Fernando Ortiz
Golf Pro Serves as Ambassador to the Game

By Rick Stedman

There’s a reason why Fernando Ortiz is considered one of Los Cabos’ best ambassadors of golf. Since the first major golf course opened in Los Cabos — the Palmilla Golf Club in 1992 — he has played an active role with nearly half of the current courses in the area. After his stint with the Palmilla, Ortiz served as part of the team that christened Cabo del Sol golf course in 1994. He then spent a dozen years at Cabo del Sol before moving down the street to work at Cabo Real Golf Club. Today, he’s the head professional at Club Campestre, one of the area’s newest courses.

“I remember back in 1985 when Los Cabos had only 5,000 residents,” he says of the former sleepy fishing village. “But today, with around 85,000 residents and thousands of visitors annually, the area continues to grow with no end in sight.” Many of those visitors today come to enjoy not only the sun and fishing but also the fabulous array of golf courses that now dot the area, including Club Campestre.

The 18-hole golf course is part of the Questro Golf Consortium in Los Cabos, and was designed by Jack Nicklaus. It officially opened to the public in summer 2007. Measuring 7,055 yards, the par-71 course will serve as the development’s centerpiece. Its natural beauty can already be appreciated, since the course features beautiful panoramic views of the ocean and desert mountains.

“Playing at Club Campestre is like playing in a garden,” says Ortiz. This demanding course promises to get better with age. One of its main attractions is the omnipresent view of the Sea of Cortés, which you can see from every hole on the course. Club Campestre Golf Course is currently open to the public and community members, but it is scheduled to become a private facility in about three years.

Working in the hospitality industry for 25 years, Ortiz helped establish the Giggling Marlin back in the mid-1980s. In addition to that tidbit, he shares a story not many know about: “I once owned an 18-foot panga and took five friends out fishing. The engine on the boat went out and we ended up being lost at sea for three days. We broke up the seats and turned them into makeshift paddles. We were eventually rescued, but the experience was unforgettable.”

Ortiz, who grew up in the state of Querétaro near Mexico City, started playing golf when he was young. “My father built the first golf course on the mainland in Querétaro, so I was able to play a lot of golf at a young age,” explains Ortiz. Like their father, Ortiz’s two daughters, ages 12 and 14, are also avid golfers.

In addition to serving as the head golf professional at Club Campestre, Ortiz also enjoys playing tennis and working out regularly at the gym. “I am very happy with my life and thankful for everything I have,” he humbly admits. And with that peaceful existence within, Fernando Ortiz willingly shares his knowledge of the game with others.

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