on site.  Reservations can be made even by non-guests of the resort but special rates apply to those who are currently staying at the Grupo mayan.  A proper golfing dress code is implemented, with jeans and bathing suits disallowed.  Each golfer is required to use his own equipment, but not having brought such, you can rent gears.  Other amenities include the Snack Bar where you can indulge in light meals and cooling beverages, and the Boutique where you can browse through and buy exclusive golf items.

The Grupo mayan of Puerto Peñasco is delicately nestled at a spectacular setting in La Jolla de Cortes, stretching some miles along the gorgeous sandy beach generously bathed by the golden Mexican sun.  The resort offers tempting accommodation packages that fuse the unparalleled beauty that nature brings and the endless opportunities for fun and excitement.  The Grupo mayan makes up for a totally unforgettable stay whether for solo travelers, romantic couples, friends and even for the whole family.

Among the prime features of the Grupo mayan of Puerto Peñasco or the Rocky Point is golfing.  The resort takes pride of its 18-hole par 72 golf course that has been designed by none other than renowned golf course architects, the legendary Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II.  Perched at the highlands of the Sea of Cortez, the golf course has been creatively laid out to offer sumptuous sights of the enchanting mountain, ocean and desert sceneries with each hole.

The Grupo mayan resort, together with its golf course is conveniently located at the Estuary La Pinta, which runs less than 60 miles from the US - Mexican border and just about a 4-hour drive from both Mexicali Airport in Baja California and Phoenix International Airport in Arizona.

Any golfer that represents a skill level ranging from beginner to pro is sure to enjoy the beauty as well as the challenge that the golf course of the Grupo mayan presents.  The verdantly carpeted area that spreads over 7100 yards is delightfully strewn with strategically placed obstacles which include split fairways, a hundred bunkers, drivable par fours, water holes and a magnificent lake.

At the Grupo mayan golf course, the golfing pleasure doesn’t end with the feast for the eyes and the well-architectured challenges, the site also provides excellent personalized services.  For beginners who wish to learn and improve their games, you can opt to take private or group lessons from competent instructors.  Facilities such as a lovely and amply spaced putting green area and driving range are encompassed for practicing convenience.  You can even avail of equipment storage without any charge.

Golfing at the Grupo mayan does not require you to be a guest of the resort.  All you need is to have a reservation, and dressed in a proper golfwear, you’re ready to go.  Not having golfing gears with you is also not a problem as there are onsite equipment rentals.  And for those who wish to golf and see pros in action, check out the tournaments calendar of the Grupo mayan golf course.