Like a brilliant diamond sparkling in the Caribbean Sea, lies the island of Cancun, the crown jewel of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Under a balmy tropical sun and surrounded by colorful coral reefs, this emerald-green and turquoise blue Mecca attracts fun-loving tourists who delight in its white-sand beaches and warm Caribbean water.

Villas Caribe Cancun Golf Selections

Nestled between the Nichupte Lagoon and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, lies Cancun's oldest, most prestigious golf club. Designed in 1976 by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Cancun's Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok artistically incorporates hundreds of meters of dramatic shoreline and ancient Mayan ruins into a truly enjoyable experience for golfers of all abilities. The 18-hole Pok-Ta-Pok Club or Club de Golf Cancún (tel.-998/883-0871, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr., design, is on the northern leg of the island. Greens fees run $100 per 18 holes, with clubs renting for $26 and shoes for $15. Hiring a caddy costs $20. The club is open daily, accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa, and has tennis courts.

The Hilton Cancún Golf & Beach Resort (tel. 998/881-8016; fax 998/881-8084) has a championship 18-hole, par-72 course designed around the Ruinas Del Rey. Greens fees for the public are $125 for 18 holes and $99 for 9 holes; Hilton Cancún guests receive a 20% discount off these rates, which includes a golf cart. Golf clubs and shoes are available for rent. The club is open daily from 6am to 6pm.

The Meliá Cancún (tel. 998/881-1100, ext. 193) has a 9-hole executive course; the fee is $43. The club is open daily from 7am to 4:30pm and accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

The first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in the Cancún area has opened at the Moon Palace Golf Resort, along the Riviera Maya. Two additional PGA courses are planned for the area just north of Cancún, Puerto Cancún, in 2007 and 2008.