Hotel Casa Velas and Velas Vallarta

Played this course many times and it is always fun. It was a little dry in spots but still very playable.

One previous reviewer put it succinctly: this course is “meh.” The layout is challenging, probably the best part about it. The course conditions are reminiscent of a low-end municipal course. The staff is indifferent, and the amenities - again, think low-end muni. We played Vista Vallerta (Nicklaus) a few days prior. Honestly, save your money and play that course. It is in amazing condition and the amenities match the price.

We stayed across the street at the Marriot resort. This course was a perfect morning activity. The grass was a little dry and bare in spots on the fairways, but the course was fun and challenging. Real water hazards, given the crocs! Lots of other wildlife, too.

Played at 2:30 for a cheaper green fee. WORTH EVERY PENNY! The course was in phenomenal condition. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating. The pace was perfect. And the scenes were stunning. I would definitely play this again if we ever make our way back down here.

Pace of play was terrible. 25 minute wait on some hole. Should be a sign to let smaller groups or faster play players through. Nice course for the money, but if you plan to play 18 holes be ready for 5 to 6 hours .

You have to ask for your clubs to be cleaned after play. They cater more to the members. We live there permanently but don’t feel like we have to ask for everything

The twilight rate is good value; a challenging course in beautiful countryside; just outside of the city. I remain annoyed with being charged 200 pesos for water by staff.

Ok, let's take it from the top and just break down the review ratings.

Pace of play: Poor - It's ten minute tee times, the second hole plays like an extended par 3 and the third hole actually IS a par 3, so the backup starts right out of the gate, and the pace doesn't improve. You're not finishing this in less than five hours.

Course Conditions: Average - This rating is really a shame because this should be an Excellent, based on the views alone. However, the bunkers are a sad joke. It's not sand, it's hard packed dirt. Until they fix their bunkers, this course remains average. It's a testament to how poorly the course is managed when most of the fixes that would make this one of the top two courses in Marina are so simple.

Staff Friendliness: Excellent - Buyer beware, it just depends who you get at the counter. One is excellent and one is poor. This time, I got the excellent one, so Woo Hoo.

Course layout: Good - You know, it's not easy to have a course layout that is good for golfers of all skill levels, but this course manages to do it. Skilled golfers can play aggressively and the course will challenge their accuracy(but not their distance), and beginners and intermediates always have safe places to layup so that they can take a higher percentage shot on their next swing. A real kudos to this layout.

Off course amenities: Fair - I changed this from Poor to Fair simply because of the restaurant. Good food and friendly staff inside the restaurant, but that's where the amenities end. They don't even give you a cooler of water for your round, and at the prices they're charging coupled with the amount of time you're going to be just sitting around waiting, this is inexcusable and just screams muni vibe. There are memberships available here, but don't kid yourself, this is a straight up muni course. A beautiful and fun muni course, to be sure, but a muni nonetheless.

Recommend to a friend: NO - Unfortunately, I could not recommend this course to a friend, simply due to the pace of play. I would recommend that they pay nearly double to play Vidanta, or slightly more than Marina to play El Tigre. I really want to recommnend this course, but I just can't.

Great experience, great course, interesting holes and layout. New carts with GPS screens on board.