Vidanta Riviera Maya
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 |
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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 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
Great little couse
Unexpectably difficult par three course. I used from gap wedge to driver. (276 yrd hole). Lots of water, bring more balls than you would expect to lose. Also swirling winds which the staff said are constant. Will play again.
New club house being built.
Fun course for golfnow price only...
Being a par 3 course, it has a really nice layout with some long par 3's. Not worth the rack rate of $105. Need a coupon or golfnow to make it worthwhile. It is in really good condition, with many iguanas rooming the course. Plenty of trouble on the course, but a fair track. Enjoy & have fun, & play for what it's worth...
Awesome challenge
Agree with other reviews. This is a very nice course. It is as tough a par 3 course as you’ll see. Playing from the back tees you’ll be seriously challenged on many of the holes:4,5,9, 13,14, 18. Tough. Water carry on many of these. My wife and I loved it.
Fair price, great quality, super great staff. The hardest working people and most humble you’ll ever meet.
Highly recommended. We’ll be back for sure.
Great Par 3
Probably the best par 3 course I've played. The condition of the course was near perfect, challenging pins and a great way to warm up to play some of the great full courses in the area.
I would play this course again and I would recommend to friends coming to the area.
Nice Par 3
This was our first time playing on this course. It was a nice Par 3, and a good looking course. In my opinion, there was a lot of dessert/dirt area, where there could have been grass. Although, this area was easy to hit from, much easier than the sand, so overall it helped my game a bit. This course really tests your short game, so be ready! The staff was very friendly and they had a nice restaurant as well. I would definitely recommend.
Great par three
This course is a great option to playing a full round of golf. We played it as our first round for the vacation; a nice warm up, after all who doesn't need a little short game practice. It offered challenges from both the ladies tees and the back tees.
Great Par 3 Nicklaus Course
You will enjoy the opportunity to play this Great Par 3 Nicklaus course located at the Vidanta Riviera Maya Resort. We come here every year for vacation and enjoy being able to play this unique layout. You may say " an all Par 3 Course", but I promise you it will definitely challenge you but still allow you to have fun!!!
Interesting Par 3
Course is very interesting, and challenging with greens in very good shape. Only complaint was food/beverage cart not around often enough, particularly in heat of day.
Could play this all day
Thanks to golf now I was able to get a good rate to play. Played as a single at 11:24 and went around in just over 2 hours, playing 2 balls on tee shots on most holes since there was no one to hold up. Don't let the thought of being a par 3 course fool you into thinking it will be a cupcake. #13 is 276 yards!
Greens were fast and found myself putting it well past the hole. Took lots of pictures of the unique holes, good shots and iguanas. Check for the twilight special for $45 includes golf cart and club rentals. Green break restaurant is great for breakfast before.
Could play it everyday...Thanks Jack
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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
Course will challenge your short game and putting.
Excellent grill by first tee. Omelettes are a good portion so share! Excellent short game practice facility. 180 yards max on drive range. Used driver and 3 wood once. Loved the challenge of most holes. Staff excellent. One beverage cart, ask the girl for the promotion of the day. She is great.
Fun, challenging, and a great course Josh to work on your iron play.
Regular rates are a bit high for a very short course. My round took less than two hours. The layout, and the staff not to mention the twists and turns the Nicklaus put into this make it worth playing. .
Had to use my driver
When you normally think of a Par 3, I never think of holes being extremely long. On this course there were a couple of holes where you need to hit driver if you want to get there in one (276 yards). Plus the water carries along made it fun. We mixed in a couple of skin and putting games and it was one of the best courses I have played in a while. It rained for about 15 minutes but the pace of play stayed true. I found a deal on GolfNow that saved us about $70 apiece, so the price moderate. All in all if you have a time constraint but want to get in a fun course when your near Cancun, its worth the challenge.
Tough 3 -par course
Very challenging 3-par course for all skill levels. Be prepared to lose a few balls in the jungle and/or in the several water hazards.
Great Par 3 course
For a par 3 course it was in excellent condition and presented a fair challenge of golf skill.
El Manglar
I paid $75 which included golf, cart and club rental. The clubs were newer model Titleists and in good shape. The course was very interesting to play with holes of varying lengths and difficulty. Several holes challenged you with risk vs. reward decisions which was great. Adding to the interest was a giant lizard next to one of the greens eyeing me for lunch which I firmly believe affected my missed birdie putt. On another hole there was a live crocodile exhibit. Club selection was difficult due to the wind. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience and well worth the money.