Mexico's Golf Mecca

Los Cabos' courses recognized as some of the best

By Rick Stedman

Los Cabos is home to an impressive collection of championship golf courses with designs from such golf legends as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Pete Dye. With several new courses in various stages of development, Los Cabos continues to solidify its position as one of the world’s premier golf destinations.

In the April 2011 issue of Condé Nast Traveler, five Los Cabos resorts were named as part of the Top 125 Golf Resorts. Esperanza–An Auberge Resort; Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort; Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort; Secrets Marquis Los Cabos and One&Only Palmilla were named among the Top 25 Foreign Golf Resorts.

Most recently, two top Los Cabos golf courses received recognition within the following publications: The Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol was voted No. 4 on Celebrated Living’s annual Reader’s Choice Platinum List of Top 20 International Golf Courses, and was included in Golf Magazine’s 2011 Top 100 Courses in the World; Diamante Cabo San Lucas was also named as one of Golf Magazine’s 2011 Top 100 Courses in the World.

Names like Nicklaus, Fazio, Norman, Dye, Love, Couples and Mickelson strongly influence the golf landscape in Los Cabos. From San José del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas, golf courses are skillfully carved out of the desert and accented by the Sea of Cortés and Pacific Ocean. Over the next several years, a handful of quality golf courses are scheduled to open. Look for new courses at Chileno Bay Golf & Ocean Club (designed by Tom Fazio), a second course at Diamante Cabo San Lucas (Phil Mickelson design), Cabo Riviera Marina & Golf Resort (Pete Dye Signature Course), Montage Los Cabos (Fred Couples) and a pair of courses at Quivira Los Cabos (Jack Nicklaus Signature courses). In addition, Querencia Golf Club is also planning to open a second 18-hole course (Gil Hanse design). Here’s a summary of what is happening on the Los Cabos golf front.

Courses in Development

Cabo Riviera Marina and Golf Resort
The scenic 18-hole Pete Dye Signature Golf Course, with the option to add an additional nine holes, features a unique waterfront community, surrounded by an ecological landscape. Scheduled for completion in late 2012, the Cabo Riviera Marina Golf Course is suitable for amateur golfers and seasoned professionals.

Chileno Bay Golf & Ocean Club
Currently in development, the Chileno Bay project encompasses more than two miles of coastline for the creation of luxury home sites and two championship courses designed by Tom Fazio. Located four miles north of Cabo del Sol, and set on one of the only swimmable bays in Los Cabos, Chileno Bay will be one of the premier private clubs. The resort-style community will feature a private marina and yacht club, the Inn at Chileno Bay for sponsored guests and the two Tom Fazio championship golf courses.

Montage Los Cabos
Also in the development phase is the luxurious Montage Los Cabos. In addition to opening a luxury new hotel where the former Twin Dolphins Hotel once stood along The Corridor, Montage Los Cabos has commissioned Fred Couples to design an 18-hole championship golf course. The course opening is still in the planning stages.

Quivira Los Cabos
With a spectacular backdrop along one of Mexico’s most dramatic stretches of oceanfront property, the two Jack Nicklaus–designed courses at Quivira Los Cabos promise a lifetime of magnificent and memorable golf experiences. Construction began during the summer of 2010 on the first 18 holes of the Jack Nicklaus course, with an expected completion date of late 2011 or in early 2012. The second phase of development will begin in 2012, with 18 additional holes expected to be complete in the latter half of 2013. Set along massive sand dunes, rugged cliffs and white-sand beaches, the highly anticipated Jack Nicklaus courses will then be separated into two golf experiences: an 18-hole course open to resort guests and a private 18-hole course.

Quality Courses Open for Play

Cabo del Sol — The Desert Course
Tom Weiskopf designed this fabulous course that features ocean views from all 18 holes. Opened in December 2001, this target-style golf experience with sloping fairways offers plenty of bunkers that will challenge the skill levels of all golfers. A unique combination of desert and ocean, canyon-like arroyos and a variety of foliage creates a breathtaking backdrop as well as a significant challenge. The course varies in length from 4,810 to 7,100 yards with undulating greens, challenging elevation changes and dramatic bunkering. Weiskopf deliberately designed The Desert Course with one thing in mind: Sea of Cortés views from every hole. Also, the 40,000-square-foot clubhouse fuses colonial and traditional architecture with modern amenities to create a distinctive Mexican design.

Cabo del Sol — The Ocean Course
Most thought this masterful design couldn’t get any better, and then Nicklaus came to town again — and the Ocean Course became even better. While greens have been reshaped and bunkers repositioned by Nicklaus since the course opened in 1994, his revision of the layout’s back-to-back par 3s at holes six and seven and overhaul of the par-4 fifth hole represent a complete departure from previous modifications. The world-renowned Cabo del Sol Ocean Course stretches more than a mile along a coastline of craggy rock outcroppings and sun-washed shores. The 7,091-yard Ocean Course is praised by Nicklaus himself for having the “three finest finishing holes in all of golf.” Now, he can boast about three more holes in the middle of the course, or simply the entire Ocean Course.

Cabo Real Golf Club
Always a favorite with visitors, the magnificent Cabo Real Golf Club is a testament to Mother Nature’s handiwork. Home to two PGA Senior Slams, and a host of other prestigious golf tournaments, the 7,037-yard Cabo Real Golf Club has what is considered the toughest front nine of golf in Los Cabos. Since the layout blends into the environment, the desert hues, fairways and greens, hills, mountains and ocean all form a harmonious pattern. 

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Cabo Real Golf Club first opened for play in December 1994. Players head toward the mountains during the first six holes, testing their skills on a course that is difficult, but adheres to the notion of risk and reward. The first and third holes are both par 5 and require two good strokes to reach the green, although failed attempts are heavily penalized. The fifth, a long par 4, offers a tempting view of the left-hand side of the fairway, but demands a perfect tee shot to the right over a ravine to stay out of trouble. The less complicated back nine run down to the ocean on the 14th and continue parallel with the coastline through the 15th before returning to the clubhouse at the 16th. Cabo Real Golf Club averages 20,000 rounds a year.

Cabo San Lucas Country Club
The picturesque Cabo San Lucas Country Club is set amid endless cacti and colorful bouganvillea, and is the area’s only course offering views of the famed landmark, the Arch at Land’s End. This resort course sits on 745 acres of prime real estate. Roy Dye designed the 18-hole course, which challenges players of all levels and features more than 80 bunkers and gently sloping fairways. As breathtaking as it is demanding, the course — one of the first to be developed in the area — overlooks the Sea of Cortés. A gorgeous fountain and thriving gardens set the tone from the moment you arrive. The broad fairways navigate a largely untamed desert landscape rich with groves of Palo Blanco trees, Cardon cacti and an array of wildlife. Nine sparkling lakes add to both the aesthetics and the course’s level of difficulty.

Hole 13, a par 5, 539 yarder, is the course’s signature hole. It’s the final hole on the course, so you may want to stop to savor the moment or maybe even snap a photo before approaching your second shot. It’s from this vantage point that you will appreciate the unique vista of Los Cabos that includes Land’s End and the Sea of Cortés. The 610-yard, par-5 seventh hole is one of the longest in Los Cabos.

Club Campestre San José
Its natural beauty makes Club Campestre one of the area’s most desirable golf venues, featuring beautiful panoramic views of the ocean and desert mountains. An example of its beauty is hole seven, a 500-yard, par 5 that contains an amazing peninsula green with a magnificent view that accents the beautiful contrast between desert and ocean.

Located at the roundabout as you enter San José from the west (Cabo San Lucas), the well-manicured Club Campestre San José is the centerpiece of a 550-acre upscale community that includes a beach club and social club. The 18-hole golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened to the public in summer 2007. Part of the Questro Golf offering, the par 71 measures 6,966 yards.

According to head professional Fernando Ortiz, “playing at Club Campestre is like playing in a garden.” This is a demanding course that promises to get better with age. In addition to the omnipresent sand traps, golfers will see an abundance of bull trees. The clubhouse features TaylorMade R7 club rentals, a restaurant and top-of-the-line golf attire for purchase. Club Campestre San José Golf Course is currently open to the public and community members. But don’t wait too long to experience this course, for it will become a private facility in the near future.

Diamante Cabo San Lucas
Officially opened in December 2009, The Dunes Course at Diamante Cabo San Lucas is set to become one of the world’s most desirable courses. Designed by 20-time PGA tour winner Davis Love III, the beachfront course boasts 18 holes with emerald green fairways and dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean. The Dunes course is complemented by a unique practice facility that offers four separate hitting caves and two main driving ranges, accommodating large or small groups of players. Phil Mickelson has been tapped to design the Diamante development’s second course, The Oasis Course, with a construction start date yet to be determined.

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club
Ranked as one of the top courses in the world, as well as one of the premier private tracks in Los Cabos, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club is truly a private paradise. Located at Km. 22 along The Corridor, it offers spectacular golf, as the course winds through desert landscape featuring colorful canyons and arroyos. In addition to having access to the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, which became private in 2006, residents have at their disposal a host of other amenities, including spa facilities, a fitness center, tennis courts, shopping boutiques and men’s and women’s lounge and locker areas, as well as indoor and outdoor dining facilities. El Dorado opened in 1999 and quickly earned a four-and-a-half star rating (out of five) on Golf Digest’s Places to Play listing.

Palmilla Golf Club
Opened in 1992, the Palmilla Golf Club has the distinction of being the only 27-hole course in Los Cabos. This was Jack Nicklaus’ first signature course design project in Latin America. The unique blending of desert and sea features the Arroyo Nine, the Mountain Nine and the Ocean Nine. Palmilla Golf club gently takes you through 800 vertical feet of the Baja Desert. Many of the holes have a view of the sparkling Sea of Cortés — and the mountain holes are as beautiful as they are challenging, with varied lengths and several water and sand hazards.

Recently, the PGA Tour Experiences opened its newest Tour Academy at the Palmilla Golf Club in Los Cabos. Famous for 27 holes of world-class golf and spectacular views, the Palmilla Golf Club has been recognized as the Grand Dame of Los Cabos golf and has consistently received numerous resort industry accolades including: Golf Digest’s 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America, Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 100 Golf Resorts and the No. 1 Golf Course in Mexico by Cigar Aficionado.

Puerto Los Cabos
Set along the stunning beaches of San José del Cabo, the area welcomed this premier course in 2008 with the opening of 18 holes. This composite course includes a unique design: the nine-hole Marina Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and the nine-hole Mission Course, designed by Greg Norman. The courses are open 365 days a year and offer both public and private options for golfers. The remaining 18 holes are currently under development and following completion, Puerto Los Cabos will offer two separate courses: a public 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course and a private 18-hole Greg Norman course.

Punta Sur Vidanta Golf Los Cabos (Formerly Grupo Mayan Golf Los Cabos)
Though this course has undergone several name changes in recent years, Punta Sur Vidanta Golf Los Cabos was the first golf course on the southern Baja California Peninsula. Its original purpose was to help increase tourism. The former San José Municipal Golf Course was built by FONATUR, the National Foundation for Tourism in Mexico, and was acquired by the Grupo Mayan chain in 2004. Last year, it underwent another name change, this time to Punta Sur, which is still part of the Grupo Mayan umbrella. Grupo Mayan recently changed its name to Vidanta. This nine-hole, par-35 course measures 3,153 yards and is semi-flat. But don’t be fooled; there are some challenging holes. The course’s signature hole and number one handicap is the 431-yard, par-4 seventh, which has a sharp dogleg left.

Querencia Golf Club
Coming in at No. 2 on Golfweek’s 2011 Best Courses of the Caribbean and Mexico, Querencia Golf Club continues to pile up the accolades. And it’s no wonder, since no golf course architect in the world can boast as many award-winning projects as the famed Tom Fazio, who designed Querencia. Opening in 2000, this is one of the true gems of Baja golf; a celebration of nature within a private but relaxed club atmosphere. The Fazio track features spectacular views from every hole, a challenging yet playable golf experience that both daunts and delights players, harmonious transitions from hole to hole, with subtle breaks, contoured fairways and uniquely shaped bunkers.

Recently, Querencia officials announced that Gil Hanse would be the lead architect for its second course, to be built at a later date. The design team at Querencia will also include Jim Wagner — Hanse’s design partner — as well as collaborator Geoff Shackelford. “The last time this talented team worked together on a project, they produced the award-winning Rustic Canyon,” says Jorge Carrera, Querencia president and CEO. Carrera also praised Hanse’s minimalist design style as a perfect fit for Querencia. Minimalists seek to preserve the integrity of the landscape and find holes that occur naturally in the terrain. “Hanse’s courses are often walkable, too,” says Carrera, “a style that symbolizes the close-knit and casual lifestyle here, where things are simple.” Hanse represents a back-to-the-basics movement in golf course design.

Indian Head Putting Course
If you can’t make it to the course, but still want to practice your game, then visit Indian Head Golf at Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa in Los Cabos. Indian Head Golf, named for the Mexican national monument that’s etched in the rugged cliffs above the professional nine-hole putting course, features a spectacular 60-foot cascading waterfall and three sparkling blue lakes. Putting on this challenging course is great fun for both the young and the young-at-heart. In addition to putting, you can test your skills with a round of simulated golf on one of 26 different world-famous championship golf courses (Pebble Beach, Desert Plains, Pine Valley, Legends, etc.), or practice your short game on the challenging putting course. Owned and operated by Steve Dodson, former director of golf at Cabo San Lucas Country Club, Indian Head Golf Shop offers golf lessons six days a week. Options include learning on a professional golf simulator or at the driving range in the Cabo Real Golf Course. The golf shop carries men’s and women’s golf wear, golf equipment, golf shoes and accessories. If you don’t feel like hauling your clubs to Cabo, Indian Head offers quality rental clubs at very reasonable prices. According to Dodson, Indian Head Golf Shop is the only golf shop in Los Cabos that repairs and fits golf clubs. For information, call (624) 145-7522 or e-mail golfprocabo@hotmail.com. Indian Head is open to the public seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Villas de Cortez Golf Course
Villas de Cortez Golf Course in East Cape is about an hour’s drive north of San José del Cabo International Airport. Measuring 1,200 yards, this nine-hole, par-3 executive course, which was built adjacent to the Hotel Palmas De Cortez, features holes ranging from 55 to 115 yards, along with a driving range. There are also several sand traps, water hazards, and two tee boxes on each hole. Villas de Cortez Golf Course green fees are the best in Los Cabos: $20 for nine holes. This is a great course to practice your short game. Clubs are also included with green fees.

Questro's New GPS Systems

Los Cabos golfers will appreciate the new high-end GPS systems recently installed on 200 golf carts at Questro Golf’s three gems: Club Campestre San José, Puerto Los Cabos and Cabo Real.

The Visage RT GPS systems are about as top-of-the-line as you can get. The Visage mobile golf information system is a delivery mechanism for unmatched customer service. According to Sergio Castillo, PGA director of golf at Puerto Los Cabos, “The new GPS systems provide exact yardage to the pin, full hole-by-hole flyovers in superior 3-D graphics and allows golfers to order food items a few holes before the turn.” Since golfers will have better knowledge of the course, the Visage RT GPS systems should also improve pace of play.

One of the fun benefits of using this GPS system is that after a round is complete, golfers can e-mail their score to anyone. The system also offers two-way messaging with the golf shop, tournament scoring with a real-time leader board and touch-screen navigation. The nine-inch color GPS system is mounted onto the front of the golf cart; it’s sleek, slender, and out of the way.

Golf Tournaments

6th Annual Amy & Vince's Fred Duckett Challenge
Country music’s Amy Grant and Vince Gill proudly lend their names to promote an annual golf tournament in Los Cabos, which helps fund the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation (LCCF). The 6th annual Amy & Vince’s Fred Duckett Challenge will be held on March 1–4, 2012. Held last year at Querencia Golf Club and Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club, Amy & Vince’s Fred Duckett Challenge in 2012 will take place at Querencia Golf Club and Club Campestre San José. According to Miroslava Bautista Sanchez, president and CEO of LCCF, last year’s event raised $1.3 million. Thirty-four foursomes participated in the Fred Duckett Challenge, named after the southern California real estate developer who had a second home in Los Cabos, and shared his kindness with all he encountered. His legacy and his family’s continued efforts drive much of what the LCCF seeks to accomplish.

For the last five years, the LCCF has taken the lead in advocating for children with medical needs in greater Los Cabos. The organization’s mission is to provide medical, educational and humanitarian assistance to children, their families and supportive organizations of the Los Cabos area. For more details about the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation or Amy & Vince’s Fred Duckett Challenge, visit www.loscaboschildren.org.

14th Annual Puerto Los Cabos World Pro-Am
Los Cabos will again host the annual World Pro-Am golf tournament in January 2012. Now in its 14th year, the Puerto Los Cabos World Pro-Am will take place at Cabo Real Golf Course, Palmilla Golf Club and Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club.

With teams consisting of three amateurs and one golf professional, nearly 80 individuals participated in the last World Pro-Am event. According to tournament director Gordon Neely, PGA tour players will not participate, but rather club professionals — both men and women — from around the world may sign up.

“We conduct the event in January as most of our participants come from the Northeast portion of the United States, and they are looking to get somewhere warm,” said Neely. “Cabo is a great place, and the golf courses are outstanding.”

This year’s event will be held Jan. 8-13, 2012. Participants will spend five nights at the luxurious Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort. The tournament format will be 54-hole team best ball net and 54-hole team best ball gross.

Though all contestants must enter as a four-person team, individuals looking to participate can sign up on the availability list. “We sometimes place golfers from our amateur availability list,” said Neely. For those wishing to sign up individually, send an e-mail to wpagolf@yahoo.com. For more information on the Puerto Los Cabos World Pro-Am, visit www.golftournamenttours.com.

Print your own Los Cabos Golf Directory.

Los Cabos Golf Courses

Cabo San Lucas Country Club
Km. 3 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 143-4653
U.S./CAN: (877) 537-4819
www.golfincabo.com
Designer: Roy Dye
7,220 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 75.4
Slope: 138
Resort Course
$$$
Course highlights: With a stunning view of the famous Arch, this par-72 masterpiece was created by the Dye design team. It features 80 bunkers and one of the longest holes in Los Cabos: the 610-yard, par-5, seventh.

Cabo del Sol — The Ocean Course
Km. 10.3 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 145-6300
U.S.: (866) 231-4677
www.cabodelsol.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
7,091 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.5
Slope: 147
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: The Nicklaus design team has transformed holes five through seven, creating as much of a buzz as the final three finishing holes on the course. Aesthetically, the course stretches more than a mile along the coast. The Ocean Course features seven holes on the water, including 5–8 and 16–18.

Cabo del Sol — The Desert Course
Km. 10.3 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 145-6300
U.S.: (866) 231-4677
www.cabodelsol.com
Designer: Tom Weiskopf
7,049 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.3
Slope: 144
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: Opened in December 2001, this masterful Tom Weiskopf design features mesmerizing ocean views from all 18 holes, each artfully sculpted through incredible natural surroundings.

Cabo Real Golf Club
Km. 19.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 144-0040
U.S.: (877) 795-8727
www.caboreal.com
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
7,037 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.1
Slope: 140
Resort Course
Semi-private
$$$$
Course highlights: Considered by many to have the toughest front nine in all of Los Cabos, Cabo Real Golf Club is often called the Pebble Beach of Mexico. This championship course features nine spectacular oceanfront holes on its more than three miles of coastline, and is a must-play for all golfers.

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club — Private
Km. 22 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 144-5451
U.S.: (877) 795-8727
www.eldoradogolfandbeachclub.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
7,332 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.4
Slope: 143
Private Course
$$$$
Course highlights: El Dorado, a stunning and memorable golf course, is considered one of the top courses in the world. This Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course plays through two very different types of terrain. Half the course overlooks the ocean and half plays the desert landscape of Baja California Sur.

Palmilla Golf Resort
Km. 27 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 144-5250
U.S.: (800) 637-2226
www.oneandonlyresorts.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Arroyo/Mountain: 6,939 yards
Mountain/Ocean: 7,036 yards
Ocean/Arroyo: 6,771 yards
Par 72 (all)
27 holes
A/M Rating: 74.3
M/O Rating: 74.4
O/A Rating: 74.8
A/M Slope: 144
M/O Slope: 146
O/A Slope: 145
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: Every year, the Palmilla receives worldwide accolades. In 2011, Golfweek ranked the course No. 39 in its Top 50 Courses of the Caribbean and Mexico. Divided into the Arroyo Nine, the Mountain Nine and the Ocean Nine, the par-72 course features 27 holes on stunning fairways of more than 7,000 yards. Whether beginner or professional, the five sets of staggered tee boxes ensure all golfers an exciting game.

Querencia Golf Club — Private
Km. 27.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 145-6600
U.S.: (888) 236-2229
www.loscabosquerencia.com
Designer: Tom Fazio
7,070 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.5
Slope: 147
Private Course
$$$$
Course highlights: Just as vintage Cabo catered to connoisseurs of sporting pursuits, the Tom Fazio championship golf course at Querencia plays to connoisseurs of refined luxury. Its 18 holes span more than 300 acres — carving their way through deep arroyos and resting atop cool, arid plateaus — at the top-ranked golf club in the peninsula. Certainly not a place for everyone, Querencia is a place to live a life (and play a game) of one’s own, encircled by stands of ancient cacti and palm trees, and pleasantly absent of
the inconveniences of a
crowded destination.

Club Campestre San José
Km. 119 Libramiento Aeropuerto SJC
Local Phone: (624) 173-9400
MEX: (800) 543-2044
U.S.: (877) 795-8727
www.clubcampestresanjose.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
6,966 yards
Par 71
18 holes
Rating: 73.5
Slope: 137
Resort Course – Semi-private
$$$$
Course highlights: One of Questro Golf’s showcase courses in the area, Club Campestre San José features spectacular views of the Sea of Cortés, incredible panoramic views, dramatic elevation changes and a plethora of undulating championship greens. Hole seven contains an amazing peninsula green with a magnificent view that emphasizes the beautiful contrast between desert and ocean. This course opened in 2007.

Punta Sur Vidanta Golf Los Cabos (Formerly Grupo Mayan Golf Los Cabos)
Km. 29.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
Local Phone: (624) 142-0905
U.S.: (866) 465-7316
www.vidantagolf.com
Designers: Mario Schjetnan, Cary Bickler
3,153 yards
Par 35
9 holes
Rating and S.S.S.: 68.2
Slope: N/A
Resort Course
$$
Course highlights: Featuring 32 bunkers, Punta Sur Golf Course was the first golf course on the southern Baja California Peninsula back in 1987. Its original purpose was to help increase tourism. This course was created for very soft play with a partially flat design. But be careful, the fairways are not very wide and the external urban environment can make your play more interesting, and require more precise strokes.

Puerto Los Cabos
Paseo de los Pescadores, La Playita
San José de Cabo
Local Phone: (624) 105-6441
U.S.: 877-795-8727
www.puertoloscabos.com
Designers:
Jack Nicklaus – The Marina Course
Greg Norman – The Mission Course
7,461 yards
Par 73
18 holes
Rating: 75.9
Slope: 145
Public and Private Club
$$$$
Course highlights: Puerto Los Cabos begins with the Shark and finishes with the Bear. The front nine of the Mission Course was designed by Greg Norman, while the back nine of the Marina Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. Eventually, two 18-hole courses will be completed.

Diamante Cabo San Lucas — Private
Diamante Boulevard (4 miles west of Cabo San Lucas off Todos Santos Highway 19)
Local Phone: (624) 172-5812
U.S.: 866-901-1456
www.diamantecabosanlucas.com
Designer: Davis Love III
7,300 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 75.4
Slope: 146
Private Club
$$$$
Course highlights: Diamante Dunes Golf Club has been voted the Top New International Golf Course by Golf Magazine, it’s been featured on the front cover of LINKS, and has also been voted Best New Golf Course in Mexico by Golf Life:Travel and Best’s Golf Guide magazines. Challenging and breathtaking, this course has it all and has been called by some as the best golf course in Mexico. A second course, the Oasis Course, will be designed by Phil Mickelson at a later date.

Note: With the exception of Diamante Dunes Golf Club, courses are listed in order of location driving north on the Carretera Transpeninsular Highway from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo. Since greens fees fluctuate depending on the time of year and the time of day, the scale used is a general guide. $ = less than US$50; $$ = less than US$100; $$$ = more than US$100; and $$$$ = more than US$200.

Putt-Putt/Miniature Golf

If you just want to putt around, here is a list of establishments that offer putting greens or miniature golf.

Cabo San Lucas
   Playa Grande Resort & Spa
   Villa del Palmar

The Corridor and San José del Cabo
   Rusty Putter Bar & Grill
   Grand Baja Resort & Spa
   La Jolla De Los Cabos Resort & Spa
   Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos

Grass is Always Greener When It's Fake

For All Your Golfing Needs, Visit Indian Head Golf Shop

Indian Head Golf Shop, located at the magnificent Playa Grande Hotel on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, offers a wide variety of golf-related items and accessories. Owned and operated by Steve Dodson, former director of golf at Cabo San Lucas Country Club, Indian Head Golf Shop offers golf lessons six days a week. Options include learning in the comfort of the air-conditioned golf shop while on a professional golf simulator, or on the driving range at Cabo Real Golf Course.

There's also a nine-hole professional putting green on site, designed by Hale Irwin. Indian Head Golf shop carries a large selection of name brand men's and women's golf wear and golf equipment, as well as a good selection of name brand golf shoes and accessories. There is always professional staff on hand to assist customers and guests with all of their golfing needs. And, if you don't feel like hauling your clubs to Cabo, drop by Indian Head, where you'll find quality rental clubs available at very reasonable prices. According to Dodson, Indian Head Golf Shop is the only golf shop in Los Cabos that repairs and fits golf clubs.

If you want to play a round of (simulated) golf on 31 different world-famous championship golf courses, or practice your putting on the incredible putting course nestled below 60-foot rock cliffs and a waterfall, visit Indian Head Golf Shop. For more information, call (624)145-7522. Indian Head is open to the public every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do! Click here for a list of dive, watersports, fishing and tour operators. You'll also find links to Cabo's world class golf courses, spas, adventure tours, horseback riding, wedding coordinators and cruises.