Vidanta Riviera Maya
About
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.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 54 | 2923 yards | ||
Blue | 54 | 2438 yards | ||
Red (W) | 54 | 2141 yards |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 53.0/102 | 121 | 174 | 142 | 223 | 158 | 145 | 146 | 116 | 177 | 1402 | 160 | 129 | 103 | 276 | 195 | 175 | 156 | 132 | 195 | 1521 | 2923 |
Blue M: 52.3/101 | 98 | 148 | 131 | 190 | 137 | 116 | 130 | 106 | 152 | 1208 | 145 | 104 | 77 | 214 | 158 | 141 | 124 | 108 | 159 | 1230 | 2438 |
Red W: 54.1/104 | 93 | 137 | 105 | 163 | 132 | 106 | 119 | 85 | 145 | 1085 | 132 | 95 | 69 | 181 | 129 | 129 | 115 | 103 | 112 | 1065 | 2150 |
Handicap | 17 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 4 | |||
Par | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 54 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Snacks, RestaurantLodging
Lodging AvailableAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Showers, LockersReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Nightwalker on 01/18/2024
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Photo submitted by u000007421160 on 05/16/2022
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Photo submitted by u3424511 on 11/10/2021
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Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
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Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
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Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
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Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
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Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
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Photo submitted by vasbinderd on 12/06/2020
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Biggest lizard I’ve ever seen! Photo submitted by Darbyd0g on 12/25/2019
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Photo submitted by u000007421160 on 05/20/2019
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17 green. Don't get on the wrong side of bunker Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
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14 green. Tough hole, great view. Good luck. Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
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#5 ...watch the wind Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
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#13...276 yards! Why you need driver on a par 3 course Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
Beautiful course layout
Wife and I just played this 3 par. Very fun and relaxing. Don't be fooled by a 3 par. This course is challenging, with a lot of water hazards and traps. Hint, bring plenty of balls...
Beautiful and challenging 54 par
I didn’t notice when booking tee time it was all par 3, 54 par course anyway it is beautiful and challenging so we had a good time the course have a good layout, friendly staff and good installations
Small but challenging
Such a great value finding this course on GolfNow.... rented clubs but not real impressed with the selection. The course was well laid out. All pat threes but don’t be fooled this course is very challenging with its sand and water hazards.
Totally enjoyed my experience and would definitely return.
Beautiful and challenging course
We have played this course 5 time over the past 5 months. It was pristine in November, and good in early March. This past week presented some challenges with very dry conditions and brown tee boxes and struggling greens. They closed the front 9 to aerate the greens today and were watering heavily. With the upcoming rainy season I expect it to be back in form soon. The beverage cart service has been spotty on our last couple outings, best to stock up when you start your round,, if that is important to you. it is a beautifully designed course and a pleasure to play, just struggling a little now. No doubt that conditions will improve soon.
Great Value at Hot Deal price
It's a very interesting layout with lots of variety. The course was near empty so we played 18 in about 2.5 hours.
Greens were fast and true and held well.
Would play again.
Nice layout
Course was not as manicured as I would have expected for the Vidanta resort, I guess that's reflected in the affordable price..
Was fun to play an 18 hole par 3 with my wife and young daughter.
Parking set up was poor and confusing upon entry as where to park, it was not marked. Parked in the rental car lot (it says rental cars only) but that's where the 3rd attendant told me to park, and then had to walk with our clubs over to wait for a shuttle. My wife said she wouldn't go there again for that reason.
The 278 yard hole was fun.
Very good course
Well worth the effort. Mr. Nicholas has created a challenge in a par three that isn’t available elsewhere.
Fun to play
This course is fun and challenging to play. Offers even a great golfer the opportunity to feel challenged. Definitely some very difficult holes. A wonderful golf experience. Well kept. Good service. Something a little different. For a par three course it is totally beyond expectations.
Continues to be a challenge
Course construction makes each hole a challenge to play. Wind conditions, layout of the greens, and pin position continue to make this an enjoyable and entertaining golf course to play.
Golf Now hot deal
Don’t usually golf on par 3 courses but this was my fifth time. This is one tough little course when the wind is blowing. If you are a hacker take lots of balls or by used from pro shop for $12 US per dozen. Rental clubs were titleist ap1.
Great par 3. Greens could be a little nicer but didn’t take away from experience. Paid $45 on a hot deal. Staff was great.
Will golf here again
Pleasant experience
Wonderful and imaginative Course makes you work to save par
Friendly staff plenty of wildlife around you as you play will definitely return my next trip back to this area.
Fun par 3
I have played this par 3 course several times. It’s a great value if you’re able to get a ‘hot deal’ ($38-$45). If paying full price ($105) it is a bit pricey. The only disadvantage of using GolfNow is that they do not allow outside taxi/transportation to drop you off at the course, but instead a lobby area. You wait 10-15 minutes for their shuttle to take you to the course.
The course is always in good shape. There’s a good variety of wedges, short, and mid iron tee shots, but mostly wedges and short irons. This is the busiest I have ever seen the course and we still got done in 2.5 hours.
Don’t be fooled
Don’t be fooled when you see par three course. This thing is anything but easy. Requires that you come off the box straight. Your judgment of distance is thrown off by the multilevel greens and the ominous bunkers. Water covered many of the holes and threatens your shot. Course is well-maintained and the low-lying jungle Rob’s or #BAL if you happen to go in it. Definitely on my list to come back
Great course
Great par 3 challenging and very enjoyable. Played with the wife. Lots of water and sand to add to the challenge. We loved this course and planned to golf again. If you want to challenge your par 3 play. This is the course
The Par Three Challenge
This par 3 course is in very good condition.
The greens are true and plus the greens will hold a good lob shot. I played this course 3 times and always enjoyed the course and the challenges it offers you. I LIKE IT.
The restaurant is also very good with a friendly staff to help you. Susanna is great.
DOWNSIDE— for the money you pay to play golf
ONE bottle of water- COME ON MAN
Much Harder than Expected
Was on vacation at a neighboring resort and bought the GolfNow Hot Deal. Took a cab over with my wife and they charged a very resealable $10 rider fee for my wife. Played the back black tees. Course layout was very good which included a 276 yd par 3 along with several other 195 yd ones into the wind with water straight across the front and an island green. Hole distance average was 166 from the black tees so it’s not just short shots. The day I played the greens where very slow. Very hot & humid in early Sept. only complaint I had was from the Vandanda was the cab driver back to the Valentine which was only a mile or two charged me $18., going was $12 from my resort. Thanks
Challenging course
My overall experience was excellent. I really enjoyed playing this nicely manicured but challenging course. It does take some time to get to the clubhouse so yes as described in other reviews get there early. The course was empty so I had it all for myself, the service was very good. I would highly recommend playing it especially for the price that I got online. Happy golfing!