Golf in Cancun means jungle on one side and, on a few holes, the ocean on the other. Most courses here are 18-hole layouts, and several carry big names. Jack Nicklaus designed Riviera Cancun, and he is also behind the Moon Palace Club Golf course. Greg Norman designed Playa Mujeres Golf Club. You get fairways cut through tropical growth, sand traps, water hazards, and the odd crocodile.
The sport suits visitors who want a morning outside the pool routine. It works for keen golfers who travel with a bag, and for casual players who just want to try a round. You do not need a resort stay or a membership at most of these places. El Tinto Golf Course is a clear example, as it takes visitors with no resort tie. The courses range from a rough natural layout to polished championship ground, so there is something for most budgets.
To choose, start with what you want from the day. For ocean views, look at Riviera Cancun and Golf Puerto Cancun, which both have holes beside the sea. For the lowest cost, look at Pok Ta Pok, Playa Mujeres Golf Club after 13:00, and El Tinto Golf Course. For manicured greens and a long day, Moon Palace Club Golf has 27 holes. Early starts are popular, so the opening hour matters as much as the price.
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El Tinto Golf Course
El Tinto is an 18-hole jungle course on highway MEX 307, and it is one of the least expensive in the region. The course itself is well maintained. The rental equipment and carts are a bit worn and about due for an upgrade. It is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00, and it suits visitors who have no resort link and want a simple, good-value round.
- Address: MEX 307, Km 388
- Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00
Riviera Cancun
Riviera Cancun is a modern seaside 18-hole jungle course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Holes 14 and 15 are played right next to the ocean, so save your camera for those. There is a putting green, a club house and other amenities on site. A round costs US$186-236, and the course opens daily at 06:30 until 17:00, which allows an early start. You will find it on Blvd. Kukulcan in the Zona Hotelera.
- Address: Blvd. Kukulcan 25.3, Zona Hotelera
- Hours: Daily 06:30 – 17:00
- Price: US$186-236
Iberostar Cancun Golf Club
Iberostar is a resort course that is a bit older but well maintained. The rental clubs and carts show their age. The clubhouse serves a nice breakfast, which helps if you start early. A couple of crocodiles live along the course. They have eaten very few golfers lately, so leave them alone and they will return the favor. A round costs US$190, and the club is open daily from 06:00 to 19:00 on Blvd. Kukulcan in the Zona Hotelera.
- Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 17, Zona Hotelera
- Hours: Daily 06:00 – 19:00
- Price: US$190
Golf Puerto Cancun
Golf Puerto Cancun is a well kept course with a number of water and sand traps. Holes 13 and 14 sit beside the ocean and usually have quite a bit of wind, which can mess with your shots. Early morning is the best time, with cooler air, but it is also the busiest, so expect crowds. It is open daily from 07:00 to 23:00 and costs US$160 plus club rental. The course is in the Zona Hotelera.
- Address: Av. Bonampak Lote 10, int. 1 Smza.2, Puerto Acapulco S/N, Zona Hotelera
- Hours: Daily 07:00 – 23:00
- Price: US$160 + club rental
Playa Mujeres Golf Club
Playa Mujeres is a resort course designed by Greg Norman. The fairways are beautiful, but the greens have some rough conditions. Some holes are very difficult, and the rough is mostly swamp, so expect to lose balls if you slice. Food, drink and service are good, and the club will pick you up at your hotel if you ask. It is open daily from 07:00 to 19:00. It costs US$140 before 13:00 and US$100 after 13:00, plus rentals.
- Address: Prol. Bonampak, Carr. a Punta Sam s/n
- Hours: Daily 07:00 – 19:00
- Price: US$140 before 13:00, US$100 after 13:00 + rentals
Pok Ta Pok
Pok Ta Pok is a natural golf course, and it is not well manicured. The rental equipment is older. Those facts make it a relaxed choice for players who care more about getting out than about perfect turf. A round costs US$90, which is the lowest price listed here. It is open daily from 07:00 to 18:30 on Kukulcan Boulevard in the Zona Hotelera.
- Address: Pok-ta-pok 29, Kukulcan Boulevard, Zona Hotelera
- Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:30
- Price: US$90
Moon Palace Club Golf
Moon Palace Club Golf is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course with 27 holes. The settings mix jungle and beach, so the round changes character as you play. Fairways and greens are manicured. Drinks are available every 2-3 holes, which is handy on a long morning. It opens daily from 06:30 to 18:00 and costs US$190+. You will find it on MEX-307, the Cancun-Chetumal road.
- Address: MEX-307 (Carretera Cancun-Chetumal) Km. 340
- Hours: Daily 06:30 – 18:00
- Price: US$190+
Planning
Plan around the hours. Iberostar Cancun Golf Club opens at 06:00. Riviera Cancun and Moon Palace Club Golf open at 06:30. Golf Puerto Cancun stays open until 23:00, which gives you the latest finish of the group. Playa Mujeres Golf Club drops its price after 13:00, so an afternoon round there costs US$100 instead of US$140. Remember that Golf Puerto Cancun and Playa Mujeres list rentals as an extra.
Golf fits well into a day with other sights. After an early round at Iberostar Cancun Golf Club, you can visit El Rey Archaeological Zone in the Hotel Zone. The Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito make a natural second stop on the same theme. If you play Golf Puerto Cancun, the Skywheel Cancun is a fitting finish for the evening. At Iberostar, keep your distance from the crocodiles along the course.
See all things to do in Cancun.