Guaranteed sunshine, lush green mountains, a turquoise sea and enough margaritas to stave off scurvy are a few of the reasons why I’ve made the Bay of Banderas my home-away-from-winter for almost 20 years. But I am also a self-confessed golf fanatic and Riviera Nayarit is arguably one of Mexico’s top golf destinations. Now the golf scene here is even better with the transformation of what was originally called Litibu, now called Higuera Golf Club, named after the wild fig trees that proliferate the area. In fact, the golf club’s logo was modelled after the humongous higuera tree at the back nine taco shack.
When it opened in 2010, Litibu hosted the International Canadian Golf Tour Tournament. This helped to bring much deserved international attention to the Greg Norman-designed course (located an hour north of Puerto Vallarta between Sayulita and Punta de Mita) that meanders over jungle, mountain and oceanside fairways.
When the new owners took over in 2021 the course had about 8,000 rounds per year. This year they expect to hit 18,000 rounds. Having already invested almost 2 million US dollars on much needed infrastructure improvements of the pumping and irrigation systems, the plan is to spend another 5 million on club rentals, maintenance, new carts and more staff. I recently played a round at Higuera and the course conditions are flawless. The paspalum greens are the best in Nayarit.
The entire golf experience at Higuera has been enhanced. The former drab pro shop has been redesigned and decorated with gorgeous art featuring the intricate bead designs of the local indigenous Huichol people. Guests are greeted with welcome cookies and coffee and a well-stocked supply of clothing, accessories, balls and gloves.
Higuera is also offering complimentary tacos, snacks, Margaritas, beer and soft drinks at two comfort stations located between the third and fourth and thirteenth and fourteenth fairways. This “all-inclusive” golfing and dining offering is something often done at Los Cabos courses, but Higuera is the only club in Riviera Nayarit to offer this perk. When I was there, they were serving freshly made mahi mahi and beef tacos on blue corn tortillas with a choice of salsas.
Overlooking the driving range, a new 19th Hole restaurant serves Mexican fare and creative cocktails in a fantastic open air space, decorated with a fantastical wall mural made of tiny chips of coloured tiles by local Sayulita artist, Han Sabik. A new tequila cart selling premium brands will be making its way around the course to tempt swingers with a shot of two. Even the washrooms have been redesigned to look like something out of Architectural Digest.
Another factor that sets the Higuera Golf Club apart is that each fairway is unique and memorable. From the tips, Greg Norman’s design measures 7,022 yards. Number one is a narrow palm-lined par-four to a green protected by water—an indication that Norman’s challenge will be no walk in the park. You can let it rip on the uphill second par-five. At the number three green, golfers are treated to the roar of waves and a sweep of beach below.
Norman’s par-threes at Litibu are outstanding. Surf’s up on the fourth, a downhill poke to a postage stamp green with a gorgeous view of the point at the end of the Bay of Banderas called Punta de Mita. Another memorable par-three is the eighth where you must plop your ball on an almost-island green.
On the back nine Norman takes you on merry romp toward the undulating foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Sixteen is an uphill battle fraught with plenty of bunkers. The stunning grand finale, number 18, brings you to an elevated green with the Pacific frothing below.
After their rounds, players will soon be able to enjoy a new party room called The Shark with an indoor putting green, dart boards and TVs—a terrific spot to rent for a private party.
The new owners are genuinely passionate about Higuera. They hired a marine biologist to take stock of the property’s vast array of flora and fauna that includes wild boars, iguanas and numerous birds. There’s also a program to help save the endangered turtles. They nest on the beach at hole 18 and the biologist saves the eggs from predators. Once the eggs hatch, guests are invited to release the baby tortoises back into the ocean where only about one per cent of them will return about 10 years later. A portion of sales from the Pro Shop goes to this turtle release program. You don’t have to be a golfer to take part in this event that takes place every Thursday evening from August to November.
So, lots of wonderful changes and innovations are in store for you when you visit Higuera, where it’s quite obvious that the owners “do it with love.”