Experience world-class golf on Mexico’s Pacific coast at The Mandarina Golf Club, home to a stunning Greg Norman-designed course. Nestled in Riviera Nayarit, this luxury golf destination blends dramatic natural beauty, sustainable design, and elevated resort living for an unforgettable escape tailored to golf enthusiasts and luxury travelers alike.
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If golf is your passion, you can play to your heart’s content with your own private villa at Mandarina, home to One&Only Mandarina, and One&Only Mandarina Private Homes.
Nestled along the pristine coastline of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, the Mandarina Golf Club represents the pinnacle of luxury golf experiences. This magnificent Greg Norman-designed course harmoniously blends world-class golf with the breathtaking natural beauty of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, creating an unforgettable destination for golf enthusiasts and luxury travelers alike.
The Visionary: Greg Norman
Known worldwide as “The Great White Shark,” Greg Norman is one of golf’s most recognizable figures. Throughout his illustrious playing career, Norman spent 331 weeks as the world’s number one ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s. His aggressive style and charismatic personality made him a fan favorite, while his 91 international tournament victories, including two Open Championship titles, cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greats.
Beyond his playing achievements, Norman has established himself as one of the most successful golf course designers of the modern era. Through Greg Norman Golf Course Design, founded in 1987, he has created over 100 courses across six continents, earning a reputation for environmentally sensitive designs that work with, rather than against, the natural landscape.
Norman’s design philosophy emphasizes playability for golfers of all skill levels while maintaining strategic challenges that reward thoughtful play. His signature “least disturbance approach” aims to preserve the natural integrity of each site, resulting in courses that feel as though they’ve always been part of the landscape. This philosophy finds perfect expression at Mandarina, where Norman has crafted a masterpiece that celebrates the region’s dramatic topography.
The Course: A Norman Masterpiece
The Mandarina Golf Club is the centerpiece of this exclusive resort, thoughtfully designed to showcase the region’s diverse terrain. This par-30 layout unfolds across rolling hillsides and tropical jungle, offering players stunning views of the Sierra de Vallejo mountains and the sparkling Pacific Ocean at every turn.
Norman’s design brilliantly incorporates the natural undulations of the land, with fairways that wind through ancient tropical forests, skirt dramatic cliffs, and parallel pristine beaches. The course’s elevation changes are both challenging and visually spectacular, with several holes featuring significant drops that create breathtaking vistas and exhilarating shot opportunities.
The course features different tee positions on each hole to accommodate players of varying abilities, with holes ranging from 60 yards long up to 160 depending on tees played, and a total length of 1,230 from the back tees. Generous landing areas provide forgiveness for less experienced golfers, while strategically placed hazards and subtly contoured greens present appropriate challenges for more skilled players.
Environmental sustainability remains a cornerstone of the design. Native vegetation has been preserved whenever possible, and a custom irrigation system utilizes the latest technology to minimize water usage.
The Facilities: World-Class
The golf experience at the Mandarina Golf Club extends far beyond the course itself.
Between holes 5 and 6, players can recharge at specialty comfort station “Hole 5 and a half”, featuring shaded and open seating areas and complimentary premium refreshments and food options. For those looking to advance their game, an on-site golf pro will be available for private lessons for every skill level, and after completing their round, golfers can enjoy a sunset polo match and dine under the stars at Chukker, the Argentine asado grill located in the equestrian fields.
The pro shop stocks premium equipment from leading manufacturers alongside an exclusive line of Mandarina-branded apparel.
The Resort: One&Only Mandarina Private Homes
Mandarina itself represents the pinnacle of luxury hospitality in harmony with nature. The resort’s residential accommodations include 55 One& Only Mandarina Private Homes, villas and homesites, each designed to maximize privacy while offering spectacular views of the jungle canopy or Pacific Ocean.
Architectural elements incorporate sustainable materials and traditional craftsmanship, creating spaces that feel both indulgent and connected to the surrounding environment. Studio Rick Joy’s innovative architecture creates villas that blend seamlessly with the natural landscape, each uniquely designed for its specific location. The homes feature glass walls and dynamic view lines that showcase the rolling green mountains and crystal-clear ocean beyond.
Interiors combine contemporary design with natural elements – custom woodwork and earthy tones bring warmth to living spaces. Residents can choose from three curated furniture packages.
Each villa blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors, immersing residents in the surrounding environment. Multiple viewpoints capture hillsides, jungle canopies, ocean vistas, and sunsets, creating a wellness-focused living experience that respects and celebrates the natural beauty of the location rather than reshaping it.
Beyond golf, guests can enjoy a range of exceptional amenities. The world-class spa offers treatments inspired by ancient healing traditions, while multiple dining venues showcase the finest in Mexican and international cuisine. A dedicated kids’ club provides engaging activities for younger guests, and the resort’s beach club offers access to pristine shoreline along with water sports and relaxation areas.
For those seeking adventure, the resort’s location provides the perfect base for exploring the natural wonders of Riviera Nayarit. Activities include guided hikes through the Sierra de Vallejo mountains, horseback riding along secluded beaches, whale watching excursions, and deep-sea fishing trips in the fertile waters of the Pacific.
The Setting: Riviera Nayarit's Natural Splendor
The Mandarina Golf Club benefits from its spectacular location in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, approximately 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. This relatively undiscovered stretch of coastline is characterized by its dramatic topography, where jungle-covered mountains meet pristine beaches and the deep blue waters of the Pacific.
The climate is ideal for year-round golf, with average temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The dry season from November through May offers particularly perfect conditions for golf, with consistently sunny days and comfortable humidity levels.
The property spans over 600 acres of pristine coastal land, featuring multiple microclimates and ecosystems. Ancient tropical forests house hundreds of species of birds and wildlife, while the coastline is dotted with hidden coves and beaches. The developers have taken extraordinary measures to preserve this natural beauty, with buildings carefully positioned to minimize environmental impact and over 80% of the property remaining untouched jungle.
The Mandarina Golf Club represents the convergence of world-class golf, luxury hospitality, and environmental stewardship. Greg Norman’s masterful design takes full advantage of the property’s natural attributes, creating a golf experience that is both challenging and visually spectacular. Combined with the resort’s exceptional accommodations, amenities, and service, it stands as one of the world’s most desirable golf destinations—a place where the game’s timeless appeal meets Mexico’s timeless beauty in perfect harmony.
For the discriminating golf traveler, Mandarina offers something truly extraordinary: a chance to experience Greg Norman’s visionary design philosophy in one of the world’s most spectacular natural settings.
