Nuevo Nayarit, Nayarit. Mexico — 28 de Julio — Golfers looking to take a swing at the best golf destinations in Mexico should look no further than the beautiful state of Nayarit. Blessed with nine world-class golf courses, Nayarit is one of the top destinations in the world for a golf holiday.

Exclusivity and luxury set the tone for the nine golf courses in the state, designed by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Jim Lipe, Percy Clifford, and Robert Von Hagge & Baril. These top-tier golf courses feature spectacular views over the Bay of Banderas and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the beautiful beaches and mountain rainforests of the Sierra Madres.

Golfers of all levels can explore the three Vidanta golf courses in Nuevo Nayarit. Surrounded by a lush jungle and the Sierra Madres mountains, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Course in Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta is a masterpiece. It features seven lakes, 49 sand traps, and golfers are kept cool by an ever-present ocean breeze. What’s more, to improve your golf game, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy offers an unprecedented level of instruction, aided by the latest in technology.

Also at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, the Greg Norman Golf Course stretches along the banks of the Ameca River, providing beautiful mountain views from each hole. The course features indigenous trees, undulating greens, and lush jungle. The course is also home to the longest golf cart suspension bridge in the world, stretching over the Ameca River from Nayarit into neighboring Jalisco.

Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta’s final course is The Lakes Golf Course, the newest addition to the Riviera Nayarit’s golf offering and designed by the Jack Nicklaus Design Group. This 10-hole course is nestled in a small valley and offers beautiful views of the resort, providing s a stadium-like atmosphere for spectators and passers-by.

But golfers do not have to stay within the Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta complex to enjoy all the golf that Nayarit has to offer. In Nuevo Nayarit, the Tigre Golf & Country Club at Paradise Village is a challenging course for professional golfers and has hosted tours like the Canadian Tour and the Future Tour. The course features 12 lakes and three beach-type sand traps. Tip: The 421-yard, par-4 16th hole is a long dogleg right that will test your long swing.

Flamingos Golf Course is a welcoming golf course for players of all levels. The course is unique to others in the region thanks to its tropical jungle, rolling hills, lagoons, and mangroves. In fact, this is one of the best golf courses in Nayarit for nature lovers. It also happens to be one of the longest-running courses in Nayarit, having been opened in 1970 and serving as the cornerstone for the development of Nuevo Nayarit.

Travelers staying in the luxury enclave of Punta Mita will have their pick of golf courses, as well. The Fig Tree Golf Club in Litibu is a Greg Noman-designed course with seven links-style holes, as well as an additional eight forested holes, and two signature holes on the beachfront.

In the village of Punta de Mita, the Punta Mita Pacific course is one of the most exclusive in Nayarit. It sits within a gated community and is spread over 200 acres with magnificent ocean views from every hole, wide fairways, and extensive greens. It’s one of the original golf courses in the region, opened in 1999, and is widely considered to be one of the best courses in all of Mexico. It is only available to residents, club members, and guests within the development.

The second Jack Nicklaus-designed course to open in Punta Mita is Punta Mita Bay. The layout includes five holes — four of which have ocean views, which is perfect during humpback whale season. This club is also only open to members, residents, and hotel guests within the development.

And for pro golfers exploring Nayarit beyond the beaches, the Nayar Country Club in Tepic is perfect for those looking for a major challenge. Tucked at the foothills of the majestic San Juan Hill in Tepic, the course is a winding 2,932 yards with a terrain full of imposing ravines and narrow fairways.

As a bonus, Riviera Nayarit has another two nine-hole practice courses, which are open seasonally. The first is Las Huertas Golf Course in San Francisco, surrounded by lush gardens and fruit orchards. The second is the Ensueño Golf Course in El Monteón, between Sayulita and Rincon de Guayabitos.

Golfers can outfit themselves with the latest gear and clothing at the many pro shops within the state, as well. The Vidanta Pro Shop, located in the Grand Luxe Residence Tower of Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, offers golf clubs for purchase or rental, including the TaylorMade M1 series and Aero Burners.

The El Tigre Club House and Pro Shop has all the top-of-the-line name brands to outfit your time, like Tommy Hilfiger, Ashworth, Polo, and more. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful golf ClubHouses in Mexico. Both the Flamingos and Litibu Golf Courses have Pro Shops, a putting green, and golf clinics, while the Punta Mita development has a Pro Shop of the Bay and Pacific Courses.