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El Tigre: 5-Star Golf in ParadiseVallartaSales.comPosted 2005-03-19 Golfers the world over have been flocking to Puerto Vallarta to experience its championship golf opportunities, all with a unique tropical flair… Championship golf opportunities such as The El Tigre Club de Golf, located on the property at Paradise Village Beach Resort and Spa, an upscale resort and real estate development in the burgeoning resort area of Nuevo Vallarta. Five sets of strategically placed tees mean that players of all skill levels can find challenging play at El Tigre. As Robert von Hagge said at the course’s opening festivities, “I still think our members and guests will thoroughly enjoy El Tigre because it is challenging, yet not punitive. While the scratch golfer will certainly be tested from the championship tees, higher handicappers will find a variety of tee placements suitable to their games.” El Tigre is a design by the famed Texas design firm of von Hagge Smelek and Baril, which took a relatively flat piece of land and sculpted it into an 18-hole, 7239-yard par 72 masterpiece. Von Hagge’s design called for nine lakes and streams, the excavated earth from which was used to create a rolling landscape of generous fairways, sloping greens and more bunkers than you can shake a wedge at.
See for yourself what makes El Tigre a round of golf you’ll never forget, and enjoy the European spa facilities, beautiful white sand beaches, the fine dining and the Zoo, all located on the property at Paradise Village and just a few minutes from the sights and sounds of Downtown Puerto Vallarta. This special is available for a limited time, so don’t delay. Your day of golf begins at the clubhouse, a striking 45,000 square foot facility that houses a pro shop, restaurant, European spa, and locker rooms. 
The beautiful Spanish styling is courtesy of the talented Mexican architect Ernesto del Castillo, who did his best to make you not want to go out to that first tee. If you can make it past the clubhouse, you’ll find yourself admiring the pleasant view of the stream, which runs the length of the first fairway and tumbles into a waterfall near the peninsula style first green. Play to the right to avoid the water hazards and set yourself up for a clean approach on this 451-yard par 4, and you are off and running. Holes of note in this noteworthy round of golf: The 5th is a 474 yard par 4 that offers a classic risk reward scenario. The safe route to the right will put a well placed iron shot on the green, or for the brave of heart, going left from the tee will carry you over the water and (hopefully) the beach bunker waiting on the other side. From there it is a 9 or a wedge to the green and possibly a birdie. The 6th is a par 3, weighing in at 171 yards that will test your nerve as you play to an island green (ala Sawgrass). Choose your club wisely here and beware of the Scottish pot bunker on the near side. The 12th is another par 3 at 219 yards. You’ll have the ocean breezes at your back, so you might think about using less club here, but you’ll need plenty to make the peninsula green. This calls for long accurate shots, as there is water all down the left side. Playing from the back on this hole means you are driving over water (again) and less than well-placed shots will put you in the sand protecting the approach. And speaking of sand (of which there is no shortage anywhere on this course), the 14th hole, a par 5 of 492 yards from the back, has an approach covered by a series of pot bunkers that look like the result of cluster bombing. Another risk reward challenge, as the two shooter will find himself landed in the middle of a battlefield and the 3 shooter will have a comfortable medium iron shot to the green. Don’t clean the sand from your shoes yet, as another bunker lies waiting at the right of the green. Von Hagge and Baril are famous for their finishing holes and El Tigre carries this tradition well. The 16th, 17th and 18th holes can easily destroy an otherwise great score… You’ll want to save something for the finish. The 16th is a 421-yard par 4 dogleg right wrapped around yet another lake. Choose clubs carefully and keep your shots controlled and accurate. Take care on the approach: you are playing to another peninsula green and the price of titanium balls keeps going up! The 17th (par 4, 250 yards) has its tees near the course’s namesake, a caged Bengal tiger, one of several big cats on the Paradise Village property, all rescued from circuses and private owners and all of which once faced being destroyed. And apparently, in honor of the Tiger’s dangerous reputation, the 17th hole is a veritable labyrinth of hazards including water all down the left, a beach bunker behind a rock wall, and plenty of grassy mounds to keep you occupied. There is an optional island tee here, just in case this hole is not spicy enough for you. 
And finally the 18th, a 621-yard monster of a par 5 (I told you that you’d want to save something for the finish), played into the teeth of the wind and well entrenched in sand and water. You’ll need to drive long and accurately here, as the bunkers are strategically placed and the water is ubiquitous. Control your approach; the green is surrounded by bunkers on three sides. If you par this hole it’s because you’ve earned it. Time to head back to the clubhouse to unwind! El Tigre is an example of the artistry of von Hagge Smelek and Baril design and, by virtue of 5 sets of well placed tees, players of all skill levels will find a challenging and enjoyable round of golf. The facilities, the panoramic views and the attentive, knowledgeable staff, are all first class and exemplify the level of excellence that make El Tigre and Paradise Village a great value and an unforgettable experience. Call 1 800 501-6859 or visit them at www.vallartasales.com/golfspecial.php for more information and escape the winter chill at El Tigre! 
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