Tee Time

Professional golfers — past and present — leave their mark on Los Cabos' golf scene

By Rick Stedman

Professional golfers are leaving a mark on Los Cabos' golf courses, and it's more than just divots. Hall of Fame and PGA professional Jack Nicklaus designed his first golf course in Los Cabos in 1992, the Palmilla Golf Club. Since then, Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III have designed courses in Los Cabos.

Despite the claim that Elvis is King, for those golfing in Los Cabos, Nicklaus holds that title. Nicklaus and his design team have collaborated on three award-winning courses including Cabo del Sol, El Dorado and Palmilla. Nicklaus has several more courses under construction, among them Cabo Pacífica, Puerto Los Cabos, Punta Gorda and Club Campestre.

Courses on the Horizon

Currently under construction just north of San José del Cabo is the mega-resort Puerto Los Cabos. This gated golf community will include a marina complex and two 18-hole golf courses, one designed by Nicklaus and the other by Norman. According to Peter Perry, marketing manager, the first 18 holes will comprise nine designed by Nicklaus and nine by Norman. The Nicklaus nine opened in late fall 2007, while the initial Norman nine will open in spring 2008.

Diamante Cabo San Lucas is another exclusive golf community now under construction on 1,500 acres within the city limits and featuring 1.5 miles of coastline. The extremely private master-planned luxury development features two of the most popular PGA Tour golfers heading the design teams. Mickelson will create an 18-hole layout complementing the one currently being built by Love. "This is truly an exciting and wonderful opportunity for me and my firm, Phil Mickelson Design," Mickelson says. "The area is spectacular, and with Davis doing a course there too, Diamante is going to be just a phenomenal place for those who appreciate the game of golf." Mickelson will create the ultra-exclusive Oasis course with just 40 premium residential offerings. Meanwhile, Love will design the Dunes course, which is located near the water. The community will also feature state-of-the-art golf practice and learning facilities, an oceanside beach club with guest suites, a tennis complex, a world-class spa, fitness center, swimming pools, equestrian center, ice hockey rink and other recreational facilities.

The Chileno Bay Club project is another development that is in the works. That project, located four miles north of Cabo del Sol, will encompass an estimated 2.5 miles of coastline along the Sea of Cortés to include Chileno Bay. Two championship layouts are planned: one by Tom Fazio and the other by Nicklaus. The 1,300-acre resort-style community features a private marina and yacht club, the Inn at Chileno Bay for sponsored guests, and other amenities.

Cabo Pacífica is another spectacular resort under construction, with more than three miles of dramatic beachfront adjacent to Cabo San Lucas. Ernesto Coppel, president and CEO of Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas and developer of the project, said that Nicklaus will design two signature golf courses at the resort. Residents and guests of Cabo Pacífica will enjoy biking and hiking trails, botanical gardens, nature and sport parks, beach clubs, a quaint village and a community center. Cabo Pacífica also has within its boundaries the most historic landmark in the area: the old Cabo San Lucas Lighthouse, built in 1906.

Let's Play a Round...

Club Campestre San José
The newest golf course to open in Los Cabos, Club Campestre San José is located at the roundabout as you enter San José from the west. Measuring 7,055 yards from the championship tees, this Nicklaus-designed course is the first one to use Paspalum grass, which is resistant to salt water, and includes a top-of-the-line 40,000-square-foot clubhouse. According to head professional Fernando Ortiz, "Playing at Club Campestre is like playing in a garden." This par-71 championship course features a plethora of sand traps and a host of picturesque views of the Sea of Cortés. Hole 18, the par-4 signature hole, is designed to feature a downhill slope with extending views of the clubhouse and azure waters of the Sea of Cortés. The seventh is the course's most difficult hole, with a downward slant that unfolds upon a narrow fairway surrounded by water on both sides.

Cabo San Lucas Country Club
A few miles outside Cabo San Lucas, the Cabo San Lucas Country Club (formerly The Raven Golf Club) is the only course with a view of Land's End. The two top handicap holes are number five and number 16. Hole five is a 446-yard par 4 with a serious dogleg right and gentle uphill slope. The green has forward sand bunkers both left and right, along with a water hazard to the left and rear of the green. According to Cabo San Lucas Country Club's director of golf, Eric Grindereng, hole 13, a 5,539-yarder, is the course's signature hole. However, it's the final hole on the course where you will want to stop and 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 620-yard, par-5 seventh hole is the longest in Mexico. In 2004, Golf Digest listed Cabo San Lucas Country Club in its "Places to Play" listing.

Cabo del Sol — The Ocean Course
Cabo del Sol — The Ocean Course is a masterpiece of perfection. The Nicklaus signature design features 1.5 miles of oceanfront. With seven holes directly on the coastline, this gem of a setting is often referred to as the "Pebble Beach of Baja." The fourth hole is the longest on the front nine, playing 568 yards from the tips, while holes six and seven are both par 3 at 190 and 207 yards, respectively. Local realtor Chris Snell calls this his favorite track in Los Cabos. "This is simply a phenomenal golf course," he says.

In a typical Nicklaus design, the course provides a variety of safe landing areas for golfers. This 7,103-yard course has made Golf Magazine's list of Top 100 Golf Courses in the World on more than one occasion. In 1998, The Ocean Course was the site of the Senior PGA Tour.

Cabo del Sol — The Desert Course
Opening its doors in late 2002, Cabo del Sol — The Desert Course was designed by Weiskopf. This target-style golf experience with sloping fairways offers plenty of bunkers that will challenge the skill levels of all golfers. Weiskopf deliberately designed The Desert Course with one thing in mind: Sea of Cortés views from every hole. With the overall course length varying from 5,300 to 7,100 yards, The Desert Course offers something for everyone. "My design incorporates traditional bunkering, expansive greens, wide fairways, multiple tee areas, natural waste areas and spectacular ocean views," says Weiskopf, adding "The natural beauty of the desert, mountain and ocean provides an ideal setting and some of the best terrain for golf anywhere in the world."

Cabo Real Golf Club
The magnificent Cabo Real Golf Club is a testament to Mother Nature's handiwork. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1989, its three picturesque oceanfront holes will compete for your attention, especially when whales put on a breaching show just offshore, as they did during the 1996 PGA Senior Slam Tournament. Cabo Real also hosted the 1999 Senior Slam.

In addition to the 7,060 yards of verdant landscape, several changes are in the works. For example, modifications in and around holes 8, 13, 17 and 18 have increased the course's length, which now measures 7,060 yards from the championship tees. The Cabo Real Golf Club averages 20,000 rounds a year. It's arguably the toughest front nine in Cabo San Lucas.

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club
The El Dorado Golf & Beach Club changed its status to private in 2006. Although in the remodeling it lost just a little of its mystique and beauty with the absence of several oceanfront holes, El Dorado continues to challenge golfers with its unique fairways, dogleg, water and bunker challenges. This Nicklaus-designed private course offers spectacular golf, as it winds through desert landscape featuring colorful canyons and arroyos. 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. It has attracted the likes of Tiger Woods, Bill Gates and Kevin Costner.

Palmilla Golf Resort
The Palmilla Golf Resort has the distinction of being the only 27-hole golf course in Los Cabos. The unique blending of desert and sea features the Arroyo Nine, the Mountain Nine and the Ocean Nine. Many of the holes have a view of the Sea of Cortés. This course is perched on deep canyon arroyos and sits among century-old cacti. The trade winds enhance the atmosphere, while the course challenges even the most experienced players. Gentle slopes, wide fairways and large greens greet players from the back tees. Diverse in length and enhanced by several water and sand hazards, the mountain holes are as beautiful as they are challenging. A Mexican décor clubhouse, on-site pro shop and friendly staff complement this charming golf course.

Querencia Golf Club
This Fazio-designed course was the first private golf course in Los Cabos, opening in 2000. It also features a nine-hole short course, a state-of-the-art practice facility and a 26,000-square-foot clubhouse with a sweeping view of the Sea of Cortés. The 840-acre resort offers immaculate fairways and greens, coupled with surrounding landscape that includes cacti, flowering bushes and lush palms. This stunning complex offers only 350 golf memberships worldwide. Non-homeowner golf memberships are available, subject to homeowner priority and other membership criteria.

Mayan Country Club Los Cabos
The Mayan Country Club Los Cabos just sounds like a great golf course — and it is, with spectacular views of the Sea of Cortés and East Cape. The former San José Municipal Golf Course is now part of Mayan Resorts. This nine-hole, par-35 course measures 3,153 yards and is semiflat. But don't be fooled; there are some challenging holes. For example, on the 540-yard, par-5 hole three, you tee off over a lake and then are treated to a wide-open fairway that has a serious dogleg left. The green is guarded by four sand traps. Likewise, the number five hole, a 518-yard par 5, has a green that lies above the fairway, making all approach shots risky and complicated. The course's signature hole and number one handicap is the 431-yard, par-4 seventh, which has a sharp dogleg left.

Other Golfing Options
By Los Cabos standards, the most economical course in the region is Villas de Cortés Golf Course in East Cape. It's about an hour's drive north of Los Cabos International Airport. Measuring 1,200 yards, the Villas de Cortés Golf Course was built on a former airstrip. This nine-hole executive par-3 course features holes ranging from 55 yards to 115 yards. There are also several sand traps, water hazards and two tee boxes. Green fees are the best in Los Cabos: $20 for nine holes.

Golf Tournament

Los Cabos hosts the People vs. The Pros Championship Golf Event, one of the PGA's Challenge Events. This unique tournament features amateur golfers competing head-to-head against professionals from the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour. The event is open to U.S., Mexican and Canadian amateur golfers over 18 years of age with an established handicap. For more information, visit www.peoplevsthepros.com or call 1-866-940-CABO.

Print your own Los Cabos Golf Directory.

Los Cabos Golf Courses

Club Campestre San José
Km. 119 Libramiento Aeropuerto SJC
011-52-624-172-6502
www.clubcampestresanjose.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
7,055 yards
Par 71
18 holes
Rating: Not yet available
Slope: Not yet available
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: If you like sand traps, this is a course for you. Jack Nicklaus went all out to create a challenging course that will truly test your target golf skills.

Cabo San Lucas Country Club
Km. 3 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (888) 328-8501
011-52-613-143-4653
Designer: Roy Dye
7,220 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 75.4
Slope: 138
Resort Course
$$$
Course highlights: Since the first hole-in-one was recorded here on Dec. 23, 1994, 13 golfers have recorded an ace. Your best bet: the 197-yard third hole, 226-yard eighth or the 168-yard 17th hole.

Cabo del Sol — The Ocean Course
Km. 10.3 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (866) 231-4677
011-52-624-145-8200
www.cabodelsol.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
7,103 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.5
Slope: 147
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: With seven holes on the water (5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18), this championship layout is praised by Jack Nicklaus himself for having the "three finest finishing holes in all of golf."

Cabo del Sol — The Desert Course
Km. 10.3 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (866) 231-4677
011-52-624-145-8200
www.cabodelsol.com
Designer: Tom Weiskopf
7,097 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.3
Slope: 144
Resort Course
$$$$
Course highlights: This delightful course features ocean views from every hole; Golf Digest recently ranked it No. 5 in Mexico.

Cabo Real Golf Club
Km. 19.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
011-52-624-144-0040
www.caboreal.com/golf.htm
Designer: Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
7,037 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.1
Slope: 140
Resort Course
Semiprivate
$$$$
Course highlights: Often called the "Pebble Beach of Mexico," Cabo Real features nine spectacular oceanfront holes on its 3.5 miles of coastline; a must-play for all golfers.

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club
Km. 22 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (877) 795-8727
011-52-624-144-5451
www.eldoradogolfandbeachclub.com/golf/
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
7,152 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.4
Slope: 143
Private Course
$$$$
Course highlights: Though not open to the public, this stunning track features several oceanfront holes and more than a mile of luxury coastline.

Palmilla Golf Resort
Km. 27 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (800) 637-2226
011-52-624-144-5250
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: The course is divided into the Arroyo Nine, the Mountain Nine and the Ocean Nine. Whether beginner or professional, the five sets of staggered tee boxes ensure all golfers an exciting game.

Querencia Golf Club
Km. 27.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (888) 236-2229
011-52-624-145-6600
www.loscabosquerencia.com
Designer: Tom Fazio
7,070 yards
Par 72
18 holes
Rating: 74.5
Slope: 147
Private Course
$$$$
Course highlights: This aesthetically appealing course offers spectacular views from every hole and is consistently ranked as one of the world's top golf destinations.

Mayan Country Club Los Cabos
Km. 29.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
U.S.: (866) 465-7316
011-52-624-142-0905
Designers: Mario Schjetnan, Cary Bickler
3,153 yards
Par 35
Nine holes
Rating: N/A
Slope: N/A
Resort Course
$$
Course highlights: This nine-hole, 3,153-yard course was originally built by the Mexican government, and was sold to The Mayan Palace Beach & Golf Resorts Group in April 2004. It's a great course for beginner or intermediate golfers.

Note: Courses are listed in order of location driving north on the Carretera Transpeninsular highway from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo.
Since green fees fluctuate depending on the time of year and the time of day, the scale used is a general guide.
$ = less than $50; $$ = less than $100; $$$ = more than $100; and $$$$ = more than $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
   Tesoro Los Cabos
   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.