Vidanta Riviera Maya
Rating Snapshot
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
Felt Like Playing a Muni, Not a Resort Course
Let me start by saying that I love the concept of a 18 hole par 3 course that will force you to use just about every club in your bag off the tee at least once. Even the driver comes out on the 13th hole, that can play close to 300 yards from the back tees.
The course description hails it’s “Pearly white sand traps, natural stone outcroppings, and deep blue water features. In actuality that couldn’t be much further from the truth. The bunkers were more tan than white, very inconsistent with regards to the amount of sand in it, and there wasn’t a rake in sight (but the local I played with said they had them up until 3 months ago). The lakes were dark and filled with algae, the greens look like they had been burnt out and in a few places you could see they were trying to repair diseased edges.
The staff was friendly at the check in but the marshall and cart girl were inattentive. It took us over 3.5 hours to play, which would be great on par 72, but for a par 54 that’s a little long. (I played Iberostar a day earlier at the same time, and we finished in just over 3 hours.).
Like I said earlier, I think the concept and course design are great but it really felt like I was playing a muni course not a resort course. I was also disappointed that there are no slope or rating available for the course.
Not sure I’d play it again but I would recommend it to people who are looking for a fun challenge that is relatively inexpensive.
Alot of fun
Alot of challenging holes...layout and grounds are amazing. Had lunch.after at the Green Break...amazing food and staff..highly commend
Challenging par 3 from the blacks!
The course is a lot of fun. There are a few holes that are very tough par 3's over water and one that plays 280 yards. The only issue were some of the bunkers need sand and some of the greens were recently plugged. Otherwise it was in great shape and it's a blast to play!
Challenging Par 3 Course like No Other
Put aside your preconceptions of what a Par 3 course is. Having 3 holes of PGA length, and plenty of hazards to avoid, this course will test more than your wedges. Well run, with the best crew around, Hola Josue !
Wet
The course was a nice Par 3 course. It was wet and lots of puddles. It was challenging but playable.
Friendly El Manglar
The crew anywhere in the Riviera Maya. Welcoming, friendly, efficient. Josue is the best
Mr B
I didn’t enjoy a par 3 course. If I knew it was a par 3 before I paid I would not have played. Them find out it was cart path only which I didn’t enjoy
Challenging course
Really fun from the black tees. A real challenge when the wind swirls - water on almost every hole.
Par 3 delight
This is a fabulous, challenging par 3 layout. It doesn't feel like you are playing a par 3 course.
Best par 3 course you will ever play
Have played this course since 2016. Conditions vary depending on time of year, but generally very good. Some sand traps are a little pr boy but most are in great shape. From the black tees the course is a great challenge. The layout is beautiful. Lots of water and traps. Excellent landing areas to practice your short game. Staff Are very friendly. Book on golf now to get a good rate.
Drawbacks - you may run in to non-golfer tourists in flip flops - it’s a resort course.
The course was in beautiful shape. For a par 3, it was very challenging and very well maintained.
Extremely fun course
Not very often you will find a par 3 that challenges a regular golfer. This course was a real surprise. It is like a full size course shrunk down, all the challenges remain. A great layout, lots of water and wildlife. I’d recommend this course to any one at any skill level
Par three but very tough
Jack Nicklaus created a wonderful course. There is major water on 3/4 of the course with little relaxation between the toughness. Bogies are very doable pars less so and birdies few. For a par three there were several drivable holes with lots of wind in the face. Risk/Reward is present in much of the course. I played after a day of hard rain which made the sand traps eroded and packed. They should have been racked. Overall it was a very enjoyable 18.
