Mayakoba, El Camaleón Course
7,116 Yards / Par-72
74.2 Course Rating / 137 Slope
Architect: Greg Norman (2004)
Playa del Carma, Mexico
Those coming to Mayakoba will enjoy a comprehensive facility with a range of engaging amenities. There are four separate hotels on property and each provides a different vibe.
The property is owned and operated by RLH Properties which is centered in Mexico City.
Mayakoba thoroughly embraces ecotourism and for those seeking a meaningful connection to the local topography, the time spent there will be rewarding.
Mayakoba has only one 18-hole layout — called El Camaleón. The Greg Norman team did the design which opened in 2004. The facility is the only one that has hosted a PGA Tour, LIV Golf and LPGA Tour events.
The women will be visiting April 30-May 3 with the Mexico Riviera Maya Open.
The first intersection with the PGA Tour took place in 2007 with Fred Funk claiming the top spot at age 50. LIV Golf visited for the first time in 2023 — the first Latin American club to host the organization. At the 2024 event, Joaquín Niemann scored a first round 59 and eventually would go on to win the event after a four-hole playoff with Sergio Garcia.
The El Camaleón course is flat — as in no real elevation changes. The course has two loops – one each for the outward and inward nines. Both nines feature intersections with the Caribbean – albeit through a par-3 hole that provides scenic views but no strategic intersections.
Originally, the course started on what is today’s hole 7. That hole features a unique cave located in the center of the fairway on the par-5 hole. The switch to the present 1st hole was at the behest of the PGA Tour when events were played there and then became permanent.
A constant feature of El Camaleón is the dense jungle brush located just off the fairways. Any ball leaving the manicured areas will likely forever be remaining there. The fairway landing areas are ample befitting a resort course in which keeping pace of play moving is essential.
The Norman team did well in not overly shaping the property. On the flipside the land encountered does not bring to the forefront any real emotional connection.
Mayakoba’s strength lies in the varied green sites. Players will have to skillfully land approach shots near enough to the hole in order to avoid navigating lengthy putts with a range of different internal movements.
One of the virtues of El Camaleón is the absence of annoying housing abutting the holes. Golfers are immersed in the experience and fortunately do not get bombarded with annoying clutter that invariably happens when real estate becomes the central priority.
Turf quality was very good and the related details are consistently presented so that the architecture has the starring role.
Mayakoba has received plenty of rightful attention because of the environmental embrace and how the facility has taken customer service to a high level for all guests on property. However, the golf side is simply one of several amenities offered for those staying on property.
The golf connoisseur will appreciate the connection to Mother Nature for the grandeur this tropical Mexican landscape provides, but the totality of the golf holes is limited to only a few encounters that rise beyond general sameness.
***
Ratings AssessmentDouble Eagle Not a hole to be missed. Compelling architecture throughout testing mental and physical resolve. Your heart bumps with exhilaration from 1st tee to 18th green. Eagle + Superior shotmaking values in tandem with related turf quality melding an experience of the highest order. Eagle Like its namesake – flies high in the clouds. Consistent variety with strategic holes demonstrating brilliance at various moments. Birdie + Engaging design providing thoughtful intersections with creative results front and center. Birdie Quality architecture exists but held back by limited standout holes encountered. Par+ Has several holes of note but too many pedestrian ones subtract from the experience. Par Enjoyable but like vanilla ice cream – mainly ordinary. Bogey Little substance of note – has design fumbles that are more prevalent than need be. Double-bogey A total mistake — in need of upgrades with substandard holes, inferior routing and substandard conditioning. Triple-bogey An utter mess. Avoid the pain of the experience and the loss of time / money. ***
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