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A view of the Tail of the Whale hole at the Pacifico Golf Course // © 2009 Punta Mita Club de Golf. |
Punta Mita, Mexico, is poised to raise its profile as a top-of-the-line golf destination.
“While Punta Mita is not well known as a golf destination when compared to a destination such as Los Cabos, that is on track to change,” said Melanie Schneider, director of sales and marketing, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.
From Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, the region will host the Riviera Nayarit Classic sponsored by the Canadian Professional Golf Tour group. Play will take place on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Pacifico Course, with golfers vying for the $125,000 first place prize. The Golf Channel will also broadcast the tournament, further increasing awareness of Punta Mita as an upscale Mexico destination for golf.
Punta Mita is a 1,500-acre gated resort and residential community situated on a private, pear-shaped peninsula in the Riviera Nayarit, 26 miles north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Since the resort is on a peninsula, it is considered to be a very safe and secure Mexico destination. In addition to its high-end private homes, Punta Mita has the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico, and the recently opened The St. Regis Resort Punta Mita. Wimco Villas recently added 17 villas in Punta Mita to its international portfolio. The new villas in Punta Mita are three- to six-bedroom private homes in a recently developed gated community. The villas make up a coastal enclave of their own and are serviced by a local team of maids, cooks and staff.
The centerpiece of Punta Mita is the private Punta Mita Club de Golf, with its two Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses, the 19-hole Pacifico Golf Course and the Bahia Golf Course.
The Pacifico Golf Course opened in 1999 and Jack Nicklaus has referred to it as the “Pebble Beach Golf Links of Mexico.” The championship course has eight holes facing or playing along the ocean, offering dramatic water views. One of the factors that really sets the course apart is its 19th hole (actually hole 3-B), an optional par 3 nicknamed the Tail of the Whale. Here, golfers tee off 199 yards from a mainland tee box to a black lava rock island green in Banderas Bay that is only accessible by golf cart during low tide. When the tide is high, duffers are transported to the green via amphibious vehicle.
The 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Bahia Course opened for play last November. The course has lakes and water features, some meandering through multiple holes. In contrast to the Pacifico course, the Bahia Golf Course presents more undulating fairways and greens, elevating the need for a display of skillful putting technique. One of the most exciting holes slopes downhill, offering panoramic views of Banderas Bay. Another hole of note places golfers on the beach adjacent to Punta Mita’s celebrated El Faro surf spot.
The private Punta Mita Club de Golf is open only to Punta Mita property owners and their guests or rental clients, vacation ownership residents and guests of the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico, and The St.
Regis Punta Mita.
www.puntamita.com
The Details
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
www.fourseasons.com/puntamita
Four Seasons Punta Mita, Mexico, has a Spa and Unlimited Golf Package available through Dec. 21 and from Jan. 3 to Dec. 22, 2010. The package offers clients a choice of one golf or spa activity per person, per day (for a maximum of two people) from a selection that includes unlimited golf, one 80-minute massage, complimentary practice range privileges and complimentary scheduled golf clinics. The package also includes accommodations, daily buffet breakfast for up to two people, fitness classes and access to the Kids For All Seasons program. Rates begin at $515 per night, based on double occupancy.
The St. Regis Punta Mita
www.starwoodhotels.com
The St. Regis Punta Mita is offering a Golf Aficionado Package that includes early check-in; late check-out; an upgrade to the next available room type; and two greens fees at two Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses — Bahia and Pacifico — per room per stay. The offer is valid through Dec. 19 and the package is for a minimum of four nights. Rates start from $645 per room, per night, based on single/double occupancy and availability.
