Vidanta Golf Launches Inaugural 'Uniting Nations Cup' Golf Tournament at Its Mayan Palace Peninsula de Cortez Course

PUERTO PENASCO, Mexico, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Vidanta Golf, the largest golf course operator in Mexico and subsidiary of Grupo Vidanta, is proud to announce their establishment of the Uniting Nations Cup golf tournament being played on the Peninsula de Cortez golf course, a Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II co-design at the Mayan Palace resort in Puerto Penasco.  The Uniting Nations Cup is scheduled to take place annually at the Mayan Palace for the next five years, with strategic planning in place to lift the tournament's profile with each subsequent year.

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The concept of the Uniting Nations Cup (Copa Uniendo Naciones) is to highlight the alliance between the United States and Mexico beyond their commercial and cultural ties, while attempting to one day achieve the international reputation of a tournament similar to the legendary Ryder Cup. Another objective the Uniting Nations Cup sets out to accomplish is the expansion and promotion of the little-known Mexican port destination of Puerto Penasco.            

The world-class Nicklaus Design golf course at Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco, in the words of Javier Licea, Executive Director of the PGA in Mexico, "is in excellent condition and is a course that is challenging and ready for the pros to fully enjoy. It is indisputably among the best courses in Mexico, done by the grand designer of golf courses himself, Jack Nicklaus. The course encompasses his trademark style of enhancing the natural environment that is both challenging and enjoyable."

The Uniting Nations Cup will consist of teams competing from PGA Mexico and Southwest Section PGA with the participation of approximately 100 golfers, 20 of which will be professionals (10 Mexican and 10 from the U.S.), along with 40 high caliber amateurs from each country to level the playing field and ensure competitive yet exciting playoffs. There are approximately only 15 events of this type currently in Mexico, including destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Puebla, Torreon, Merida and central Mexico, among other areas throughout the country.  

"It is with great honor that we unveil such a comprehensive tournament which we hope will be one of many to come," says Daniel Chavez Moran, President of Grupo Vidanta. "Beyond the camaraderie of sports, we see this tournament as one that will continue to strengthen the ties of two nations joined by the bonds of history, culture and business."

Several relatively prominent figures were present when Grupo Vidanta announced the Uniting Nations Cup including Alejandro Zepeda Munro (Mayor of Puerto Penasco), Javier Licea (Executive Director of PGA Mexico), Alejandro Ruiz (General Manager, Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco), Curt Hudek (Executive Director of Southwest Section PGA), Mike Wright (President of the SWSPGA), Vito Berlingeri (Director of Sales and Marketing for SWSPGA), and Andrew Gilchrist (Executive Golf Director at Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco).

The first Uniting Nations Cup will be held May 12 to 15, 2011.

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.  

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SOURCE Grupo Vidanta