Vista Vallarta Golf Club - The Nicklaus Course
About
The Nicklaus Course at Vista Vallarta Golf Club is one of two championship courses at the club, the other was designed by Tom Weiskopf. The Nicklaus Course is perched atop the property's highest elevation, offering spectacular views of Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas. The course tumbles across grassy hillsides covered with dense forests of palms and giant ficus trees. True to Nicklaus' style, the wildly undulating greens are balanced by generous driving areas. He also chose to route the holes along the natural contours of the land, giving each hole a unique character. One of the most talked-about holes on the golf course is the par-5 third, which is ranked as the toughest. This 550-yard monster demands three strong shots in order to make it onto the elevated green in regulation, but the tricky part is that the elevation rises a bit more with each shot.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 72 | 7074 yards | 73.8 | 144 |
| Blue | 72 | 6595 yards | 71.7 | 137 |
| White | 72 | 6031 yards | 69.5 | 124 |
| Yellow | 72 | 5287 yards | 66.4 | 117 |
| Red | 72 | 5251 yards | 71.1 | 119 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold M: 74.7/138 | 401 | 429 | 550 | 381 | 213 | 452 | 427 | 534 | 182 | 3569 | 536 | 394 | 580 | 340 | 440 | 177 | 423 | 170 | 445 | 3505 | 7074 |
| Blue M: 72.7/130 W: 78.6/142 | 338 | 408 | 519 | 366 | 192 | 435 | 395 | 499 | 178 | 3330 | 513 | 370 | 558 | 314 | 422 | 149 | 383 | 157 | 399 | 3265 | 6595 |
| White M: 69.7/126 W: 73.5/125 | 294 | 360 | 484 | 338 | 168 | 416 | 372 | 453 | 152 | 3037 | 466 | 356 | 538 | 262 | 402 | 125 | 347 | 131 | 367 | 2994 | 6031 |
| Yellow M: 66.8/118 W: 72.0/121 | 260 | 336 | 443 | 268 | 145 | 331 | 284 | 422 | 131 | 2620 | 433 | 334 | 521 | 236 | 311 | 113 | 307 | 114 | 298 | 2667 | 5287 |
| Red W: 70.0/121 | 258 | 334 | 441 | 266 | 143 | 329 | 282 | 420 | 129 | 2602 | 431 | 332 | 519 | 234 | 309 | 111 | 305 | 112 | 296 | 2649 | 5251 |
| Handicap | 11 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 8 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, Restaurant, Beverage CartsAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, LoungeReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Bea1213 on 02/02/2026
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by tcallaway25 on 06/12/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u314160452191 on 02/04/2023
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Photo submitted by u9883322 on 06/12/2022
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Photo submitted by u9883322 on 06/12/2022
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Photo submitted by u397521615 on 02/08/2022
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Photo submitted by browndoodle on 02/02/2022
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Hole 15 Photo submitted by u290742857 on 12/02/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by RTomaselli1 on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u778001500 on 11/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u000006172924 on 12/15/2020
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No. 16 on the Nicklaus course Photo submitted by greg0000023 on 05/26/2019
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A bunker and the bougainvilleas on the Nicklaus course. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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Pro Ivan Cueva on the Nicklaus course. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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A wall of fame celebrates the players from the 2002 World Golf Championships-World Cup at Vista Vallarta. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 04/09/2018
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Photo submitted by TroyJames on 01/24/2018
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View of one of the holes Photo submitted by kl3443 on 09/20/2012
One of the world's best!
Good layout, somewhat difficult but fair. Fairways are wide enough to allow for some off shots. Course is in great condition, especially the greens.
Bring your camera to capture the on believable scenery.
Dr AGUILAR
We stay in Vallarta in more 20 vacations and no now tvOS Course
We like Play with my Family here is a Good Course , We are played all Course in Vallarte and Nuevo Vallarta but reís is excelente Course
Hidden Dangers
The name, Vista Vallarta, is exact in the location of the course and the views available. This is very much a course with elevation changes in relation to other courses in the area. One key feature of this layout is the hazards off the tee, many of which are not visible from the tee. The starter was helpful and explained the first hole in detail but further into the round there was some other instances where course knowledge would have helped. The conditions were great with the greens being very true and holding an approach shot relatively well.
Note we played on a holiday (NYE) and the course was closing at 4pm. No notification was given of this (1:30pm hot deal) but luckily we showed up early enough to start around 12:30 and complete in time.
A beautiful course in excellent condition
Played the Friday before Christmas and the course was very quiet. Made it around in under 3 hours and greens putted true and reasonably fast. Lots of topo and nice layout. You don't play next to the ocean and not much wind. Other than the difficulty of getting to the course it is nice change from Vidanta, Litibu etc all. Price is also a little strong which may account for lack of play.
Vista Vallarta Golf courses
We play both Tom the Vista courses and found them very challenging but fair. Both in great condition. As always the staff there is great. We had a very good caddy Domingo who was a pleasure to have with us for both rounds.
Great Course
I recently played this course (Nicklaus) with my son. I booked through GolfNow at a very reasonable rate of $75USD per person which included a cart, water, hand clothes on ice (which was a great amenity in the heat) and access to the driving range/chipping green. The staff were very friendly and made everything easy for us. This course has a great layout and is in good condition. The only room for improvement that I can suggest is with the sand traps. They need more sand as I found there was only a thin layer of sand in the middle of the trap over a hard soil surface that made it difficult to get under the ball properly. This is something I noticed at other courses in the area as well. Overall, it was a great experience that I would recommend.
Great Course, But a Tad Pricey
The course was in great shape and a joy to play. I don't think I would have payed the rack rate though. Played on a Monday GolfNow hot deal ($100), but just for my gf to ride was $50. Layout is fun and challenging and the Staff were very hospitable. Played in about 2 & 1/2 hrs, but that was bc I was a single and the course was dead. Overall, would play again only on a Hot Deal though.
Excellent experience
This course was recommended by one our club pro's. I was a little reluctant after playing the Nicklaus Vidanta course which was very flat and boring. This course is the opposite. Much better conditions, vastly better layout with significant elevation changes, 12 ravines to hit over, well-bunkered and faster greens than you typically see in Mexico. Overall a great experience and I will play it again.
VALLARTA GOLF
es la primera vez que juego este campo, y esperaba mucho mas , el campo esta muy seco y ademas la llegada es complicada, es mucho mejor campo y mas barato jugar en flamingos. definitivamente no volveré a este campo de golf
Must play in PV
A must play in PV if you use the golf now discount.
Course is in excellent shape, never anyone on the course, range and warm up facilities are close to where you tee off.
Clubhouse and restaurant are excellent.
If no discount then $209 U.S. a round is too much for this Canadian.
Golf in Mexico
A very enjoyable course that challenges you and at the same time provides you with the opportunity to have fun.
Confirm conditions first
Fairways mostly pretty good, but recent rains washed out virtually all bunkers which where unplayable. And isn't Nicklaus course known for bunker challenge?
Sand washed away and several filled with deep standing water. I lost a ball in one because the water was so spread across and so deep! Ha ha! Shouldn't have tried to clear the bunker in first place. Greens good but furry and slow.
jungle golf course
There is no hotels or houses..just awesome to be there and play..very expensive but not too bad thanx to golf now...play there every year I visit from Canada..everyone there trees you special..
Best Course that I played while in PV
Played the Norman, Weiskopf and Nicklaus course, of the three the Nicklaus course was in the best condition and the most forgiving. Generous fairways and approachable greens. Did not get a chance to play the Nicklaus course at Vidanta but I understand that it is also a very nice course. If I paid $100.00 or more to play a course in the U.S. the condition of the course would be perfect, not the case with all of PV courses. They charge double to triple what they would be worth in the U.S. Playing golf in the PV area is somewhat expensive compared to the courses back in the U.S
Vista Vallarta Nicklaus Course
Good value if you get the deal through Golf Now, paid half price