JEFF PATERSON - - - Golfing My Way

Jeff Paterson is a sports talk host on Vancouver's TEAM 1040 SPORTS RADIO, is a freelance writer and a contributing columnist with BC Golf News.

It may still be a few months before the clubs come out of the closet here in Metro Vancouver, but I was lucky enough to dust off the sticks in Puerto Vallarta the week before Christmas. In addition to terrific weather, the Vallarta area (on Mexico's west coast - a 4.5 hour direct flight from Vancouver) offers a number of outstanding golf options and I had the chance to check out two of them - Marina Vallarta and the Nicklaus course at Vista Vallarta.

Vista Vallarta is a 36-hole facility set high in the hills, 20 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta on an amazing piece of property offering spectacular views of the city and out into the Bay of Banderas. The Nicklaus course was carved out of the upper portion of the property - with the Tom Weiskopf course below.

The Nicklaus layout features rolling terrain and elevation changes on a number of holes and, typical of most resort courses, offers wide fairways with generous landing areas. However, through the placement of clever fairway bunkers, the Golden Bear gives players something to think about before they swing away. On several holes, a small bunker in the middle of the fairway challenges players to fly it - only to find it's a little further from the tee than it appears. It's clever design work from the master.

The first 14 holes of the Nicklaus course peacefully wind through a forest of palm trees before water becomes a factor on three of the final four holes. The only pond on the upper course comes into play on the par-3 15th and the tee ball at the par-4 16th. And a creek runs down the entire length of the inside of the dogleg at the closing hole.

Water, on the other hand, is everywhere at the Marina Vallarta Golf Club - in play on at least half the holes of the course which is situated among beach resorts just a nine iron from the Pacific.

The Marina course is relatively flat, but narrow fairways lined by towering palms and the many ponds put a premium on driving accuracy. And if you don't keep the ball in play, look for it at your own risk. The course is home to a number of crocodiles - although only one came out to say 'hi' the day I was there.

The Marina course winds through condo, housing and resort developments but opens to an amazing panoramic sea-level view of the Bay of Banderas and downtown Puerto Vallarta at the par-three 13th where an errant tee shot could wind up in the ocean.

Perhaps it was because I was there the week before the peak-season Christmas rush began, but both courses were eerily quiet the days I played. It made for quick rounds without delay, which is great for golfers, but probably not for the bottom-line of the facilities, both owned and operated by ClubCorp. The courses were different, yet both were challenging and a whole lot of fun. If you are planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta both of these magnificent layouts are definitely worth a look. I hope to get a chance to play the Weiskopf course at Vista the next time I'm there.

BEST HOLE AT VISTA VALLARTA (Nicklaus course):
The 435-yard par-four sixth gives players all they can handle and is a strong representation of the course's many challenges. From an elevated tee, players can challenge the fairway bunkers on the right, leaving a shorter approach or layback in front of the bunkers on the left. From the fairway, it's an uphill second shot across a native area to a sloping green well guarded by more bunkers.

BEST HOLE AT MARINA VALLARTA:
The 376-yard par-four 11th is where players have to cross water not once, but twice to reach the green. The tee shot (from the blue tees) must carry a crocodile habitat to a small ribbon of fairway on this dog-leg left. From there, a mid-to-short iron approach is left to a tricky green fronted by a pond that protects the hole on three sides.

Jeff Paterson - jeffpaterson@shaw.ca