7 Best Golf Courses in Playa del Carmen

The brainchild of Australian golfing icon Greg Norman, El Camaleón Mayakoba is an 18-hole masterpiece. It’s home to the Mayakoba Golf Classic: the first PGA tour held outside of North America. Distinguished by its idiosyncratic water features, including Audubon-certified cenotes, and 5 tee marks at every hole, the course is bordered by verdant jungle, palm-fringed beaches, and dense mangrove wetlands.

Spend the day here playing an exhilarating game before shopping logoed merch in the on-site pro shop or dining in the Koba Club House restaurant with its panoramic views of the finishing hole. Make sure you try delectable dishes like flank steak quesadillas, Caribbean salmon, and juicy rib eye steak with truffle potatoes.

Designed by Zimbabwean PGA-winner Nick Price, Gran Coyote Golf boasts an 18-hole, par 71 layout that’s surrounded by lush Riviera Maya jungle. This epic course is peppered with a range of enthralling hazards including acres of sparkling lakes and uniquely shaped sand bunkers, as well as being hit with challenging winds that coast in off the ocean.

Situated just moments from Costa Beach Club, Gran Coyote is elevated with a pro shop that sells all the latest branded apparel while offering tactical lessons from seasoned golfers like Gerardo Larraza and Ramón Ascencio. If you're feeling famished after the game, grab a bite to eat at the Coyote Grill, which dishes up American-style sandwiches and Mexican tacos.

Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club was designed by renowned American golf course architect P.B Dye, who carved this 18-hole beauty out of a tangle of Yucatan jungle. This competition-level course showcases a multitude of hazards across its impeccably-kept landscapes including deep pits and bunkers, beautiful but treacherous water features, and distinctly narrow fairways.

Home of prestigious events like Bupa Match Play: PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and the World Amateur Team Championships, Iberostar Playa Paraiso delivers a top-tier golfing experience with its zippy buggies, scrumptious appetizers, and unlimited beverages throughout the game. Its adjoining resort features a tantalizing array of restaurants where you can enjoy a fabulous gourmet dinner. Order the Teppanyaki Hashiru or try the El Faro Buffet.

Hard Rock Campo de Golf is part of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Resort, located just minutes from Playa’s bustling downtown and the golden miles of Playacar Beach. This 18-hole championship course, designed by American architect Robert von Hagge, is famed for its rippling fairways, tactical bunkers, and magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea.

Teeming with native flora and fauna and surrounded by ancient Mayan ruins, Hard Rock Campo de Golf boasts a well-stocked clubhouse serving tasty meals and ice-cold drinks, while the greater resort offers experiential dining across a range of gastro restaurants. Head to Frida for à la carte Mexican fare, or reserve a table at Toro for premium cuts of steak.

PGA Riviera Maya is Tulum’s only golf course and a 27-hole opus that woos players with its Mayan jungle setting, expansive blue-green lakes, shimmering cenote lagoons. The layout was designed by acclaimed architect Robert Trent Jones II. Split into 2 distinct courses, this remarkable complex was the very first to partner with the PGA in Latin America, ensuring a world-class golfing experience every time you visit. 

PGA Riveria Maya has been deftly sculpted from a limestone quarry, resulting in a course that features plenty of natural contours and troublesome bunkers that will give even a seasoned pro a run for their money. After the game, visit the clubhouse for a swim in its pool and a sumptuous meal. 

Set in the luxurious Vidanta Riviera Resort, the Nicklaus Design Golf Course is a visually spectacular 18-hole must-play. It’s known for its sugar-white sand bunkers, Bermuda grass fairways, and sneaky coastal breezes that crest in from the Caribbean. Conceived by "Golden Bear" Jack Nickalus, widely considered one of the world's greatest golfers, the layout takes its cue from the designs of the 1950s.

When you're not attempting that dream hole-in-one, hit the Green Break Restaurant for a hefty feast in its rustic-chic interior, which features an exotic thatched ceiling and buffet-style countertops. Make sure you sample traditional Mexican dishes like cheesy nachos with homemade guacamole and spicy jalapenos, or shrimp and octopus aguachile accompanied by baked corn tortillas.

It may be more compact than its competitors but Puerto Aventuras Golf Club holds its own as a scenic 9-hole, par 36 course that’s surrounded by exotic flora and fauna. This underrated venue was designed by Thomas Leman, the only golfer in history to have been awarded Player of the Year on all 3 PGA Tours, sometime back in the early 90s.

Wend your way across fairways dotted with colorful rockeries, cascading bougainvillea flowers, swaying palm trees, and basking iguanas. Puerto Aventuras is also elevated with a picturesque practice area, where you can perfect your golf swing and a driving range academy that offers outstanding private lessons. Reserve tee times well in advance to secure your spot.