Mexico is a popular tourist destination, but should It be on your golf trip bucket list of places to go? I certainly think so.
I was fortunate enough to head over to Mexico and experience a course like no other – El Tamarindo. The ‘Jurassic Park’-like course has to be up there with some of the world’s most incredible courses with thick jungle and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
It’s part of the Four Seasons Tamarindo resort and is located just north of Manzanillo on the west coast of the country.
El Tamarindo
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Just a short golf cart ride from the lobby of the Four Seasons resort and you find yourself at the clubhouse of the golf course – in the middle of the jungle.
The course itself was opened in 1995 and designed by golf architect, David Fleming. The design of the course guides you through the lush jungle and along the Pacific coast.
It plays as a par 72 at 6,682 yards and whilst it’s tricky, there are definitely some opportunities out there to make some low scores.
When you play the course you will notice two types of grass are used, Zoysia grass for the fairways and Bermuda grass for the greens. If you are not used to Bermuda greens, you have to take into account the direction in which the grass has been cut, aka the ‘grain’, as this can have an effect on your putt.
The advice from the course professionals is to take a cart, so this is what I did and riding around the layout you can understand why, from the vast changes in elevation to the distance between greens and tee boxes, you would be out there for a while if you braved walking it.
The golf management team make sure to get you teeing off with no one pressuring you from behind or slowing you down from in front to make it truly feel like it is your own private course.
(Image credit: Monty McPhee)
From the moment you arrive at the Four Seasons Tamarindo, the staff will offer to take your clubs and drop them off at the clubhouse for you where they can remain until your round.
If you plan on playing multiple rounds you can even leave them there for the duration of your stay. I played two rounds and this is what I opted to do, it’s something less to think about.
If you fancy a round but don’t have your own clubs with you, do not worry, El Tamarindo have 40 sets of the Taylormade Stealth clubs for you to choose from.
Before you tee off you…
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