Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts

Few resort courses in Mexico carry the architectural pedigree of Riviera Cancun. The layout was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2008, routed through a remarkable stretch of the Yucatan Peninsula where thick mangrove forests, coastal wetlands, and Caribbean-facing terrain create a setting that feels genuinely wild for a five-star resort property. Norman's design leans into that natural drama rather than taming it — water, mangroves, and the region's characteristic flat but ecologically dense landscape define most of the strategic decisions a player will face.

The course sits within the broader Puerto Morelos corridor, just south of Cancun's hotel zone and north of Playa del Carmen, which positions it comfortably away from the resort strip while remaining accessible. The Caribbean climate means lush playing conditions year-round, though the trade winds that blow in off the water add a layer of difficulty that the flat topography might not otherwise suggest.

It has earned consistent recognition among Mexico's top resort courses, drawing destination golfers who want something more considered than a typical hotel layout — a round that actually asks questions.