los cabos guide - cabo san lucas - mexico
famous stone arch in cabo san lucas mexico
Google
  Web www.loscabosguide.com

Los Cabos Magazine - Issue #9 Articles

Golf in Los Cabos - Players Choice - A Course for Every Game
With seven championship courses designed by the best in the business, there’s enough variety in Los Cabos to challenge any golfer, all within twenty magical miles. Maggie McLean fills you in on Mexico's top golf destination.
Los Cabos Magazine article by Maggie McLean - Issue #9 - July 2004.
Ranked fourteenth by Golf Digest in its Top 50 Worldwide Destinations for Golfers, Los Cabos is a haven for the golf enthusiast. All courses have views of the multi-hued Sea of Cortes that frames Los Cabos, adding to its appeal as a golf and resort destination. Leave your golf umbrella behind—unless you choose to use it as a sunshade—there are few worries here about rain-interrupted play.

The courses wind through the 20-mile oceanfront Tourist Corridor with spectacular views complimenting each distinct course design. There’s almost a round of golf in ocean holes alone with 15 that play along the dramatic shoreline. Golf in Los Cabos is not for the faint of heart—it’s common to go through a sleeve or more of balls in one round. Learning to perfect a shot from out of the arroyos (dry sandy river beds) is important since you will visit one or more during your play. Not to worry, even the pros visit these parts of the courses. There are plenty of small canyons and arroyos to negotiate while attempting to stay clear of the desert scrub brush and cacti surrounding the fairways, a definite deterrent to searching too far for that wayward ball. On average a round of golf will cost over $200 U.S., an expensive afternoon’s sport, yet comparable to a day’s fishing or being pampered in the spa at one of the exclusive resorts. Few rounds of golf anywhere in the world will leave you as impressed with the quality of design, the exceptional weather, and the seductive scenery as Los Cabos will.

Cabo San Lucas Country Club - Land’s End Views
Managed by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Intrawest Golf, The Cabo San Lucas Country Club is deceiving in its difficulty level. A Dye Corporation design, the course record remains stubbornly set at 71, and golfers will find the terrain demanding for every player. There are no carries over arroyos, but don’t get too excited, there are 12 holes with water hazards. Although not right on the beach, there are great views of El Arco, Los Cabos’ landmark arch, and of the sparkling Sea of Cortes. The wider fairways give this course a more conventional look and the greens are small and undulating. A local tip is that the ball always rolls towards the ocean when putting. The par-5 13th is the signature hole, bordered by a lake with a small waterfall and the Sea of Cortes in the distance. It plays downhill and the tee shot should be well to the left, avoiding bunkers and water. The Cabo San Lucas Country Club is good value, with the lowest prices in the area for championship golf, offering a $299 U.S. Golf Pass, good for one year, which includes a free round, and reduces green fees to $69 U.S. during high season and $35 U.S. the rest of the year.

Cabo del Sol - Nicklaus and Weiskopf
With five tee boxes to choose from, there’s something for everyone at the Cabo del Sol resort’s two championship golf courses. The Ocean Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and ranked 68th by Golf Magazine in its “Top 100 Courses In the World,” is known as the Pebble Beach of Mexico. Nicklaus described this piece of land as “ . . .the best piece of golf property I’ve ever seen.” (He even has his own tee box hidden behind the 16th green.) Typical of Nicklaus, he has used the natural beauty of the area, and with six holes on the ocean, it is challenging and exhilarating to play. Nominating a signature hole is difficult since outstanding views and proximity to the ocean make each hole memorable. On the front nine Nicklaus has placed two par-3s in a row, the sixth and the seventh. Both have the ocean on the left, with the seventh adding a carry over an arroyo to a three tier green, 44-yards long. The par-4 16th plays downhill towards the ocean, with the green sitting right on the edge of the beach, bordered by water. Perhaps the most inspiring—and most photo-graphed—hole on the course is the par-3 17th, which requires a carry directly over the crashing surf of a small bay to a postage stamp of a green. Rock cliffs leading to the ocean frame the par-4 18th fairway, and as you play, you are reminded of the Nicklaus comment that these are “…the three best finishing holes in all of golf.” The complimentary tacos after nine holes, or at the end, are a nice touch adding to the feeling of satisfaction from playing at this top-rated course.

The Desert Course opened in January of 2002, accessed by the same clubhouse as the Ocean Course, spreading around it and across the other side of the highway up the mountainside. As a result, every hole has ocean views. A Tom Weiskopf design, his first in México, it includes several of his trademark features. Many of the holes have false fronts, which means you will see your ball rolling away from you should it not land squarely on the green. There are also “elephants” in the greens—interesting undulations—requiring patience and strategy when putting. To play this course well consult the players booklet handed out by the starter or you will be misled by what you cannot see from the tee box. Rocky outcrops look as if they make the fairway too narrow to hit, until you arrive and find it opens out behind the rock face. This is a thinker’s course and Weiskopf places long difficult holes followed by makeable ones. The par-5 third-hole is a long 626-yards and tough since you are invariably playing into the wind, while the par-4 fourth is more forgiving. There’s not a lot of water on this course but plenty of arroyos and rocks to challenge even the most talented player.

The luxurious Cabo del Sol resort has memberships for property owners and a stunning 40,000 square-foot full service clubhouse with expansive ocean and fairway views. Within the elegant hacienda is a large, well-stocked pro shop, a convivial bar and food area, a fine dining restaurant, several large banquet rooms for private functions, and a members only second floor with men’s and women’s lounges and full facilities.

Cabo Real - Robert Trent Jones II
The Robert Trent Jones II-designed course at Cabo Real, an oceanfront destination resort, winds its way around beautiful homes and the ultra-exclusive Las Ventanas al Paraiso, hotel to the rich and famous. But the development is not so intrusive as to spoil the feeling of space and expansive ocean views. Cabo Real Golf Club was the site of the 1999 PGA Senior Slam Tournament, it’s designed to challenge the low handicapper, yet with multiple tees, is fun for players of any level. Trent Jones II places fairway sand traps at distances from the tee boxes that require straight and direct tee shots or you will be playing from the sand. Rolling fairways move up the mountainside then drop back down toward the beach. From the elevated tee box on the par-4 ninth, a lake on the left and the ocean in the distance frames the fairway. The course moves towards the water for the back nine, with the par-4 14th sweeping down to the ocean on a palm tree-lined fairway, culminating in an elevated green right next to the rolling surf. The par-3 15th runs along the beach where tee shot accuracy once again becomes important in order to stay out the surf. With superb ocean views from every hole, this is yet another course that pleases the senses while offering a golfing challenge. Membership opportunities are available.

ElDorado - Jack Nicklaus
A mile away on the ocean side of the highway in Cabo Real, ElDorado Golf Club is Jack Nicklaus’ most recent design in Los Cabos, and six holes play right along the beach with mesmerizing ocean views. Another Nicklaus jewel, the holes wind from the ocean to canyons nestled in the hillside and back again. Whether you are playing from the black or red tees, this is a relatively forgiving course, providing you can stay away from the many sand traps and arroyos. The par-3 eighth is along the shore, with a green hardly visible from the tee boxes hidden behind a rocky outcrop. Check the scorecard before playing this hole since there is more green surface that meets the eye. Your tee shot at the ninth alongside the sand requires careful club selection, or you will find the arroyo and trying to reach the green from here can present a problem. The par-5 16th sweeps down towards the water with a gently sloping fairway and a green framed by the sea. Enjoy the expansive views and frolicking whales (in season), while playing a gem of a course. There are plans for ElDorado to turn private sometime in 2005. However, tee time reservations are being accepted until the end of 2004, possibly longer.

Palmilla - 27 Holes of Nicklaus Magic
Jack Nicklaus’ love affair with the Los Cabos area started at the exclusive Palmilla resort, his first course in the Tourist Corridor, near San Jose del Cabo. Managed by the well-known Troongolf group, there is noticeable improvement over the last several years, in the condition of the fairways and greens, and in the level of service. The Palmilla Golf Club's Mountain and Arroyo nines are more popular with local players while the Ocean Nine appeals to guests. All 27 holes include plenty of deep sand traps and many arroyos to negotiate. The 18 Mountain and Arroyo holes wind back into the mountainside ensuring great views of the Sea of Cortés, while the Ocean Nine roll toward the water. There’s a wonderful range of holes here with the signature fifth on the Mountain Nine perhaps offering the biggest challenge. Here the golfer shoots across the abyss of a 60-foot arroyo, onto a narrow fairway, and then back again to small green bordered by a steep bank. Rated the number one handicap, this is a tough hole, though don’t forget to look up and enjoy the view from the tee boxes.

The Arroyo Nine is inside and around the Mountain Nine. The par-5 seventh hole, featured on the front of the scorecard, necessitates a forced carry over the desert to a small landing area, and an accurate second shot away from the deep arroyo on the left hand side. The signature hole of the Ocean Nine is the par-4 third. The green is seemingly situated right in the picturesque Palmilla beach cove, and bordered on three sides by sand and arroyo. On the par-3 sixth, check out the incredible Cardon cactus, probably the oldest and biggest you will ever see. Palmilla’s 27 holes offer great resort golf. It’s challenging but fun to play here with enough variety to satisfy everyone’s expectations. With beautiful views from every hole, Palmilla is the most developed of all the courses. Homeowners are indeed fortunate to be in this privileged world class resort, anchored by the elite One&Only Palmilla hotel. Like the Cabo del Sol course, memberships are available to property owners, with a full service clubhouse planned for the near future.

Querencia - Fazio’s First in México
Next to Palmilla is the exclusive private Querencia golf course. Querencia means “a place to return to” and it’s a good choice of name. As a member only club it’s not cheap, but you get to belong to the #1 rated club in Latin America, according to Billionaire Magazine. Designed by Tom Fazio, this course is cut into the desert and moves back towards the mountains offering outstanding views far along the coast to Punta Gorda. Known as a golfer’s golfer, Fazio designs his courses to challenge the low handicapper but not intimidate other players, making this an excellent course to play. The pro shop and restaurant, with their beautifully appointed interiors, are very classy and give this the look of a much older, more established club. Play here is by invitation only, though this may change in the near future as Querencia has recently changed hands. This course is worth a look if you are in the market for an exclusive club with home sites and villas. If you are lucky enough to get an invitation to play, enjoy this first class course in every sense.

Mayan Palace Golf Los Cabos - Affordable Nine Hole
The smallest and least expensive of all Los Cabos Golf courses, it was built by FONATUR, the tourist development agency of the Mexican federal government, in the 1980s. The Mayan Palace Golf course, a nine hole, par-35 executive course has a well known designer, Joe Finger, with Mario Schjetnan, and some of the holes have peekaboo ocean views. While not of the caliber of the championship courses, the course is well groomed and the new owners have renovations and modifications planned. Expect significant changes to the facilities within the next six to 24 months.

If you are fortunate enough to play every championship course in Los Cabos you will leave having experienced world-class golf seven times over. Los Cabos is one of the few places in the world where you can play great golf, all within 20 miles, while staying at the same hotel, enjoying spectacular sights from everywhere you look.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Last Revision - 07 July, 2006 - AAS