Late in 2025, Punta Mita had the pleasure of welcoming World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and his family back to our destination. I first met Scottie and his wife, Meredith, during their honeymoon here some five years ago. This time, they returned with the entire family, drawn back by fond memories of Punta Mita and its lifestyle.

With this visit, Scottie joins an illustrious list of major champions who have played golf in Punta Mita—among them Jack Nicklaus, Lorena Ochoa, Corey Pavin, Craig Stadler, Johnny Miller, Geoff Ogilvy, Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, Ángel Cabrera, Lee Trevino, David Stockton Sr., and Michael Campbell, to name just a few.

Scottie teed it up on the Pacifico Course alongside his two brothers-in-law, with the rest of the family in tow—and yours truly acting as chaperone-cum-caddie. He was off to a memorable start: birdies on the first four holes, with putts ranging from eight to twelve feet. The second hole was a simple tap-in. On the iconic Tail of the Whale (not officially in play due to high tide), Scottie casually left his approach six feet from the hole.

The lone blemish on the card came at the par-4 fifth. A front pin and a spinning approach sent the ball rolling back down the slope, and he couldn’t quite save par. A sandy par followed on the sixth and—surprisingly enough—a par on the seventh. The par-3 eighth produced a beautiful birdie, and I would strongly recommend our members take a look at this hole from the tips—it is truly special.

Scottie was particularly impressed by the Pacifico par 3s, all playing around 200 yards and showcasing excellent design. He also commented on how well the greens were rolling. The numbers back that up: over 15 holes, he totaled just 17 putts—an extraordinary statistic by any measure.

He went on to birdie the ninth, taking in the homes lining the fairways and especially the number of oceanfront holes—a defining feature of the course. On the tenth, I suggested a high cut… which turned out to be the wrong advice. Scottie still got up and down from the bunker for par and, understandably, ignored any further guidance from his local caddie!!!!

Pars followed on 11, and on the par-4 12th he just found the greenside bunker off the tee, once again converting an up-and-down—this time for birdie. Throughout the round, however, the priority was never the scorecard. It was the family, and especially the two young boys—his son and nephew—who took center stage. Scottie, along with his father, made it clear that golf is meant to be fun first and foremost. His sisters joined in with shots here and there, and everyone took a swing on the Tail of the Whale.

A birdie-birdie-eagle finish brought the round to a close. With lunch calling and family time taking precedence, we called it a day after 15 holes. Scottie’s scorecard—soon to find a home in our new clubhouse, autograph included—sat at an impressive 10-under par with three holes still to play.

A few photos with the team, some fortunate onlookers, and a handful of kids, and then it was off to celebrate Thanksgiving—family first.

An unforgettable experience. A truly great golfer, an even finer human being, and a devoted family man. Thank you, Scottie. It was an honor to share the day with you, and a privilege for Punta Mita to welcome you and your family back.