Often, golf trips are planned with the centerpiece being world-class courses and that is all that matters. Still, you don’t want a destination where elements might not match the same quality of the golf course. Accommodations, service, food, weather, and travel are important factors that can greatly contribute to a successful golf get-away.

Which brings me to Punta Mita. It may not be a familiar destination, but it is well worth consideration this winter.

Located an easy, 40-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the Punta Mita Resort is on a peninsula with 9.5 miles of direct coastline and featuring two scenic Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. Hotel options are plentiful, with the Four Seasons and St. Regis being at the top of the list, and there are ample beach club dining venues.

Both courses at Punta Mita Golf Club are memorable and Nicklaus did his best to provide a multitude of ocean views. Opened in 1999, the Pacifico Course is most well-known for the par-3 third hole (“The Tale of the Whale”), which plays to a natural ocean island green. While certainly a highlight, the third will not be the only hole you remember. The ocean views just won’t allow it.

The Bahia Course joined the resort in 2009 and provides five more ocean holes.

Both courses are challenging, yet playable for all levels from the proper set of tee markers.

Just outside the gates of the golf resort is the quaint beach town of Punta de Mita. No surprise, surfing and fishing are hugely popular pursuits, and you’ll want to also sample the local beachfront fish restaurants.

The extremely friendly people of the region contribute to the welcoming, yet laid-back vibe both inside and out of the Resort.

Weather during the winter is simply glorious. Temperatures in February, for example, range from average daily highs in the low 80s to lows in the 60s with very little rainfall.

For flights, you’ll go into Puerto Vallarta, which is reached from various U.S. cities.