Thomas L. Lloyd, mazatlan Broker By Thomas L. Lloyd
2011-09-01

When golf first appeared in Mexico's beachfront communities, there might have been a suspicion that it was little more than a distraction for tourists, a little extra to hold golfers over until they got back home, or allow those not serious about golf to dabble with the sport.

The past half-decade has proven that this is anything but the truth. The game itself, along with Mexico golf course real estate, has emerged as one of the defining factors in the lifestyle culture in a handful of areas.  It has become clear that golf is not just a distraction, but can be one of the primary reasons for choosing to live in Mexico.  Mexico boasts courses created by designers like Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price and Robert Von Hagge, to name only a few.

This is also true of the lifestyle.  Real estate surrounding the courses is top quality, offering a luxury lifestyle in the comfort of well-designed homes and condos.  The communities are very green, upscale and exclusive, with features such as 24-hour security, bike trails and bird sanctuaries.  Golf is not just a game in these communities; it is the central feature, and an integral part of the lifestyle and luxury which residents enjoy.

The area which has been leading the way in Mexico's emerging golf culture is Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, stretching from Cancun down past Playa del Carmen to Tulum.  The area includes 9 professionally designed courses (boasting all the names mentioned above), with one more excellent course a 45-minute ferry ride away on the island of Cozumel.

The area has been named Latin America's Golf Capital; not only does it offer an excellent selection of courses, but it is home to Latin America's first PGA event, the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Playa del Carmen golf course real estate is as excellent as the game itself.  Beautiful condos, homes and lots offer buyers not only the chance to live with views of these superb courses, but also to enjoy the warm-weather, beachfront lifestyle for which Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya have become famous.

Other areas with a growing culture of an excellent golf and real estate combination include La Paz, Puerto Vallarta and Merida.

Here we will consider a few of the prime golf course real estate options within the Riviera Maya.

 

Grand Coral – Golf, Luxury Condos & Comfortable, Resort Lifestyle

Grand Coral is the largest resort and real estate investment project on the Riviera Maya, with an area of 227 acres, and a beachfront spanning a full 2,500 linear feet.  The master plan includes 49 lots for development, starting at just under 110,000 sq. ft, or 10,000 m2, for residential, tourism and commercial development.

The course itself features 18 holes, and was designed by golf legend Nick Price, who has won 45 professional tournaments; among these are 18 PGA tours and the British Open.  The construction of the course was recently completed at the end of 2010.

Nick Price designed the course to bring out the best of the area's splendid nature, offering a challenging game of golf, while conserving the environment.  The course has been designed to use minimal water, with a paspalum grass, which tolerates the salt of the area's natural water supply; for this reason, there is no need for fresh water use.  The source for watering the greens is a series of lakes, covering an area of over 17 acres, holding over 35 million gallons of water.  The course was designed in consultation with a study carried out by a team including the Grand Coral Master Developer, environment and wildlife consultants, biologists and civil engineers.

Another very important feature of the course is that it's literally steps away from the beautiful, wide, sandy beaches of the Caribbean – also an important attraction for the condos being sold on this course.

 

Grand Coral Real Estate

Riviera Maya golf course real estate within the Grand Coral development lives up to the quality of Nick Price's course.  Two very attractive options which buyers may consider are the Nick Price Residence and Mareazul.

The Nick Price Residence is currently under construction, and is being sold in the preconstruction phase.  This condo complex was designed by Nick Price as part of the course development, with excellent views onto the course itself.


The completed project will include 3 buildings with 4 stories each, and a total of 123 condominium units. 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units are available.

The development includes a Club House with a gym, spa, bars, restaurants, tennis courts and more.  Owners are also given access to a beach club within very short walking distance, which is located on one of Playa del Carmen's most beautiful beaches.

Mareazul is another luxury condo complex, which is currently nearing completion.  It is located directly on the beachfront.  The 4-story condo buildings include a total of 300 units, each overlooking a very large common area with views of the beach and Caribbean Sea beyond. The common area includes an infinity pool with an area over 32,000 sq. ft., shaded lounge areas, Zen and Mayan Gardens and a club house.  The complex itself offers over 650 sq. ft. of the Caribbean's white sand.  Mareazul also presents buyers with a guaranteed vacation rental program.

An aspect which both developments share is that the resort complex will preserve 75% of its original nature with green spaces, lakes and conservation areas.  Grand Coral is located just 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport, Mexico's second busiest, offering direct flights to all major North American locations at excellent prices.

While these are some of the finest condos to be bought, buyers can look forward to more excellent options appearing in the near future.

Playcar Spa & Golf Club

Playacar Spa & Golf Club likewise offers a superb combination of an excellent golf course and high quality real estate.  The course is among the best and most challenging not only in the area but also world-wide.  It is an 18-hole championship golf course designed and built by Robert Von Hagge, who is known for the quality of his courses throughout the world.  It is 12 par, and 7.144 yards, blending with the surrounding lush, green subtropical jungle of the Yucatan.

Playacar's Golf Real Estate Options

Playacar is the most exclusive neighborhood in Playa del Carmen, located just south of downtown, or 45 minutes from the Cancun International Airport.   It is the area's original upscale gated community, and has been designed around its spectacular golf course.   The community's roads are lined with tall trees which shade the bike trails and relaxing green spaces, complementing the visual appeal of the homes and condos.

While all homes are within walking distance of the central golf course, a number of luxury condos, patio homes and single lot homes are available directly overlooking the fairways.  Playacar is known for the high quality of its homes and condos, as well as the stability of the values.

Playacar also includes Mayan ruins, as well as a bird sanctuary.  The main downtown shopping, dining and nightlife district, Fifth Avenue, is within walking distance of much of the community, and a very short drive on well planned access roads from the rest.  The same is true of downtown's very wide beaches.

Puerto Aventuras Golf Course Lots

Another excellent in Riviera Maya golf course real estate is the new section of the golf course in Puerto Aventuras.  Puerto Aventuras is a gated marina community, with a full set of conveniences and services.

Puerto Aventuras is considered to be the most comprehensive marina community on the Yucatan Peninsula.  As a gated community, it provides privacy, minimal traffic and quiet relaxation.  On the other hand, Puerto Aventuras is like a town in itself.   It offers residents all services needed on a day to day basis, including small shops, a mall, restaurants, gardens, parks, a museum, a church, a gymnasium, a spa, a hospital and a school which is considered one of the best in the Riviera Maya.  The community includes 2 miles of beaches.  This is all in addition to the three marinas, each offering full service.

Of course, part of the attraction and completeness of the community is the golf course.  The course currently includes 9 holes at 36 par, designed by golf champion Tom Lehman.

Currently another 9 holes are under construction.  While many excellent condos and homes are available in Puerto Aventuras with views of the sea and the marina, some of the most exciting real estate opportunities are the lots available on the new golf course, which will not only be overlooking the new fairways, but are also very close to all of Puerto Aventuras' amenities.  This combination of golf, marina and complete services in one small, comfortable gated community is rare, especially at the prices being asked for these lots.

Conclusion

Buyers interested in golf course real estate in Mexico will find also find further excellent options on the Riviera Maya, not to mention other locations, such as La Paz or Puerto Vallarta.  Golf in Mexico's expat communities has clearly showed that its status is not simply an amusement for tourists, but rather that it has clear potential to be a primary motivation to visit and even live in Mexico.

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Region:  Mazatlan real estate Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. A Mexican Certified Realtor he is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546.

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