Vista Vallarta Nicklaus is a beautiful course, melded into the foothills of the Sierra Madres Mountains, offers breathtaking views. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course opened April 2001.

Shortly after the Jack Nicklaus at Vista Vallarta Golf Club opened in early 2001, it was chosen to host the 2002 EMC World Golf Championships.Now it is one of the first choices of courses to play when visitors arrive. They all want to play the course the pros played. It doesn’t hurt that the course is pushed up against the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains with its highest holes serving up stunning views of the Bay of Banderas. The 7,073-yard, par-72 course will make you think, especially on the greens. In typical Nicklaus style, this course has generous driving areas, but the greens have more undulations than some tricked-up miniature golf courses. All are well guarded and bunkered, putting a premium on the approach shots. The holes themselves are well-conceived: Nicklaus chose to work with the natural contours of the former ranchland, which means the holes have more individuality and character than most designers and architects can create. Some will curse the rolling terrain, and others will marvel at the grassy hillsides, dense forests of palm, giant ficus trees and natural creeks. Either way you look at it, it’s a course that gets people talking.