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Harris Nepon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« on: January 10, 2011, 10:01:34 AM »
Wondering if anyone has played this course? I’m heading to the Riviera Maya in early February and the hotel I'm staying at offers to play this course. I've done a little reading on the area (just booked trip yesterday so haven't had much time to research) and seems like a lot of courses have been built in the area.

Are there any “must play” courses in the Cancun/Mayan area? I'll get minimum 1 day to play golf, maybe 2 if I really push it.

Recommendations are appreciated.  Thanks in advance.


Harris Nepon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2011, 10:10:56 AM »
El Camaleón Mayakobá, Greg Norman,

$250 fee to play. Is this worth it?
 


J Sadowsky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2011, 11:41:17 AM »
Wondering if anyone has played this course? I’m heading to the Riviera Maya in early February and the hotel I'm staying at offers to play this course. I've done a little reading on the area (just booked trip yesterday so haven't had much time to research) and seems like a lot of courses have been built in the area.

Are there any “must play” courses in the Cancun/Mayan area? I'll get minimum 1 day to play golf, maybe 2 if I really push it.

Recommendations are appreciated.  Thanks in advance.



I stayed at the hotel for my wedding and played the course 5 times.  It's a rather nice course, challenging, with interesting greens, though walking is impossible.  There are also no "ocean views," so if you are looking for that, this is the wrong place.  Plus, be prepared to lose some balls.  The course takes an "all-inclusive" attitude, so if your game blows up, getting drunk is free.

Holes to note:  3 is a nice short par 3 that forces you to lay up, some people don't like those but it rewards you for going as close as possible to the trouble by an easier angle.  There are several "bears" for people who can't hit long (even from the right tees), and 8 is a fun one - downhill drive and then uphill approach shot, which will likely be blind.  9 has a really fun green.  11 has a pond which challenges how much you want to take on, including going over the pond if you are a really big hitter.  The front is probably more fun than the back. 


PS - here's the yardage book:  http://www.iberostar.com/EN/pdf/yardage_book.pdf

« Last Edit: January 10, 2011, 11:46:44 AM by Justin Sadowsky »

Joel Zuckerman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2011, 12:12:31 PM »
Harris,

Here's a story I did on Mayakoba a few years back, if you are interested:

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/story/10007762

I also have a chapter in my Pete Dye Book on Playa Paraiso.  If you want to see the chapter then send me an IM

J Sadowsky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2011, 02:47:26 PM »
One other thing: the course ranked #17 in Golfweek's best courses in Carribean and Mexico.  Mayakoba (#12) was the only Riviera Maya course ahead of it.  Others in the area:  Moon Spa #28 and Playacar #38.

Harris Nepon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2011, 05:20:46 PM »
thanks a lot for the input guys. Very much appreciated. Think i'll definitly play the paraiso as it's free, and see about myakoba.

Yannick Pilon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2011, 06:20:56 PM »
I have done a bit of research on the area recently but nothing seems really interesting, including Mayacoba.  Playa Paraiso appears to be more interesting.

I am surprised that nobody on here has commented on Mayacoba....

Comments, anyone?

YP
www.yannickpilongolf.com - Golf Course Architecture, Quebec, Canada

Yannick Pilon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2011, 06:27:24 PM »
Joel,

Well done on that chapter in your book, which was quick and entertaining.

Makes me look forward to actually playing it next week while I'll be down there!

YP
www.yannickpilongolf.com - Golf Course Architecture, Quebec, Canada

Carl Nichols

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Playa Paraiso, P.B. Dye
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2011, 11:23:08 PM »
Played Mayakoba at their twilight rate a few years ago. We were the first off after twilight started, so we finished easily. I thought it had some very good holes, and though squeezing in two par threes next to the water felt completely contrived, it was otherwise well done. The cenotes (caves or sinkholes) throughout the course were kinda cool.

Didn't play Paraiso so can't compare them.