EL CAMALEóN GOLF CLUB

Designed by the legendary Greg Norman, the 7,000-yard layout is unique - not just to this country but to the entire golfing kingdom.

Designed by the legendary Greg Norman, the 7,000-yard layout is unique - not just to this country but to the entire golfing kingdom. As its name suggests, El Camaleón is ever changing. The stunning Playa Del Carmen golf course bends through three distinct landscapes -dense tropical jungles, mangrove forests, and stunning, oceanfront stretches of sand and is bisected by massive limestone canals. Norman has even incorporated a cenote, an ancient underground cavern and river system into the center of the opening fairway. From the tips, El Camaleón is a major league test, a real Shark bite. However, each hole is sprinkled with a minimum of four tee blocks, so there is a distance for players of every skill level.

While each hole shines with its own particular magic, it's the Riviera Maya golf course's par 3s that are already earning the loudest raves. The 7th and 15th holes play right to the edge of the Carribbean Sea with the sand and spray puntuating the breeze. In the distance is one of the world's largest coral reefs and the island of Cozumel. While this Playa Del Carmen golf course is a standout, the surrounding amenities are equally as impressive. The contemporary, copper-topped clubhouse is a full-service facility that rises above the 18th green. The adjoining practice facilities are among the best in Mexico and include a double-ended, 350 - yard driving range, a 20,000-sq.-ft. short-game area with putting and chipping greens.