Bathed by the spectacular Mexican Caribbean of the Riviera Maya, festooned by canals and lagoons of crystalline waters, sheltered by tropical jungle and prominent mangroves, stands majestically one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world: El Camaleón Mayakoba.
This course designed by one of the greatest golf stars of all time, Greg Norman, is extraordinary not only for its beauty, quality and natural surroundings, but also for having been the first to host a US PGA Tour tournament outside the United States or Canada. It was 2007, just one year after the inauguration of the course, and Fred Funk was proclaimed winner of the first edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. The reigning champion of this American Tour competition played in this spectacular setting of the Riviera Maya is Matt Kuchar, who beat Danny Lee by one stroke last year. The tournament is played in November, brings together the crème de la crème of world golf and distributes more than seven million dollars in prizes.
“Obviously,” says the Great White Shark about his masterful Mexican creation, “I love the positive comments and seeing my work on the international stage, but I don’t design a course for a one-week-a-year tournament where the pros play. However, I must admit that it is a testament to my design philosophy when the best in the sport openly praise one of my courses – it’s the seal of approval for a job well done!”
Located just 30 minutes from the Cancun airport and 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen, Mayakoba is an ecological resort surrounded by the natural beauty of its lagoons, pools and beaches. In addition to El Camaleón Golf Course, the resort is home to four luxury hotels, each with its own beach club, as well as several residential properties.
From its inception, Mayakoba was conceived as an unparalleled resort. The design consisted of preserving the existing geography to enhance, without replacing it, the splendid natural environment that surrounds it.
El Camaleón, a par 72 of 6,422 meters, extends over three distinct environments: tropical jungle, dense mangroves and sandy areas on the seashore whose holes are separated by huge limestone canals. The design incorporates a cenote -a huge, ancient cavern typical of the region- in the heart of the 506-meter par-5 1st fairway, and there is another one next to the green of the next hole, a 138-meter par-3.
The constantly changing views, cenotes, crystal clear lagoons, mangroves, jungle and the Mexican Caribbean frame the perfect setting for an experience that can be enjoyed by golfers of all levels. And this is not the hackneyed phrase used by practically all golf courses, but in this case it is completely true, since, thanks among other things to the five tees, the holes are very versatile and adapt perfectly to the needs and challenges of both an experienced player and a beginner.
The ocean side of the field is part of a vast mangrove wetland system with minimal undulation. The holes in the upper zone are undulating and rocky. The design details are spectacular and the cenotes create dangerous and unusual landing areas. This, along with its excellent maintenance and presentation, make it a first class course.
El Camaleón has the only Jim McLean Golf School in Mexico, with cameras for swing analysis with JC Video System and the best certified instructors. In addition, its restaurant Koba, gives the final touch to an unforgettable day of golf with a delicious concept based on fresh, local and high quality products.
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IN SHORT
THE PRICE OF QUALITY. The high season at El Camaleón runs from November 1 to May 31, with the rest of the year considered low season. Prices in high season range from $239 to $329, depending on departure time, and include buggy, practice balls and transportation to the hotel.
THE HOLE WITH THE BEST VIEWS. The best views at El Camaleón Mayakoba can be seen from the 15th hole. A raised green offers an exceptional panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea, with the island of Cozumel on the horizon, and the coastline of what is considered the best stretch of beach in the entire Riviera Maya: Maroma.
A RECORD TURNAROUND. The course record is set at 61 strokes (11 under par), which Roland Thatcher shot on February 23, 2008 during the second edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the first US PGA Tour tournament to be played outside the United States and Canada.
.CITY ON THE WATER
Mayakoba, which means “city on the water” in the Mayan language, has ten kilometers of crystal-clear freshwater canals connecting Greg Norman’s masterpiece, El Camaleón Golf Course, with four luxury hotels: Fairmont, Banyan Tree, Rosewood and Andaz. There are also private residences. Resort hotel guests and homeowners enjoy preferential rates at El Camaleón.
Nestled in front of the second largest coral reef in the world, the Mayakoba Eco-Friendly Resort is Rain Forest Alliance Verified and Audubon International Certified, and has also won the UNWTO Ulysses UWTO Award for its commitment to the environment.
The Andaz Mayakoba is surrounded by tranquil lagoons and lush vegetation with winding nature trails. Its 214 guest rooms and suites are inspired by nature with natural designs. open, flooded with natural light and with refined artisanal decoration. Local artwork adorns the walls, and decorative tiles dress the floors.
The jewel of the Riviera Maya is the Banyan Tree Mayakoba. A sanctuary for the senses where ancient civilizations embrace and where the passionate nature of Mexico is soothed by the gentle touch of the Far East. It features 121 private villas with pools.
Known as the “Venice of the Caribbean,” most of the Fairmont Mayakoba’s 401 rooms and suites feature private entrances, spa-like bathrooms and furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the rainforest, manicured gardens or Caribbean Sea.
Surrounded by emerald jungle and spectacular white beaches and turquoise waters, Rosewood Mayakoba defines a private world of exceptional luxury and refined beauty. Inspired by Mayan traditions and designed to combine harmony with natural landscapes, is a luxury oasis offering 130 suites with private pools.
Set on 240 acres of tropical jungle and mangroves bordering the white-sand beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, Mayakoba’s natural beauty is the inspiration for the Riviera Maya’s most exclusive and private homes. Mayakoba Residences is a celebration of immersive luxury nature with an unparalleled collection of residences (Banyan Tree, Fairmont and Rosewood) that offer an individual vision for guests to experience. Mayakoba Residences owners enjoy preferred rates and benefits at El Camaleón golf course.
.The GREAT WHITE SHARK
Arguably, El Camaleón’s designer, Greg Norman, is known as much for his entrepreneurial spirit in the boardroom as he is for his dominance on the golf course. The famous “Great White Shark” won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including two Open Championships, and held the number one world golf ranking for 331 weeks.
Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) is recognized as one of the world’s leading exclusive golf course design firms, with more than 100 courses open in 34 countries and six continents, and many have won prestigious design awards.
Norman’s experience playing many of the world’s best courses over a 25-year career served as a catalyst for developing his interest in golf course design. Because each design bears his name, he is personally involved in every step of the design process, from touring the virgin site to the planning and complete construction of the course.
Noted for its environmental stewardship, Norman’s “least disturbance” design philosophy creates golf courses that enhance the surrounding environment and highlight the natural features of each property. “We believe,” Norman says, “that we have a responsibility to our clients, to the communities and to the environment in which we are present, which means sustainability is the only acceptable model for our business.”
“We take seriously the legacy we create when designing and developing each golf course. At GNGCD, we are committed to building lasting relationships with our clients and making a global impact by creating golf courses that stand the test of time.”
David López Monar, Director of El Camaleón: “The field with the most transcendence and history in Latin America”.
He is – quite rightly – proud to lead this extraordinary golf course. David Lopez Monar has held the position since September 2017 and was previously director of instruction at the Jim Mclean Golf School at Mayakoba and director of golf at Club Campestre Tampico.
-In your opinion, what are the characteristics that best define El Camaleón?
-El Camaleón is constantly changing. This golf course goes around three different scenarios: the tropical jungle, the mangroves and the amazing coastal straits intertwined with canals surrounded by solid limestone.
-Which hole or holes would stand out from the course and why?
-Hole 1 is unique in the world. About 270 meters from the professional tee you will find an impressive cenote (water cave) in the middle of the fairway. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful holes I have ever seen. Our 15th hole is also a gem: nothing like a par 3 with the Mexican Caribbean on one side.
-What does it mean for the course to have been the first venue for a US PGA Tour tournament deputized outside the United States and Canada?
-A lot and not only have we hosted 12 PGA tours, which is saying something, we were also the host course for the 2015 World Amateur Championship and the 2015 World Amateur Championship. In 2020 we will be the host course for the Latin America Championship, where the winner gets a ticket to the Masters. Undoubtedly, the course with more transcendence and history in Latin America.
-The Riviera Maya and all of Mexico have great golf courses. Where would you rank El Camaleón in a hypothetical ranking?
-At number 1: I couldn’t think of another one.
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