Punta Mita Golf Courses – Pacifico, Bahia & Championship Courses

Pacifico Course & the Tail of the Whale

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

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.

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