Inside the course: El Camaleon Golf Club

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El Camaleon Golf Club is located in the beautiful Playa del Carmen region on the Gulf of Mexico.

Feb. 23, 2009

The TOUR will play the third edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Erin L. Stevens
Original architect	Greg Norman (2004)
Par value	70
Number of TOUR events as host venue	3 (including 2009)
Course ranking	Ranked 14 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Yardage history	6,923 (2006-present)
Grass	Sea Isle 1 seashore paspalum (tees, greens, fairways, rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter	9.5 ft
Sand bunkers	35
Water hazards	7-10
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Roland Thatcher

Year
2008

Round
3rd

Finish
T9

Holes-in-one

There have been no aces recorded during the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun

2008 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	The par-4 462-yard 3rd The first par 4 on the course is 452 yards and is the first true test at El Camaleon. The fairway is wide with a bunker right, but a mis-hit or weak drive will leave you with a wood or long iron into this small green that has bunkers front right and back left. 2008: 0 eagles, 23 birdies, 241 pars, 123 bogeys, 21 double bogeys, 5 other.
Easiest hole
	The par-5 554-yard 1st The first hole is a par 5 that plays left to right. The wide fairway is split by a unique cenote (cave) that provides a great target for your drive. The green sits left to right and is guarded by bunkers left and right. A good drive and solid 3-wood will leave you with a 9 iron or less into the green. 2008: 4 eagles, 155 birdies, 219 pars, 27 bogeys, 7 double bogeys and 1 others.

El Camaleon Golf Club			2008 rankings		Last two years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	5	554	4.712	18	4.712	17
2	3	151	2.966	12	2.923	13
3	4	462	4.385	1	4.285	2
4	4	438	4.123	8	4.158	7
5	4	428	4.245	5	4.195	5
6	4	389	4.283	4	4.195	4
7	3	116	2.898	15	2.843	15
8	4	490	4.356	2	4.360	1
9	4	416	3.947	13	3.896	14
10	3	200	3.024	9	3.054	9
11	4	360	3.782	16	3.778	16
12	4	451	4.31	3	4.238	3
13	5	532	4.77	17	4.680	18
14	4	452	4.126	7	4.174	6
15	3	155	3.019	10	2.998	11
16	4	485	4.128	6	4.150	8
17	4	386	3.92	14	3.951	12
18	4	458	4.005	11	4.046	10

Course origins

Camaleon Mayakoba is a work of art designed by Greg Norman located in the supreme luxury resort "The Fairmont Mayakoba". This 18-hole course is just 45 minutes south of Cancun at the heart of the mystic Riviera Maya. The inspiration for its name was born out of its diverse layout and ever-changing landscape, which bends through the tropical jungle, dense mangrove, stunning oceanfront stretches of sand and long channels with limestone borders. With Mayakoba's unique system of lagoons, golfers will be able to step out of their rooms and into a boat, which will take them directly to the first tee.

Winding under a forest canopy and through the tropical landscape, El Camaleon borders the resort. Here, golf enthusiasts can experience fairways covered with the dark-green tones of the Paspalum grass. The fairways are lined with sand dunes and mangroves; the course features unique hazards such as cenotes (subterranean caves) and crystal clear lagoons. This place is much more than just a golf experience, with its unequalled hazards and captivating greens, El Camaleon has been carefully planned to capture the essence of a pristine and natural landscape.

The 15th hole is the feature that defines El Camaleon experience. At only 160 yards from the back marker, the hole plays directly towards the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The large green sets the scenery for a memorable shot as the nearby waves gently soothe the golfer's soul. Don't be fooled, this hole is not to be taken easily, especially when the tropical winds increase.

The navigation limestone canals connect the resort's bungalows with the clubhouse. The Camaleon's clubhouse boasts a Contemporary design and a 3-tier copper roof. Designed with supreme luxury, it features an Argentinean steakhouse with a lovely view to the picturesque hole 18. It also has a Pro Shop with the ultimate fashion and golf accessories. Shoes and clubs are available for rent.

During completion of construction and growth in 2005, Camaleon Mayakoba was hit by Hurricanes Emily and Wilma. Both Ocean Holes on 7 and 15 had to be rebuilt two times. Wilma hit on October 18, 2005 and devastated the entire Riviera Maya. It was reopened for play after reconstruction on January 16, 2006.

In October 2006 a new Pro Tee No. 1 was added and an additional fairway bunker on No. 8. In November 2006, El Camaleon achieved Audubon certification status for Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program within the first year of operation. It was also voted "best new international golf course" in Golf Magazine.

Course architect, Greg Norman has long held an environmentally friendly position through the design and construction of golf courses. Norman has always adhered to a least-disturbance approach, focusing on every opportunity to incorporate unique existing site features into the layout of a golf course. This design mentality has led to a recent appointment as Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's Environmental Institute for Golf.

--Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Tournament course history