By Jim & Barbara Nicol
In recent years, road construction has made Puerto Vallarta more accessible.
Now with a population of over 300,000 people, some of the finest beaches in the
world, spectacular fishing and related water activities, it is little wonder it has
become one of the more popular vacation destinations in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta
is accessible from Guadalajara (220 miles), and from Manzanillo (160 miles).
The Marina Vallarta Club de Golf was designed by Joe Finger, a well-known
American architect. It offers spectacular views of the ocean and of Bahia de
Banderas with its many beautiful yachts, sailboats and ocean cruisers. Mr. Finger
brought everything but the proverbial kitchen sink into play on this layout. There
are lagoons, lakes, ponds, palms and waterfalls, and plenty of Mexican sand
cranes. Parring at 71, the course measures 6,641/6,093/5,259 yards. Finger was,
by the way, an architectural golf genius, taking relatively flat ground and turning it
into an interesting and testing golf course.
Something new has been added: designed by Jack Nicklaus a new
championship golf course, parring at 72 and stretching out 6,997 yards, opened
in early 2001. Ranging from gently rolling terrain to rugged arroyos, it offers
spectacular views of Banderos Bay. A second course by Tom Weiskopf - also a
par 72 - is scheduled to open in the latter part of 2001, bringing more adventure
and better golfing to the area. 
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