Golf in Cancún and Isla Mujeres

Many hotels offer golf packages that can considerably reduce your green fees at Cancún golf courses. Cancún's main golf course is at Cancún Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok (Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 7.5, Zona Hotelera. 998/883-1230. www.cancungolfclub.com). The club has fine views of both sea and lagoon; its 18 holes were designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. It also has two practice greens, three tennis courts, a pro shop, and a restaurant. The green fees go from $105 to $140 and include your cart; club rentals are $40, shoes $18.

The 9-hole executive course at the Gran Meliá Cancún (Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 12, Zona Hotelera. 998/881-1100) forms a semicircle around the property and shares its beautiful ocean views. The green fee is about $40. There's an 18-hole championship golf course at the Hilton (Hilton Cancún Golf & Spa Resort, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 17, Zona Hotelera. 998/881-8016. www.hiltoncancun.com/golf.htm). The turf here was replaced in 2006 with Paspalum Sea Isle 1 grass and all tee boxes were leveled up to USGA standards. The course is located along the Nichupté Lagoon and has a practice facility with driving range and putting green. Green fees are $199 ($149 for hotel guests), carts are included. The newest course in Cancún is the Playa Mujeres Golf Club (Playa Mujeres Beach Resort, Prolongación Bonampak, Punta Sam. 998/887-7332. www.playamujeresgolf.com). Designed by Greg Norman, this 18-hole, par-72 course is located within the 930-acre Playa Mujeres Resort that is currently being developed in Punta Sam. Practice facilities include a driving range, two putting greens and short game area. You can also arrange for individual and group instruction. Green fees run from $160 to $190.

If you're looking for a less strenuous golf game, Mini Golf Palace (Cancún Palace, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 14.5, Zona Hotelera. 998/881-3600 Ext. 6655) has a complete 36-hole minigolf course around pyramids, waterfalls, and a river on the grounds of the Cancún Palace.