Vista Vallarta Golf Club - The Nicklaus Course
About
The Nicklaus Course at Vista Vallarta Golf Club is one of two championship courses at the club, the other was designed by Tom Weiskopf. The Nicklaus Course is perched atop the property's highest elevation, offering spectacular views of Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas. The course tumbles across grassy hillsides covered with dense forests of palms and giant ficus trees. True to Nicklaus' style, the wildly undulating greens are balanced by generous driving areas. He also chose to route the holes along the natural contours of the land, giving each hole a unique character. One of the most talked-about holes on the golf course is the par-5 third, which is ranked as the toughest. This 550-yard monster demands three strong shots in order to make it onto the elevated green in regulation, but the tricky part is that the elevation rises a bit more with each shot.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Gold | 72 | 7074 yards | 73.8 | 144 |
Blue | 72 | 6595 yards | 71.7 | 137 |
White | 72 | 6031 yards | 69.5 | 124 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5251 yards | 71.1 | 119 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold M: 73.8/144 | 401 | 429 | 550 | 381 | 213 | 452 | 427 | 534 | 182 | 3569 | 536 | 394 | 580 | 340 | 440 | 177 | 423 | 170 | 445 | 3505 | 7074 |
Blue M: 71.7/137 | 338 | 408 | 519 | 366 | 192 | 435 | 395 | 499 | 178 | 3330 | 513 | 370 | 558 | 314 | 422 | 149 | 383 | 157 | 399 | 3265 | 6595 |
White M: 69.5/124 W: 73.5/125 | 294 | 360 | 484 | 338 | 168 | 416 | 372 | 453 | 152 | 3037 | 466 | 356 | 538 | 262 | 402 | 125 | 347 | 131 | 367 | 2994 | 6031 |
Yellow M: 66.4/117 W: 72.0/121 | 260 | 336 | 443 | 268 | 145 | 331 | 284 | 422 | 131 | 2620 | 433 | 334 | 521 | 236 | 311 | 113 | 307 | 114 | 298 | 2667 | 5287 |
Red W: 71.1/119 | 258 | 334 | 441 | 266 | 143 | 329 | 282 | 420 | 129 | 2602 | 431 | 332 | 519 | 234 | 309 | 111 | 305 | 112 | 296 | 2649 | 5251 |
Handicap | 11 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 8 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u9883322 on 06/12/2022
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Photo submitted by u9883322 on 06/12/2022
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Photo submitted by u397521615 on 02/08/2022
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Photo submitted by browndoodle on 02/02/2022
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Hole 15 Photo submitted by u290742857 on 12/02/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u000006172924 on 12/15/2020
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No. 16 on the Nicklaus course Photo submitted by greg0000023 on 05/26/2019
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A bunker and the bougainvilleas on the Nicklaus course. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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Pro Ivan Cueva on the Nicklaus course. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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A wall of fame celebrates the players from the 2002 World Golf Championships-World Cup at Vista Vallarta. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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Photo submitted by TroyJames on 01/24/2018
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View of one of the holes Photo submitted by kl3443 on 09/20/2012
Vista Vallarta
Course was very beautiful and in good shape. Very unique layout with a lot of forced carries and elevation changes. What made the course play very difficult was the speed and undulation of the greens. Have played courses all over Mexico and the US and they were some of the toughest greens I have ever played. Can also be a little difficult to get to but once there it is worth it.
Nice enough course but
Have played course several times in the past five years but not since 2018. Biggest complaint is I booked tee time at 12:30pm. Arrived early around 11am checked in paid green fee and without any communication from staff who booked me in my tee time had been changed to 1:55pm Apparently there was a tournament occupying all tee times until 1:55pm. I went down to the putting green still unaware my tee time had been changed and finally around 12:15 talked with a staff member and was then informed that my tee time was 1:55pm. I asked to talk with his supervisor who indicated they would find my a time. Supervisor the vanished and had the original staff member inform nothing could be done. No offer for compensation. I had taken a 50mn cab ride. I decided to make the best of it a take the 1:55 tee time. Was paired with a couple gentleman from Canada. Are t time was delayed another 10mns as they were the last group in the tournament and one of there group hadn’t showed yet. Pace of play was poor gentleman from Canada ended up missing his scheduled Uber ride. It is apparent since I last played there has been a lot of growth around the course. Suggest this course go private rather then offer itself as public then treat the public player poorly
Great Deal
Second time I’ve played this course, excellent track . Great value when playing twilight.
Beware of hazards
The course is beautiful but the hazards are hellish - deep ditches that cross many fairways. Greens are beautiful. Bunkers are also well designed and placed. Wide open fairways with bunkers placed for any poorly hit drive.
Recommend ordering a taxi well in advance of departure due to remote location of club.
Great Time
We played an afternoon round . Felt like the only ones there . Great course
Increduble golf course
Nice course, fantastic view.
Great course
Great course with awesome views of the mountains, over priced for early day tee times but if you play later in the afternoon, it’s definitely worth it !
Beautiful course. Fast greens
The course was in great shape. Staff was wonderful. Green’s were large and fast. Too many 3 putts for me today. Not the courses fault. Haha.
Played in under 5 hours.
Vista Vallarta Nicklaus is a beautiful golf course with a wonderful layout. We had an afternoon tee time and only saw the beverage cart once early on during our round. It was a hot afternoon and there was no water on the course anywhere. I ran out of water.
Challenging
Tons of bunkers and slopes on the greens. Bunkers all very playable but some on fairway have steep edges, have to just chip out . if your on the wrong side of the pin here, or chipping from close and not in ideal position, tough to make the up and down .
Played afternoon, so greens might be more receptive in the AM, some nice scenic holes and well kept course
Inflexible Golf ow and
Here in Mexico. I got Montezumas revenge. So I had to cancel when I woke up. GolfNowhas ZERO people to talk to. The app would not let me cancel. The course would not let me cancel. So I asked the course, could you take my money today and let me play tomorrow. The answer, no. So the heck with both. I play a lot of golf and will never use either again.
To expensive
Its to expensive for the condition, Green was burned, the start was not good. But the Marshall was à gentlemen is the on l’y good point for the Price. I NEVER will be recomand for sure.
A must play in Vallarta!
Two great championship courses at Vista Vallarta and both are fantastic! Great scenery and layouts and bring a few extra balls!!
Vista Vallarta- Nicklaus
First time visitor and from the moment we entered the facility, we were looked after like we were members. Superb welcome and impressive practice area. The course itself was in very good condition and was a real test off the Blue tees. Some very good holes but 18 for me was a “wow” moment. A long downhill dogleg that needed precision.
Thoroughly recommend you play it. Not cheap, but we got it on a “hot deal” through GolfNow so paid what we thought wasn’t unreasonable.
Vista Vallarta Nicklaus - always a great day
It is always a pleasure to play Vista Nicklaus, and this was no exception. Went with a visiting buddy who had not played there before. Conditions were excellent - the greens had been lightly sanded, but were lightning fast and rolling true. Fairways drying and consistent, minimal wet spots. Caught our tee time perfectly - we did not see another group until hole 15, so most of the day it was like having the place to ourselves. Awesome day.
Great course with excellent views
We play this course every year for the last 10 years. The layout is excellent, the staff are friendly and attentive
It’s the number 1 course in the Puerto Vallarta area and we have played them all
Beautiful course
We have played this every year for 8 years during our winter vacation. It’s expensive but worth it!