Punta Mita Bahia
The Bahia Course is the second Jack Nicklaus Signature layout at Punta Mita, opened in 2009 to give the resort a 36 hole footprint. A par 72 of about 7,035 yards, it threads through tropical landscaping and runs out to the water for a handful of memorable oceanfront holes above Banderas Bay.
Photo: Punta Mita golf via Google.
The verdict
If Pacifico is the headline, Bahia is the round that earns repeat play. Jack Nicklaus returned to Punta Mita to build it in 2009, and rather than chase the spectacle of an ocean island green he gave the resort a complete, rhythmic golf course: tumbling fairways through palms and tropical planting, a string of holes that break out to Banderas Bay, and greens with the quiet difficulty Nicklaus builds in everywhere. It opened as a par 72 of about 7,035 yards.
Bahia matters because it makes Punta Mita a destination rather than a single bucket list hole. With two Nicklaus courses inside the gates, a group can settle in, play 36 over a couple of days, and split time between the golf and the beach. Like Pacifico it is the golf of the Four Seasons and St. Regis, so access runs through the resort, and the conditioning is resort flagship standard.
Punta Mita Bahia Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Resort, oceanfront
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,035 yds
- Holes
- 18
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design and leading course databases. Bahia is the second of the two Nicklaus courses at Punta Mita and is the golf of the Four Seasons and St. Regis; access is primarily for resort guests and members. Green fees are premium and indicative for the 2026 season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Bahia opens inland and builds toward the water. The early holes wind through tropical planting and gentle elevation, easing you in, before the routing swings out to Banderas Bay where several holes play along the shoreline with the breeze and the surf in view. Those ocean holes are the postcards, and the par 3s in particular ask for a confident, flighted shot when the wind is up.
What sets Bahia apart from its more famous sibling is variety and pace. There is no single circus hole, but there is a steady supply of good ones: risk and reward par 5s, greens that fall away from a careless approach, and bunkering shaped to gather the timid miss. It rewards the player who manages the round rather than attacks it.
Because Bahia and Pacifico share the peninsula, the two pair naturally over a two or three day stay. We will set the order so you catch the ocean holes on the calmer part of the day and keep the marquee Pacifico round for the morning tide.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | The golf of the Four Seasons and St. Regis Punta Mita; play primarily for resort guests and members, arranged through the resort |
| Indicative green fee | Premium resort rate for 2026, set by season and tee time and arranged with your stay; always confirm directly before booking |
| Course pairing | One of two Nicklaus courses at Punta Mita, played alongside the Pacifico layout and the Tail of the Whale |
| Booking window | Reserve tee times with your resort stay, especially for the November to April high season |
| Getting there | On the Punta Mita peninsula, about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. Green fees are third party and indicative for the 2026 season; they vary by season and tee time, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability and we will build the round into your trip.
Where to stay nearby
As with Pacifico, the route to Bahia is a stay inside Punta Mita at the Four Seasons or the St. Regis, both on the peninsula with the golf on the doorstep. Staying in the gates means you can play 36 over two days without leaving, and split the time with the beach, the spa and the dining.
We can build the stay around the golf you want and pair both Nicklaus courses with the Vallarta corridor across the bay for a fuller week. Tell us your dates and your group and we will match the hotel to the golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Punta Mita Bahia Course.
Plan your Riviera Nayarit golf trip
Bahia gives Punta Mita its second Nicklaus course, and the two together make a real golf stay. We arrange the resort, the tee times and the order of play, and cost it to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling.
Punta Mita Bahia Course questions
Who designed the Bahia Course at Punta Mita and when did it open?
The Bahia Course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2009, the second course at Punta Mita, a par 72 of about 7,035 yards on the Riviera Nayarit.
How is Bahia different from the Pacifico Course?
Pacifico is the original course and owns the famous Tail of the Whale ocean island green. Bahia, opened a decade later, is a more rounded everyday layout with several holes along Banderas Bay and no single signature gimmick. Together they give Punta Mita 36 holes of Nicklaus golf.
Can visitors play the Bahia Course?
Bahia is the golf of the Four Seasons and St. Regis Punta Mita and play is primarily for resort guests and members, arranged through the resort. Always confirm current access and rates directly before booking.
Is Punta Mita worth a stay for golf?
With two Jack Nicklaus courses inside the gates plus beaches and resort dining, Punta Mita suits a couples trip or a small group that wants golf and downtime in one place. The Vallarta corridor across the bay adds more courses for a fuller week.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; green fees indicative for the 2026 season and subject to change. Last reviewed June 2026.