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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 |
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Course Details
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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
Great par 3 course
Course was very nice. It's expensive but in my opinion it's worth it. You could save a lot of money if you bring your own clubs and balls though. We rented clubs for 1200 MXN and the cheapest 3 pack of balls was $12 USD so be prepared to spend a pretty penny if you don't bring your own gear.
Par 3 course not for the faint of heart
Great track. Some tough water holes and hard pins. A few 250+ yard holes with water tucked. Buy or bring balls from home. The golf course will gouge you in price. Get there an hour or more before your tee time. Takes forever to get transport to the pro shop once you arrive.
Course Maintenance
Hard to really give this a fair review as the back 9 was closed due to maintenance and the front 9 had just been aerated the previous day and were all sand.
Luckily didn't pay a lot since we booked through a Golf Pass Hot Deal. Vidanta would not give us any kind of break due to all of the maintenance.
I do think without the aeration issues it might be a fun course to play.
Not Recommended
Although the course is beautiful it was not in great shape with holes in several greens and some greens that we covered in iguana feces.
This is a Par 3 course but is priced as though it is a full sized course. They charged excessive fees for range balls, drinks, and clubs.
I would not recommend this course.
A must play if within 50 miles
The layout is one of a kind and it's under rated as it has 12 of 18 holes you'll never see on any other course as a par 3.. if you are staying here you must play it. Note I did a lesson with a pga teacher and it was perfect for $100 for an hour. From the tips they have at least 3 holes over 195. Again its perfect for challenging par 3's
Pace of play
Course is in great condition. Very challenging but fair. Pace of play was ridiculously slow. People spending more time looking for golf balls in the jungle than hitting the ball. Hitting 2 and three balls in the water. I understand this is a resort Course and a lot of the people don’t play much golf but they should follow golf etiquette. Never saw a Marshall in the almost 4 hours it took to play a par 54 course. Cancelled my tee time for the next day and played another course
Not again
Unfortunately, the place was completely overcrowded. There were endless waiting times. A basket of range balls costs USD40. In the pro shop you pay USD8 per ball. Unfortunately everything is overpriced. In itself, the place is beautiful and in good condition.
Great par 3 course
Great par 3 course but not without its challenges it has some tough holes for the average or beginners, I’m not the best player and I did lose more than a few balls. I did hear the same consensus from other players that were better than average. Balls are super expensive there so bring your own. Drinks are also super expensive but don’t try to sneak your own in as they X-ray your golf bag upon entry
Either way it was a great deal on golf now especially with the cost of vacation golf. One tip I have is book last minute and save 1/2 the cost with GolfNow
Decent golf course, fair services.
The golf course was OK, staff was not overly friendly, there is problem with parking if you come in with a car. Rented fairly expensive rental clubs without even a towel to clean them, the weather was hot and humid - at the beginning of the round we have received one(!) small bottle of warm water per golfer. It's all about the people - sorry, won't repeat here.
Improving Conditions
The greens were in the best condition since we started playing the course in November. (and they were good before)
Nice mix of pins. Greens in great shape. Fairways nice, and generous if you must lay up. Traps are super. T blocks a little rough.
Was a lot of fun. A little pricey, but holiday golf is expensive everywhere. Residents get a huge break.
Iovely and challenging 3 par course
Played frst time only 3 par course and I enjoyed it a lot, friendly staff, yummy breakfast, beautiful design and plants, lots of iguanas. Not easy at all. I'll come back for sure
Outstanding Once Again
7th round this winter and as always an outstanding challenge. Feels like you played a full 18 hole course, not a Par 3 executive one!
Very challenging par 3
18 hole par 3 was fun,challenging pretty. Greens had been top dressed so not as pristine as i hsd hoped. Great pace of golf .
Good Course, But Way Over Priced
fun 18 hole par 3 but the "tourist rack rate" is ridiculous. I found a hot deal and it was still about $100. Rack rate is $170/$180.
Great Course
Fun course to play.. Yes it’s a par 3 but you pretty much use all of your clubs. Lots of different hole layouts making it an interesting round.
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