Mayan Riviera Golf

[Northpaw68]

I am headed down to the Mayan Riviera for Christmas this year and am hoping to get a few rounds of golf in. We are staying at the Bahia Principe Akumal, there is a course on the resort that I just need to pay cart fees at (apparently). First off, can anybody tell me how this course is, what to expect? And second, are there any other courses around this area that are must plays?

[Socrates]

I've played there (2 yrs ago). It's a nice course with plenty of challenges, but I think once you play it you will quickly learn 3 things:
1.) which tees to really play from to make it fun or challenging,
2.) where you need to hit it off the tee and with what club (why the heck do you need to hit a 5 iron off the tee on a par 5 - but you do?),
3.) that really was a black and red snake over there! I'll just drop one over here.

I enjoyed playing there and it's a well taken care of facility. I think you'll have fun and since you are 45 min away from the next good course, I doubt if you will play elsewhere. There are lots of "must plays", but it will consume your entire day as they are in Playa del Carmen or further away. That's about a $60 cab ride each way if I recall correctly.

They are all expensive $200 per round. My favourite is the Playacar course in Playa del Carmen. It can be as hard as you ever could want if you play from the back tees which I only did once and that was stupid. Moved up - way up to have fun.

Here is a link where a number of courses are mentioned [url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/979398-going-to-playa-del-carmen-golf-help-course-reviews-lessons/"]Playa del Carmen[/url]

[Northpaw68]

[quote name='Socrates' timestamp='1414367972' post='10354751']
I've played there (2 yrs ago). It's a nice course with plenty of challenges, but I think once you play it you will quickly learn 3 things:
1.) which tees to really play from to make it fun or challenging,
2.) where you need to hit it off the tee and with what club (why the heck do you need to hit a 5 iron off the tee on a par 5 - but you do?),
3.) that really was a black and red snake over there! I'll just drop one over here.

I enjoyed playing there and it's a well taken care of facility. I think you'll have fun and since you are 45 min away from the next good course, I doubt if you will play elsewhere. There are lots of "must plays", but it will consume your entire day as they are in Playa del Carmen or further away. That's about a $60 cab ride each way if I recall correctly.

They are all expensive $200 per round. My favourite is the Playacar course in Playa del Carmen. It can be as hard as you ever could want if you play from the back tees which I only did once and that was stupid. Moved up - way up to have fun.

Here is a link where a number of courses are mentioned [url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/979398-going-to-playa-del-carmen-golf-help-course-reviews-lessons/"]Playa del Carmen[/url]
[/quote]

Thank you for the feedback! I guess that I better hit it straight when I play there then because I think snakes are my biggest phobia - not really something you need to worry too much about here in Ontario lol.

[Socrates]

I never saw one, but the guys I played with (they were from Ontario as well) went into the trees to look for a wayward ball and encountered one. Beat a hasty retreat btw. I was just by the edge of the path looking for my ball on one hole when I heard a quick rustle and saw a tail out of the corner of my eye. Almost wet myself before I realized it was just and Iguana that I had disturbed.

Bring golf balls with you as golf balls are nutty expensive there. I also recommend not using $4 ProV1's off the tees so you don't feel bad about hitting it a little off line and just leaving it out there in the trees. For the most part at Mayan Rivera the bush is cut away from play and you can play from the pine straw which I did on many occasions (a little nervously). Lots of bail out areas so it's not punishing on many holes.

Hahaha, didn't mean to add the last 2 pics, but I left them in just in case we forgot last winter.

[attachment=2474615:IMG_0673.JPG][attachment=2474617:IMG_0687.JPG][attachment=2474619:IMG_0721.JPG][attachment=2474621:IMG_0740.JPG][attachment=2474623:IMG_0752.JPG][attachment=2474625:IMG_2784.JPG][attachment=2474627:IMG_2786.JPG]

[Northpaw68]

[quote name='Socrates' timestamp='1414382905' post='10355953']
I never saw one, but the guys I played with (they were from Ontario as well) went into the trees to look for a wayward ball and encountered one. Beat a hasty retreat btw. I was just by the edge of the path looking for my ball on one hole when I heard a quick rustle and saw a tail out of the corner of my eye. Almost wet myself before I realized it was just and Iguana that I had disturbed.

Bring golf balls with you as golf balls are nutty expensive there. I also recommend not using $4 ProV1's off the tees so you don't feel bad about hitting it a little off line and just leaving it out there in the trees. For the most part at Mayan Rivera the bush is cut away from play and you can play from the pine straw which I did on many occasions (a little nervously). Lots of bail out areas so it's not punishing on many holes.

Hahaha, didn't mean to add the last 2 pics, but I left them in just in case we forgot last winter.

[attachment=2474615:IMG_0673.JPG][attachment=2474617:IMG_0687.JPG][attachment=2474619:IMG_0721.JPG][attachment=2474621:IMG_0740.JPG][attachment=2474623:IMG_0752.JPG][attachment=2474625:IMG_2784.JPG][attachment=2474627:IMG_2786.JPG]
[/quote]

Looks like a beautiful course. Cant wait to get down there and enjoy the course, the beach of course the HEAT!

[RossRules]

I'll second the playacar course. It beat me up pretty good, but it was fun. We also played the nicklaus course at moon palace. Typical nicklaus course, but also fun.