Where in the World Is Cori Brett?
November/December 2012
Nayar #13
New to the timeshare experience, I cringed when the bright yellow band was snapped onto my wrist. Soon I realized its awesome power. One flash of the wrist band and I could charge anything, anywhere on the resort grounds – even a round of golf. Press my wrist against the keypad and presto – the guest room door opened.
We checked into the Nuevo Vallarta Mayan Resort for a week of golf and sun. It’s a dazzling seaside mega-resort consisting of four timeshare resorts in a self-contained tropical paradise. There’s a great selection of restaurants, infinity-edge pools and water-park fun, gorgeous spas and recreational activities. A long stretch of shell-strewn beach is made for beachcombing. Nuevo Vallarta is a planned residential-resort community located some 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. It’s a booming area that keeps on growing.
The Mayan is so big that a fleet of open-air shuttles runs constantly to transport guests around the property. We liked strolling along the interconnected walking paths, stopping whenever we felt like it. But there’s always a shuttle when you need one. The golf shop happens to be one of the main stops on the shuttle route, although the Nayar Course itself is away from the hustle and bustle.
Golf General Manager Jesus Torres took us out to the practice range, a huge area lit at night and located at the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf. With the Sierra Madre Mountains for a scenic backdrop, it’s a serene setting perfect for focusing on your swing. Academy Director Bruce Summerhays, Jr., proudly showed us the brand-new facility. Coaching studios are climate-controlled. I liked his teaching philosophy that “one swing does not fit all.” Lessons are tailored to what an individual’s body is able to perform. For some of us, a full shoulder turn is just not in the cards.
I was excited to play the Nayar Course, which recently reopened after an extensive renovation by Nicklaus Design. It exceeded my expectations in beauty and in playability. A profusion of colorful native flowers and trees add to the lush jungle feel of fairways along the Ameca River. The course design suited our foursome of varying skill levels. Fairways were wide and straightforward. Lakes were an expected hazard, but they didn’t really come into play from the more forward tees. Our low handicappers found Nayar fun yet challenging too, especially holes #13 through #16, as fairways narrowed between a large lake and desert waste area.
Nayar #15
The course plays from 6,688 yards to 4,876 yards, with four tee boxes. Unfortunately, it’s not rated, so we couldn’t post. Since a second golf course and a new clubhouse are in the works, more changes are coming and Nayar could be re-routed.
El Tigre Golf and Country Club provided an enjoyable second round of golf. It’s a short taxi ride away, just up the beach actually, at another timeshare property called Paradise Village. We drove under massive stone archways to reach the beautiful white clubhouse with red tile roof. Elegant villas surround the manicured golf course. It’s a country club experience all the way.
The course is immaculately maintained and beautifully landscaped, although there’s hardly a straight fairway – lots of doglegs and blind shots. Several of the greens jut into water hazards, and it’s hard to hold the surface. I especially remember hole #6, a par-3 with an island green, for that reason. El Tigre has six tee boxes, with two rated for women. It ranges from 7,239 yards to 5,159 yards. Nayar and El Tigre make a great combination. El Tigre is more difficult, and I’m glad we warmed up at Nayar.
The only day we left the resort was to go into Puerto Vallarta. We loved walking the cobblestone streets along quaint restaurants and shops, and browsing the art show in the historic central plaza. One-dollar margaritas were plentiful. After dark, the “Malecon,” or boardwalk, came alive with sidewalk entertainers and vendors. One young man had the boring task of holding a hair dryer over skewers of grilled shrimp.
When it came time to leave the Mayan Resort, I was sorry to say goodbye to the yellow wrist band. It made life so easy! Actually the entire week was easy, thanks to John Jameson and the folks at Mayan Rental. They put together just the right golf vacation package for us.
“Escape with Cori” on assignment to exotic and fun golf destinations. First-hand impressions from an experienced golf travel writer and AWGA member. www.coribrett.com. Copyright Cori Brett 2013 – do not copy or cite in whole or in part without permission.
