El Tigre Club de Golf –
One of the most Challenging in Mexico! By Jesús de Avila • Vallarta Greens • Translation by Eduardo Rincón-Gallardo | October 2008
Designed by the prestigious and acclaimed firm of Robert von Hagge, Smelek & Baril – Premier Global Golf Architects; this professional championship, 18-hole, par 72 golf course was outlined and built over a 7,239 yard surface; inaugurated in March 2002 and considered from its very beginnings one of the most exciting and challenging golf courses in Mexico.
Strategically located in Nuevo Vallarta ―considered the most exclusive hotel and residential zone of the Riviera Nayarit―, El Tigre Club de Golf is no doubt the most beautiful and precious gem of the Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa Real Estate Development; founded and promoted by the tireless visionary Graciano Sovernigo.
Framed by fascinating views of the Western Sierra Madre, El Tigre Club de Golf stands out mainly for its high level of intimidation by water in 12 of its holes, as well as for having the most hills and sand hazards (approximately 150); these are challenges the golfer will not be facing at any other golf course in the region. Its closeness to the ocean is also a determining factor raising its level of difficulty, mainly in the evenings when the wind plays against the golfer, a condition dramatically accentuated during February, March and April.
Although not visible at plain sight due to the great transformations done to its original topography; the designer is recognized for having created a charming golf masterpiece, one whose real magic of design, some experts say, is the supreme challenge it offers to the experienced golfer; while simultaneously, do to some of its other characteristics, like featuring five tee-boxes for every hole, attracts the attention of golfers of all levels.
Aimed at sharing with our daily growing number of readers of this section of golf in Puerto Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas and the Riviera Nayarit, a bit of the feeling experienced while going through the course and playing it; with the expert guidance of Francisco Salazar, a golfer for the past 23 years and Golf-Pro in charge of coordinating the course’s operation, we toured the 18 holes one-by-one.
○ Playing the Course
• Hole 1 – Par 4 Black 451 Yards • Blue 400 Yards • Gold 392 Yards • White 364 Yards • Red 333 Yards
A peninsula-shaped hole with a river on its left side along the fairway’s whole length and out of bounds on its right, in addition to sand traps, raises the need for precision from the very first stroke.
This hole features a forthright entry to the green that is semi-protected by a lagoon on its left side. This is a beautiful, pleasant and friendly hole to start the round.
• Hole 2 – Par 3 Black 189 Yards • Blue 158 Yards • Gold 152 Yards • White 123 Yards • Red 94 Yards
A quite viable hole to make par on, it presents a leveled green descending to the left protected by sand traps on one of its flanks and behind.
Due to its characteristics, the green demands a good reading and precision with the putter.
• Hole 3 – Par 4 Black 442 Yards• Blue 401 Yards • Gold 359 Yards • White 325 Yards • Red 298 Yards
With the lagoon on its left side and in front of the tee-box, this hole features a right-to-left dogleg. Here it is essential to place the ball in the center of the fairway in order to have a forthright second shot to its wide green.
In the afternoon the wind usually plays against the golfer. It is a factor of unquestionable increased-difficulty for the second stroke which, after a firm initial shot, is a clear shot to the green.
• Hole 4 – Par 5 Black 553 Yards • Blue 517 Yards • Gold 484Yards• White 456 Yards • Red 426 Yards
With a narrow fairway, this hole is quite interesting as although the player can easily drive the ball to a good location, on the second stroke the player will be faced with a long sand trap and the lagoon on the right side, on the left and around the green there are several dunes challenging those with long reach to dare making it to the elevated green in two strokes; rewarding them ―if they make it― with a magnificent opportunity to complete it with an excellent score.
• Hole 5 – Par 4 Black 474 Yards • Blue 470 Yards • Gold 430 Yards • White 394 Yards • Red 363 Yards
A complicated and intimidating dogleg hole turning left with the lagoon in front of the tee-box. The options are; a shorter game to the right, or taking some risks playing to the left as there are out of bounds.
During the afternoon the wind will play against the golfer, this, added to the distance and the fact that the green’s entrance is narrow and guarded by some sand traps, makes the second shot a complicated one. Making par on this hole is a reason to be very happy.
• Hole 6 – Par 3 Black 171 Yards • Blue 148 Yards• Gold 125 Yards • White 112 Yards • Red 78 Yards
A most spectacular hole where the green is protected by a small Scottish bunker, it is practically an island demanding maximum precision as in no other hole, especially when the wind plays against the golfer.
One thing that makes this hole a most special one, is the fact that during the Banamex 2007 tournament, Lorena Ochoa (number one bounty winner during this season’s LPGE), stationed here to shoot towards the green accompanying each and every one of the participating players.
• Hole 7 – Par 4 Black 404 Yards • Blue 365 Yards • Gold 358 Yards• White 333 Yards • Red 307 Yards
Right-turning short hole, featuring almost thirty sand traps on the path to the green and around it! Keeping to the left helps you profit from the fairway’s wideness and the accuracy of the initial stroke is essential to come out safely.
• Hole 8 – Par 4 Black 407 Yards • Blue 374 Yards • Gold 368 Yards • White 344 Yards • Red 314 Yards
Right-to-left dogleg featuring an oversize hazard on the left side that is to be avoided. There are out of bounds to the right, reason why the initial shot should be precise and to the right distance to stay within the fairway.
Some residential projects and condos on both sides create the visual effect of a narrow fairway, increasing its level of difficulty. Its green has a tight entrance guarded by sand traps on its sides.
• Hole 9 – Par 5 Black 578 Yards • Blue 534 Yards • Gold 505 Yards • White 472 Yards • Red 425 Yards
A beautiful hole whose wide fairway turns dramatically from left to right, offering a spectacular shot to the green that is sheltered by the lagoon. There are out of bounds at either side and for those with a long reach, this is a magnificent opportunity to make an eagle or a birdie.
This hole always challenges professionals to strike firmly and send the ball over the lagoon.
• Hole 10 – Par 5 Black 510 Yardss • Blue 476 Yards • Gold 437 Yards • White 383 Yards • Red 339 Yards
With the lagoon at tee-off, on this relaxed hole it is necessary to avoid the traps on the right side. Also on the right side, about halfway down the fairway, the player is confronted with a huge sand trap that ends up covering the green. This hole is another opportunity to make a birdie.
• Hole 11 – Par 4 Black 422 Yards • Blue 386 Yards • Gold 373 Yards • White 342 Yards • Red 311 Yards
With a forthright tee-off to the green, this hole generates a great enthusiasm to swing a powerful shot, however, it is recommended to strike softly, taking into consideration some hazards placed at the center and to the left of the fairway. The most complicated part is the second stroke as it faces a lagoon on the left side.
The entry to the green is clear, however it is well-guarded by a lagoon on the left side and a small sand trap on the right side.
• Hole 12 – Par 3 Black 219 Yards • Blue 184 Yards • Gold 155 Yards • White 141 Yards • Red 127 Yards
Beautiful, seducing, challenging and intimidating hole with a fairway that is embraced at all times on its left by a lagoon. Definitely, this is one of the most difficult holes, featuring a sand trap at the right side of the green’s entrance and another one behind it. No other par 3 requires as much precision as this one.
The sea breeze on the back of the player is to be considered as it makes accurate measuring complicated. Making a bogey here is not considered a bad score.
• Hole 13 – Par 4 Black 414 Yards • Blue 386 Yards • Gold 378 Yards • White 361 Yards • Red 316 Yards
A fairway with a slight turn to the right, featuring an oversize hazard at its center forcing short-reach golfers to play on the left side. The most complicated shot is the approach to the green, with more and traps protecting it, it also forces the player into maximum concentration and precision while putting because of its slope.
• Hole 14 – Par 5 Black 492 Yards • Blue 458 Yards • Gold 449 Yards • White 419 Yards • Red 382 Yards
A very friendly hole where the golfer can practically make it to the green in two strokes. The fairway turns to the left, confronting the player with several sand traps, sixteen of them surrounding the green are considered this hole’s main obstacle. This is considered a recuperation hole.
• Hole 15 – Par 3 Black 221 Yards • Blue 179 Yards • Gold 165 Yards • White 140 Yards • Red 132 Yards
One of the preferred holes by those who play this course regularly, it is slightly longer than average (mainly from the black marks), therefore raising its level of difficulty. Three sand traps in front hinder the arrival to its wide green.
• Hole 16 – Par 4 Black 421 Yards • Blue 393 Yards • Gold 385 Yards • White 344 Yards • Red 314 Yards
A beautiful and impressing hole that, from its tee-box to the green —through its narrow fairway— intimidates the player with its lagoon on the right side and wide sand traps on the left. This is the hole demanding the most precision on the approaching shot to the green, it also offers a spectacular view of the golf course’s main gate.
• Hole 17 – Par 3 Black 250 Yards • Blue 200/190 Yards • Gold 178 Yards • White 148 Yards • Red 118 Yards
An impressive and very long hole (mainly from the black marks), with a lagoon on the left side followed by a wide sand trap protecting the green. In this hole the tee-off from the blue marks is an island with a totally different perspective, it forces the golfer to cross the lagoon and the sand trap with his first stroke, aiming at landing at the center of the green, whose slope raises the level of difficulty while putting.
• Hole 18 – Par 5 Black 621 Yards • Blue 578 Yards • Gold Yards 543 • White 526 Yards • Red 482 Yards
Hoyo muy largo con amplio fairway que desde la mesa de salida hasta la entrada al green, es acompañado por el lago del lado izquierdo. Su recorrido da vuelta a la izquierda obligando a esforzarse por dejar muy bien colocada la bola para que el segundo tiro sea claro y franco hacia el green, el cual esta muy bien resguardado con una trampa de arena muy grande.
Con la vista de la Casa Club durante la mayor parte del recorrido, este es un hoyo de muy hermoso escenario, digno para cerrar la ronda de los 18 hoyos.
A very long hole with a wide fairway accompanied by the lagoon on its left side from the tee-box to the green’s entry. Its path turns left compelling the golfer to make an effort to place the ball well so the second shot can be clear and forthright to the green, which is well-guarded by a very large sand trap.
With a view of the club house from most of its length, this is a hole with a beautiful scenery worthy of wrapping-up the 18-hole round.
■ Green Fees
May 1 - October 31, 2008
Normal: ………………………………… $116.00 USD
Twilight: ………………………………. $ 80.00 USD
November 01, 2008 – April 30, 2009
Normal: ………………………………… $145.00 USD
Twilight: ………………………………. $ 95.00 USD
Fees do not include tax and are subject to change without previous notice.
Fees include shared cart, practice balls, bottled water and cold towels.
For tournaments, corporate outings and group rates please call:1 (800) 995-5714
■ Other Rates
Callaway golf club rentals: …..…….. $45.00 USD
Golf Clinics: …………………………………. $45.00 USD per hour
Shoes rental: …………..………………….. $15.00 USD
Bag storage: ……………..…………………. $20.00 USD for extended periods (short periods free)
Fees do not include tax and are subject to change without previous notice.
El Tigre Club de Golf • Paradise Village
Paseo Paraíso 800 Nuevo Vallarta. Nayarit, Mexico 63732
Phone.: 52 (322) 297-0773 • Fax: 52 (322) 297-1611
Website: http://www.eltigregolf.com • E-mail: golf@paradisevillagegroup.com
Toll free reservations: USA: 1-866-843-5951 • Canada: 1-800-214-7758 •
Mexico: 01-800-543-7678
Open: 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST (every day)
24 hour toll free reservations: USA & Canada: 1-888-885-4657
After an exhaustive study of its design, as well as a rigorous monitoring of the quality of its maintenance and the results of polls on the services it offers, Golf Guide magazine has named El Tigre Club de Golf, one of the 15 most recommended courses to play in Latin-America.
Definitely, while professionals put the course to the test as well as themselves accepting its challenge of the course, high-level players find here the perfect and exciting chance to improve, while at the same time, novices or less experimented golfers, starting from the friendliest marks, fall in love with the course and of course, with the game.
Among its facilities, El Tigre Club de Golf features a club-house, restaurant & bar, full spa, golf store and boutique as well as practice range including short game and putting areas. Its services include golf clinics, equipment rental, lockers, storage and luggage care, bar service on the links, bottled water and cold towels on the golf cart, organization and coordination of tournaments, events and groups.
It is most important to point out that El Tigre Club de Golf, is surrounded by an ensemble of exclusive and varied residential projects and deluxe condominiums like Ibiza, La Privada Green Bay, Tahéima, Artesanías, Casa Morada and Sensara Vallarta; designed thinking of a specific niche of investors and baby boomers, who are responding positively to what is considered the most attractive and profitable real estate investment opportunity in the Mexican Pacific Coast.
After touring its facilities and getting acquainted with its projection as a course where tournaments of international prestige have been celebrated and will continue to take place, we can attest to El Tigre Club de Golf having significantly contributed for Puerto Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas and Riviera Nayarit, to have been considered a top-level golf destination for several years already.
We thank Jesús Carmona and Francisco Salazar, El Tigre Golf course’s Director and Golf-Pro for their kind help and support. Email to a friend
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Designed by the prestigious and acclaimed firm of 
Although not visible at plain sight due to the great transformations done to its original topography; the designer is recognized for having created a charming golf masterpiece, one whose real magic of design, some experts say, is the supreme challenge it offers to the experienced golfer; while simultaneously, do to some of its other characteristics, like featuring five tee-boxes for every hole, attracts the attention of golfers of all levels.
• Hole 6 – Par 3 
• Hole 11 – Par 4
A beautiful and impressing hole that, from its tee-box to the green —through its narrow fairway— intimidates the player with its lagoon on the right side and wide sand traps on the left. This is the hole demanding the most precision on the approaching shot to the green, it also offers a spectacular view of the golf course’s main gate. 
■ Green Fees 
After an exhaustive study of its design, as well as a rigorous monitoring of the quality of its maintenance and the results of polls on the services it offers, Golf Guide magazine has named El Tigre Club de Golf, one of the 15 most recommended courses to play in Latin-America. 
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