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VALLARTA GREENS©
Flamingos Golf Club - The first one of them all!
By The Editor -
Golf Course Review - February 2006 - Leer en Español – Visit the photo gallery
When there were only a few people perceiving that it was indispensable to have a golf course in the area, and without going so far as to think that some day our Puerto Vallarta would turn into a world-wide golf destination, the Flamingos Golf Club was officially opened at the end of the year 1978, thanks to the hiring and arrival of Fidel Pérez Acosta and after several months of arduous and continuous work on the already mapped out course. To play the course the public was charged the fantastic amount of fifty pesos for green.
Flamingos is a 18 holes professional golf course par 72 of 6853 yards, designed by the prestigious English Architect Percy Clifford, who took the maximum advantage of the natural topography of the area in order to create the course that has turned into the most traditional one, and definitively one of the preferred ones for golfers of all levels.
 For some years the course has been in the hands of a new administration and its work can be seen starting at the entrance of the golf course. At present every detail in every corner of the course are looked after and attended and playing on the course is a real delight. For the first time in the existence of the course, the original outlines of every hole can be observed thus exposing spectacular natural scenes that those who have played here before would have never thought they existed.
Flamingos Golf Club is situated between lagoons, estuaries and swamps. The vegetation is exuberant, mainly composed of palm trees and trees of different species such as parotas, eucalyptuses, fichus and other fruit-bearing species. Everything is in its place in a natural way giving the impression that it has been mounted and prepared with the intention of turning it into a paradise for endemic and migratory birds which can be observed throughout the whole year while the players are accompanied by their singing. The natural environment is definitively the most significant characteristic of the course.
Playing the Course:
 At most of the holes the players are welcomed by the palm trees. The fairways are generally wide inviting and challenging the player to be aggressive on each one of his initial shots and at the same time demanding precision due to the course’s natural differences of height. For golfers with a good and excellent level this course is a constant challenge whereas when a beginner or a golfer with a high handicap is just playing the fairway, Flamingos is a friendly and highly entertaining golf course.
Hole 1 – Par 4
Blue 399 Yards • White 389 Yards • Yellow 363 Yards • Red 328 Yards
There is a clear perspective towards the green with an almost straight fairway. The approach must be precise since the green is elevated and protected by sand traps and a slope on the left side.
Hole 2 – Par 4
Blue 452 Yards • White 376 Yards • Yellow 332 Yards • Red 291 Yards
It is not possible to observe the location of the green from the tee off. There is a turn to the left with a sand trap in the center, just in that place from where the view of the green would be clearly visible during an approaching shot. The differences of height of the terrain demand precision. There are sand traps in front of the green protecting it.
Hole 3 – Par 5
Blue 611 Yards • White 569 Yards • Yellow 524 Yards • Red 370 Yards
A long par five, for many players one of the most beautiful and difficult ones. It presents a straight and broad fairway with a big sand trap on the left side after the first shot which seems to have a magnet attracting the golf balls. Precision is needed while approaching there is a sand trap in front of the green and slopes on both sides protecting it.
Hole 4 – Par 4
Blue 426 Yards • White 404 Yards • Yellow 361 Yards • Red 321 Yards
A very friendly hole with a free hit towards the green after the first shot. The green is protected by two sand traps.
Before being officially opened, the Professional Fidel Pérez Acosta allowed people to enter and play for free in order to listen to the golf players' comments about the course. A curious fact is that during those days the greens neither had a cup nor a flag. |
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Hole 5 – Par 5
Blue 547 Yardss • White 509 Yards • Yellow 465 Yards • Red 424 Yards
The hole is a double dogleg ending towards the right side. It is necessary to put the ball into play with the initiating shot because otherwise there is the risk of having to confront a second shot without a view of the green. This hole challenges good players to risk playing a birdie passing over the palm trees that prevent seeing the green from the tee off. At the end of the hole there is a view of the El Quelele lagoon which is a refuge for a great variety of birds.
Hole 6 – Par 3
Blue 202 Yards • White 176 Yards • Yellow 160 Yards • Red 94 Yards
A long par from Blue and White. For the first time water appears with an arm of the estuary located in front of the tee off. In order to increase the degree of difficulty of this beautiful hole the headwinds are constant, especially in the afternoon. For the majority this is the most difficult par 3 of the course with its elevated green protected by three sand traps. The view of the green with its flag from the tee off is simply captivating.
Hole 7 – Par 5
Blue 485 Yards • White 454 Yards • Yellow 409 Yards • Red 352 Yards
Originally a par 4, this hole turned into par 5 it has as panoramic view with water on the left side and a small lake at the entrance to the green. While playing this hole different species of wild animals can be observed, amongst which the crocodile stands out.
Hole 8 – Par 3
Blue 175 Yards • White 161 Yards • Yellow 138 Yards • Red 116 Yards
Short hole with three sand traps protecting the green. Even though it is considered the easiest par 3, the initial shot demands precision.
The name Flamingos was given to the golf course in 1977 by Dr. Federico Martínez Manatú, the Director of the Fideocomiso of the Bay of Banderas. The name was alluding to the abundance of flamingos arriving every winter to the nearby Quelele lagoon. As a matter of fact the first name of the course was a "Quelele Golf Course". |
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Hole 9 – Par 4
Blue 375 Yards • White 341 Yardss • Yellow 304 Yards • Red 280 Yards
Short hole with a free hitting range towards an open fairway. A good driver could put the ball very close to the green with excellent probabilities of achieving a birdie. There are some residences on the left while there are palm trees on the right side. They could turn into the main obstacle for not completing the hole with par in case the initial shot is not precise.
Hole 10 – Par 4
Blue 381 Yards • White 373 Yards • Yellow 318 Yards • Red 234 Yards
It presents a narrow and free fairway towards the green. Some residences are located on the left and a lake on the right side. The green is small and elevated, its entrance is protected by palm trees and a sand trap, while there is very little space in the rear part before reaching out of bounce.
Hole 11 – Par 4
Blue 419 Yards • White 396 Yards • Yellow 371 Yards • Red 289 Yards
Probably it is the most difficult hole where the right side out of bounce is much closer than what it looks like. The fairway turns to the left and in order to bring the ball into play a precise shot is necessary. Without the player being able to see, the shot is always in the direction of the ocean and therefore the headwind is constant increasing its force in the afternoon. The second shot is practically free to the green from any angle, with the exception of the extreme right side where there is a row of palm trees. The green is protected by two sand traps positioned with an incredible accuracy in order to increase the degree of difficulty of the approaching shot. For the most experienced players achieving a birdie is a real challenge and for the average players completing the hole with par is an achievement to be commented on for a long time.
Hole 12 – Par 4
Blue 387 Yards • White 353 Yards • Yellow 336 Yards • Red 252 Yards
According to the pro, this is the most beautiful hole of the course. It has a fairway that turns to the left with a lake to be crossed with the second shot towards the green. As soon as the initial shot is made the view of the scenery is truly fascinating. Occasionally the player can see badgers, foxes or deer that come to the place searching for food.
The golf course was officially inaugurated by conducting a PGA Mexico tournament. Many prestigious international golf players participated. Ernesto Pérez Acosta stood out amongst them being the only Mexican player who has achieved a double world championship. |
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Hole 13 – Par 3
Blue 194 Yards • White 142 Yards • Yellow 132 Yards • Red 111 Yards
A beautiful and challenging hole with water in front and six sand traps protecting the green. The combined winds increase the degree of difficulty of the initial shot. Even the most expert player becomes nervous seeing the water in front of him while trying to be precise at the tee off.
Hole 14 – Par 4
Blue 358 Yards • White 336 Yards • Yellow 258 Yards • Red 185 Yards
It is a dogleg. Starting from the blue and white marks it is necessary to cross the underbrush with the initial shot. The shot for approaching the narrow green will be clear if it is done from the center of the fairway. Again sand traps and slopes on the terrain protect the green.
Hole 15 – Par 5
Blue 540 Yards • White 484 Yards • Yellow 474 Yards • Red 455 Yards
It is complicated to bring the ball into play and unto the front fairway with the first shot. The fairway climbs slightly alter the tee and then slopes down to meet the lake on the right side. The shot towards the green is free.
Hole 16 – Par 3
Blue 158 Yards • White 133 Yards • Yellow 117 Yards • Red 89 Yards
A spectacular hole with a descending shot and a lake in front contributing to increase the degree of difficulty of aiming towards the green. To complicate things more the headwind is blowing regularly. Behind the green there are out of bounce mark.
The original grass [tifgreen] for the greens arrived at the golf course in small boxes coming from Camarillo California. |
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Hole 17 – Par 4
Blue 352 Yards • White 309 Yards • Yellow 254 Yards • Red 225 Yards
A hole without that many complications with a wide and free fairway towards the green and with some eucalyptus trees on the right side. The second shot is ascending a little bit towards an elevated green platform protected by sand traps with high rims. It is preferable to avoid them.
Hole 18 – Par 4
Blue 392 Yards • White 380 Yards • Yellow 338 Yards • Red 281 Yards
Short par with palm trees on both sides. It is preferable to play on the left of the fairway. Here the wind is not a factor of difficulty. The green is protected by two sand traps, it is descending and demands precision.
After playing and enjoying the golf course you will  agree with Francisco Salazar, the professional of the club, who mentions that the most difficult thing to play in Flamingos is the interpretation of the fall of the ball on the greens.
An additional value offered by the classic design of Flamingos, is the fact that thanks to its topography and its location in the bay, during the morning its level of playing difficulty is one, while it is another one in the afternoon. It turns out that depending on the time two completely different golf courses can be played in the same place.
For some time it looked as though Flamingos was left to its luck, nevertheless thanks to the new administration company Operadora Banderas and its collaborators, Flamingos Golf Club has re-arisen as the most beautiful natural golf course of the area and it is preferred by the majority of golfers visiting us and playing it. For the first time in its history the course shows its real splendor, exactly like Percy Clifford originally designed it.
At present Puerto Vallarta is recognized as an international golf destination and it is important to distinguish that the beginning of this new stage in the history of our paradise, was due to this beautiful and mature golf course of great tradition.
□ Green Fees trough April 30th. 2006:
Daylight: USD $130.00 [07:00 hrs. to 14:30 hrs.
Twilight: USD $ 89.00 [14:30 hrs. to 19:00 hrs.
□ Additional Services of Flamingos Golf Club:
- Lessons and golf clinics
- Practice and green tee
- Free transportation service
- Fully stocked Pro shop
- Rental clubs
- Electric Carts
- Caddies
- Restaurant-Bar
- Complementary lockes rooms and showers
- Car-Bar
□ Recommendations:
- Learn about the specific location and how to get teher by siting their website at: http://www.flamingosgolf.com.mx
- If you are a good or excellent player, come immediately to play the golf course ... it is worthwhile just to make a trip exclusively to play it!
- If you are a beginning player or a player with a high handicap, playing in order to stay on the fairway will allow you to enjoy your game like never before.
- Request the services of a caddy during your first visit to the golf course.
- Play the course during the morning and during the evening.
- Connect yourself with nature and during your game pay a lot of attention to your surroundings.
- Use mosquito repellent
□ To Remember:
- From three players on it is mandatory to use the services of a caddy.
- The rate for the service of a caddy is $150.00 Pesos.
- The tip of the caddy is not included in the rate.
- The course is open 365 days of the year from 7:00 a.m.
- There are regular promotions and packages to play golf. To find out more about them, visit the Flamingos Golf Club website http://www.flamingosgolf.com.mx or request information at the reception of the Club.
- Credit cards are accepted.
- The rates for equipment rental vary between USD $30.00 and USD $40.00, depending on the brand.
The investigation, edition and publication of this review would not have been possible without the support, the collaboration and participation of several persons who offered me their time and attention. Thank you very much to Captain Alejandra Lemus O., Commercial Manager of Flamingos Golf Club, as well as to Francisco Salazar, Professional at the Golf Club, to the caddy Clemente and especially to Mr. Fidel Pérez Acosta Professional of Lifelong Golf. He was the person directly responsible for the construction of the already mapped out golf course and he became the first Professional of the Club.
• Click here to see the Flamingos Golf Club Photo Gallery
► Flamingos Golf Club
Carretera Vallarta – Tepic Km. 154
Bucerias Nayarit, México • 63730
Phone: [329] 296-5006 • E-mail: info@flamingosgolf.com.mx
Website: http://www.flamingosgolf.com.mx
The Editor
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com
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