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The last stop of Claudio & Dave's "Excellent Adventure" in Cancun and the Riviera Maya took place in the heart of this Mexican playground. We were hosted at the Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort located in the south end of the ‘Hotel Zone' and only 15 minutes from the Cancun International Airport. The Hilton boasts at having the only onsite professional golf course in Cancun and only minutes from the infamous nightlife district.

Originally designed by Isao Aoki in 1994, this 6,743 yard championship links-style course has recently undergone USD $2.9 million in upgrades, adding championship tee blocks, an irrigation system and the new Paspalum Sea Isle salt/drought tolerant grass. As well there is a new practice facility with driving range, additional bunkers and a new fleet of 80 deluxe golf carts.

These days if you do not ‘keep up with the Joneses' in the Cancun & Riviera Maya area you will be left out on the Sierra Madre. Golf has come a long way here and the options for world class courses are multiplying quickly.

As we rode up the glass elevator in this Mayan temple-shaped resort, my first impression was "Wow, what a great view!" - a breathtaking panorama of the Nichpte Lagoon in the background with the golf course directly across the street. Then I turned to my buddy, Claudio and said "this course looks pretty flat but there seems to be enough water and sand to keep it interesting". And interesting it was! In fact, Best's Golf Guide ranked the Hilton Cancun Golf Club as the 12th best golf course in Mexico.

This course is set among 150 acres of tropical foliage and mangrove jungle, full of exotic wildlife like iguanas, peacocks, pelicans, flamingos and yes, crocodiles. We did not see any crocs but there were plenty of iguanas to keep us entertained. There are now over 80 bunkers and water comes into play on almost every hole as you meander through the ancient Mayan archeological site of El Rey (circa 500 A.D.). How cool is that?

Your round starts out with a rather benign par 4 to help stretch out those kinks but then the fun really begins with your tee shot on the next hole. This dog-leg right is one of the trickiest holes on the course. Out of bounds right, as I found out and trouble left force you to hit an accurate drive. A short approach shot awaits you to a green that has 4 bunkers short and right and water on the left.

Even though the front nine is relatively wide open, there is enough variety of short and long holes that dog-leg left and right with ample water and bunkers to keep you on your toes.

The back nine is much tighter and will surely test your accuracy. #10 is a difficult 426 yard, par 4 that puts a premium on length and control. Hazards include trees, sand, jungle and the Nichupte Lagoon running along the entire right side. Par is a good score here, trust me!

#11 is typically into the wind, so going for this dogleg left, par 5 in two is not recommended since there is little room for error with a pond on the left and another one short right.

After you step onto the elevated 12th tee, make sure you take the time to ‘suck up' the scenery on the highest point on the course. As well, the pond on this mid-iron, par 3 is home to several of the local crocodiles.

The monstrous 16th is probably the most fun, a tight par 5 that will reward length and accuracy. Bunkers come into play on every shot - the green has sand surrounding the back of the hole and a nasty pond that will swallow everything that is short left.

Make sure you still have ‘gas in the tank' when you reach the finishing hole since this par 4 has water running along the entire length of the fairway for those weak fades and a peninsula green that is guarded by four bunkers.

The Hilton Cancun Golf Club is challenging yet fair so that golfers of all handicap levels will enjoy the experience. As with all courses in this region, ‘privilege has its price'. Regular green fees with cart will cost you $149-$199 USD unless of course you are a guest at the Hilton, then the cost is $125-$149 USD. Either way, make sure you plan on staying for dinner at the Mitachi Seaside Grill. Sit outside on the ocean-side deck and enjoy a delicious dinner while being serenaded by the crashing waves of the ocean. What a way to finish!

Cancun and the Riviera Maya have certainly opened my eyes to another great golf destination that most of us would not have thought of in the past.

For more information you visit their website at www.hiltoncancun.com/golf or call
+52 (998) 881-8016.

Dave Finn is the Co-Publisher of The Traveling Golfer.