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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 |
Hot Deals at The Nicklaus Design Course at Vidanta Riviera Maya
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Course Details
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Snacks, RestaurantLodging
Lodging AvailableAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Showers, Lockers
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u314163626548 on 08/13/2025
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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
Very nice par 3 course
This course is a nice par 3 layout with several challenging water hazards. The pricing is but hefty but no excessive compared to other courses in the area. The staff are very friendly and courteous.
Definitely a quality experience.
Bad experience
The staff was not helpful at all. No one seems to know anything about the course . I had a hard time finding the course and the proshop.
Worst Experience Ever
First I couldn’t find the course. The address listed on golf pass is WRONG. I spent more than 30 minutes asking for directions and no one seemed to know where it is. Once I found the course it is so frustrating and confusing to find the golf course. That was another 10 minutes driving around. Saw someone on a golf cart and asked for directions. So you have to park in a specific area walk 300 meters to a so called lobby. Ask for transportation to get your clubs at the car and to the golf course. No one was available. They told me to go back to the car and bring the clubs with me. By then someone might be available. Please don’t waste your money on this one. There are a lot better courses available in the area.
Okay option to swing a club while in PDC
Executive length course in the Vidanta resort. Not well signed or set up for non-resort visitors. Incidentals are very expensive once on-site.
32 USD for a sleeve of 3 golf balls
71 USD for club rental (12 club set, with two nine irons)
18 USD for a can of beer and a pop
Interesting course layout with lots of water. Greens and fairways only in fair condition. Was not that busy even during peak season.
Fun Course
Played early in the morning to avoid the heat, and we saw so much wildlife! The greens were tough to get used to because of sandy conditions. The check in process was pretty seemless, and they had our cart and rental clubs ready to go. The only gripe I had was that we only played 1-9 because the back was closed, and we paid for 18. We did ask for a refund, but didn't get it. Other than that, fun course.
Great course
Beautiful course! Lots of water hazards though, lost 5 balls but I’m not a great player. Was fun with the family. Staff was very nice and helpful. Drink cart was on the course when we were needing drinks. Would definitely play here again!
Extremely slow play
Back 9 was closed so we had to play front twice. Greens had just been punched and sanded.
Viva Vidanta!
I absolutely love playing this course!! Don’t be fooled that it’s just a par3 course… it’s fun and challenging. The course grounds were in beautiful condition. But the highlight of our experience is always how friendly the staff is to us…. Eduardo. greeted us with a smile and helped us get hooked up with our rental clubs and cart…. Then when we left he made sure we were all set with a taxi to head back to our resort…..I’ll definitely be back time and time again!
Terrible
No Ranger - nearly 4 hours for a par 3 course
No water or towels in the cart
No beverage cart for 10 holes. Par 3 course
No range balls to warm up
No service
No bueno
👎
Unexpected Par 3
We were not expecting a Par 3 course but were impressed with the variety of each hole. Good practice for our short game. Great day for golf!
Terrible greens!! The rest is fine
They have lost most greens and it will take a long time to get them back to par. The rest of the course is fine. Kind of sad in a way because it’s no fun putting on terrible non playable greens. The person checking us in said something about the unusual weather affecting the greens. We played Cancún Country Club today and their greens were great. Don’t waste your money coming to Vidanta to play!!
Terrible greens!!
They have lost most of the greens. It’s going to take a very long time to get the greens back. Not worth the rack rate. If you can get it at $50 or less play it…maybe; ).
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