Grupo Vidanta Begins Development of the Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

NUEVO VALLARTA, Mexico, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Vidanta, Mexico's leading resort and golf course developer, today announced commencement of the development for the first-ever Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf in the greater Nuevo Vallarta area of Mexico. The new world-class facility under construction at the Vidanta Resort is scheduled to be open spring of 2012 and will be one of the most complete golf instruction and training facilities in all of Mexico, if not the entire world.

In addition to the exclusive Jack Nicklaus Academy facility, the Nayar Vidanta Golf Center will have the finest practice range in Vallarta including covered hitting stalls, natural grass tees, multiple target greens, putting and short game areas, and will be lit and open to the public.

The Nicklaus Academy features climate-controlled teaching bays with an array of technologies including:

• The Jack Nicklaus Coaching Studio and the Nicklaus Academies Analysis Software, multiple high-speed video cameras, an integrated pressure / balance mat, automatic studio lighting, an integrated ball flight monitor and more. Also included is the latest in training and fitness technologies from FreeMotion Fitness with the Vertex Whole Body Vibration machine and the FreeMotion Dual Cable Cross.
• In a second bay is K-Vest Movement Analysis Technology.  Sensors on the student along with the computer capture data from sensors positioned on the student's body. With this 'data' the computer creates an accurate animation of the student's body and swing that is now viewable from virtually any angle. The information provided through this very special technology will shorten the learning process by 4 to 5 times.
• Inside the teaching facility is also a computerized putting lab with technology used by Tour Professionals called TOMI. This technology allows the Nicklaus Academies instructors to analyze your putting stroke from face alignment to stroke path, impact tempo and speed. Since 30% of your strokes come on the putting green during a normal round of golf, time spent in the Nicklaus Academy putting lab is well worth the time.
• Additional features include a comfortable lobby, mental evaluation and training tools, custom club and ball fitting sessions, a Nicklaus Academy putting green and chipping area, and its own practice bunker, short game practice area, and artificial turf hitting area.

The opening of the Nicklaus Academy caps a year of firsts for Grupo Vidanta on the golf front. May 2011 saw the first-ever "Uniting Nations Cup" international golf tournament kick off successfully. In addition to an existing Nicklaus Design course also owned and operated by Vidanta Golf in Nuevo Vallarta, a new Greg Norman Signature golf course was announced to start construction in late 2012.

With three more golf courses to follow, a total of five professionally designed golf courses will create the ultimate destination for discriminating and casual golfers alike. The Nuevo Vallarta resort region is home to some of Grupo Vidanta's finest luxury resorts including Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, Mayan Palace and Sea Garden.

The Nicklaus Academy at Nayar Vidanta Golf Club will be open to members and guests of Grupo Vidanta resorts as well as residents and visitors to Puerto Vallarta. Customized lesson packages for individuals and groups are available for all ability levels. For additional information, please visit www.vidantagolf.com.

About Grupo Vidanta

Founded by Daniel Chavez Moran in 1974, Grupo Vidanta has evolved for more than 35 years into one of Mexico's leading developers of hotels and resorts, golf courses, vacation ownership, and tourism infrastructure, including Mexico's first privately built and owned international airport at Puerto Penasco. For American travelers, Grupo Vidanta offers a choice of full-service luxury beach resorts in Mexico's finest beaches, under the Grand Luxxe, Ocean Breeze, Sea Garden, Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan brands. In the near future, new hospitality brands will include Bliss, Grand Bliss and Mansions of the World. Grupo Vidanta's Mayan Island has built and sold more than 2,000 second homes. For further information see www.grupovidanta.com.  

About Vidanta Golf

Vidanta Golf is the largest golf course operator in Mexico. Its award winning golf courses are located in the most beautiful beaches of Mexico including: Acapulco, Los Cabos, Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya and Puerto Penasco in Sonora. To learn more about golf with Grupo Vidanta, visit us at www.vidantagolf.com.

About Nicklaus Academies

Nicklaus Academies is the leading golf instruction brand with locations in Mexico, United States, Spain, Denmark, China, Korea, Japan and Brazil. The Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf instruction system is based on the philosophy of the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus, and continues to evolve with the advances in equipment and technologies.  For additional information visit www.nicklausacademies.com.

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SOURCE Grupo Vidanta