Two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, the world's only natural island green, and Pacific Ocean views on nearly every hole — Punta Mita's golf is as exclusive as the address. The private Punta Mita Golf Club is open only to property owners, resort guests at the Four Seasons and St. Regis, and villa guests with concierge-arranged access. When you play here, you play alongside people who chose this peninsula for exactly the same reason you did.
Pacifico Course & the Tail of the Whale
Pacifico Golf Course
Pacifico is the original course at Punta Mita and the one that put the peninsula on the global golf map. Jack Nicklaus designed it to work with the natural contours of the coastline rather than against them — rolling fairways lined with tropical vegetation, greens protected by deep bunkers and ocean breezes, and eight holes that play directly along or overlooking the Pacific. The Champion Dwarf Bermuda greens are fast, the Bermuda T-419 fairways are immaculate, and the conditioning reflects the standards of a club that charges accordingly.
The course sprawls across 200 acres at the tip of the peninsula. Wind is a constant companion — the ocean breeze strengthens through the afternoon and reshapes every hole depending on your tee time. Morning rounds play calmer and shorter. Afternoon rounds demand an extra club on exposed holes and a willingness to flight the ball beneath the wind. Both have their partisans.
Hole 3B — The Tail of the Whale
This is the shot that defines Punta Mita golf. The Tail of the Whale is an optional par-3 19th hole — the world's only natural island green. Set on a rock outcropping 199 yards offshore in the Pacific Ocean, the green is shaped like a whale's tail and accessible only at low tide via a narrow land bridge. When the tide is in, the green sits surrounded by open ocean on all sides.
The hole plays 199 yards from the mainland tee box, entirely over water, to an undulating green that Nicklaus himself has called his favorite design. It is not part of the official 18-hole scorecard — you play it in addition to your round, typically as a bet or bragging-rights challenge between playing partners. The pro shop posts low-tide windows daily, and caddies know exactly when the bridge opens and closes. Plan your round timing to catch it — arriving at the 3B tee at the wrong tide is the most common regret among first-time visitors.
Bahia Course
Bahia Golf Course
Bahia is the second Nicklaus Signature course at Punta Mita, and it earns its reputation as the more strategically demanding of the two. Where Pacifico rewards power and length, Bahia rewards precision. The undulating fairways and deeply protected green complexes force you to think through every approach — club selection, angle of attack, and wind calculation all matter more here than raw distance. Nicklaus described the deep greenside bunkers as "adding a little spice," which is polite for what they do to a wayward short iron.
The course winds through the St. Regis Resort grounds and among the communities of El Encanto, Porta Fortuna, and La Punta Estates. Five holes offer direct ocean views, and the routing creates natural moments of elevation change where the Sierra Madre and Banderas Bay appear together in the same frame. The playing experience is distinctly different from Pacifico — if you play both during a week's stay, you will feel like you visited two different destinations.
Higuera Golf Club
The newest addition to the Riviera Nayarit's golf portfolio, Higuera Golf Club is a Greg Norman-designed course situated within the One&Only Mandarina development, just south of Punta Mita along the coast toward Sayulita. The course occupies a dramatic stretch of jungle hillside above the Pacific, with elevation changes that create vertiginous ocean panoramas from multiple holes.
Higuera represents a different design philosophy from Nicklaus's work at Punta Mita — Norman's routing emphasizes the wild, mountainous terrain rather than sculpted coastal landscapes. The result is a course that feels untamed and adventurous, with blind shots, dramatic elevation drops, and holes carved through dense tropical forest. It is not a resort course in the traditional sense; it is an experience course designed to produce stories.
Access is currently limited to Mandarina guests and members, though reciprocal arrangements for villa guests in Punta Mita may be available through your concierge. Ask when booking — availability fluctuates by season.
Litibú Golf Course
Litibú is the most accessible championship course in the Punta Mita area. Located between the Punta Mita gate and Sayulita, the course is open to public play and offers a genuine championship layout at rates significantly below the private Punta Mita Golf Club. It is the course where villa guests play when tee times at Pacifico and Bahia are unavailable, or when they want a quality round without the premium pricing.
The Greg Norman design takes advantage of the coastal terrain with ocean views, strategically placed water hazards, and elevated greens that test your approach game. The conditioning is professional — not at the Punta Mita Golf Club standard, but well above average for a semi-public facility. Green fees run approximately $150–200 during peak season, with twilight rates dropping further. The Conrad Punta de Mita resort sits adjacent to the course, and its guests receive preferential tee times and rates.
Access, Tee Times & Green Fees
The Punta Mita Golf Club (Pacifico and Bahia) is a private facility. Access is restricted to Punta Mita property owners and their guests, guests of the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, guests of the St. Regis Punta Mita, and guests of authorized villa rental programs within the gated community. Villa Experience guests staying in Punta Mita communities — Kupuri, La Punta, Porta Fortuna, El Encanto, Los Veneros — qualify for access through our concierge partnership.
How to Book Tee Times
Tee times can be reserved up to 30 days in advance for non-member guests. The first tee time is 7:30 AM (adjusted seasonally for sunrise). Tee times run at 10-minute intervals. Four players maximum per tee time, each requiring their own set of clubs. Groups larger than four are coordinated through the Golf Club representative — groups can reserve tee times up to two years in advance.
Your Villa Experience concierge contacts the pro shop directly to secure your preferred times. During peak season (November through April), morning tee times fill a week or more ahead — request your dates before arrival.
| Course | Designer | Par / Yards | Access | Green Fee Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifico | Jack Nicklaus | 72 / 7,014 | Private — villa guest access | $250–$400+ |
| Bahia | Jack Nicklaus | 72 / 7,035 | Private — villa guest access | $250–$400+ |
| Higuera | Greg Norman | TBC | Mandarina guests / reciprocal | $300+ |
| Litibú | Greg Norman | 72 / 7,042 | Public — open to all | $150–$200 |
Dress Code
The Punta Mita Golf Club enforces a traditional dress code. Men must wear collared shirts or sleeved mock shirts at all times. No cutoffs, swimwear, gym shorts, or denim on the course or practice facility. Women follow similar standards — no tank tops, cutoffs, swimwear, gym shorts, or denim. The club is a soft spike facility. Dress code is enforced at check-in, not suggested — arrive prepared.
Equipment & Rentals
The pro shop offers TaylorMade rental sets (Burner Superlaunch irons, Superfast drivers and woods) and FootJoy rental shoes in men's and women's styles. Club rental is approximately MXN 2,000 (roughly $115 USD). For serious golfers, bring your own clubs — the courses deserve your best equipment. Golf carts are mandatory and included in green fees; caddies are available for an additional fee and provide invaluable course knowledge, particularly on Bahia's strategically complex holes.
Punta Mita Golf Academy
The Punta Mita Golf Academy operates a full-service instructional facility within the golf club. The academy offers individual lessons, group clinics, multi-day golf schools, and custom programs for players at every level. The instructional staff includes PGA professionals with years of teaching experience at the club, and they know both courses intimately — a lesson at Punta Mita is not generic swing coaching, it is course-specific preparation.
Practice facilities include a full driving range, extensive putting and chipping greens, and a pitching area. Complimentary practice facility tours run daily at 3:00 PM, which is a smart way for first-time visitors to orient themselves before their first round. Private lessons (one hour) typically run $100–150 and are best booked through the pro shop or your villa concierge.
Beyond the Course
Tail of the Whale Restaurant
The golf clubhouse restaurant sits on the upper level overlooking both courses and the Pacific. Named after the signature island green, it serves an international menu with particularly strong breakfast and lunch offerings. Early golfers get complimentary coffee from 7:30 AM. The Halfway House at the 9th green provides a quick cold menu and beverage service. Two beverage carts circulate the course throughout play.
Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic
The annual Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic combines championship golf on both Nicklaus courses with a multi-day food and wine festival featuring top Mexican and international chefs. The event typically falls in the spring and draws a blend of serious golfers and culinary enthusiasts. If your travel dates align, it is worth planning around — the combination of world-class golf and gourmet dining in this setting is difficult to replicate anywhere.
After Your Round
The natural complement to a morning round is an afternoon at one of Punta Mita's beach clubs, a surf lesson at El Anclote (the waves are gentler in the afternoon), or a late lunch at one of the top restaurants in Punta de Mita village. During winter months, an evening whale watching charter from La Cruz makes for a complete day. And for the truly committed, there is always a second round — afternoon green fees drop 25–40%, and the courses empty out after 2 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Play Where Nicklaus Built His Favorite Hole
Villa Experience villas in Kupuri, La Punta, Porta Fortuna, and the Four Seasons enclave include golf club access. Our concierge secures tee times, arranges cart and caddie service, and coordinates your schedule so the only thing between you and the first tee is a five-minute golf cart ride.
