In less than three decades, Los Cabos has become one of Mexico’s most popular golf destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of golfers from all over the world, especially from the United States. Nestled on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the northwest of the country, Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s most developed destinations with the greatest tourism potential, thanks in large part to the quality of its golf courses.
With great figures such as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf, Pete Dye, Davis Love or Robert Trent Jones II designing more championship golf courses, it is no surprise why this sport has grown in the state of Baja California Sur, which among its many attractions has unique landscapes and an especially benign climate for the practice of golf. Los Cabos has also been the site of the Senior PGA Grand Slam since 1995, attracting the likes of Raymond Floyd, Dave Stockman and Hale Irwin.
The existence of more than a dozen top-rated golf courses may sound a bit intimidating, but nothing could be further from the truth: playing them is an enriching experience and almost always fun. Experienced golfers will face a variety of challenges, while less experienced players will be rewarded with a great day of golf and incredible scenery.
A comparable terrestrial landscape can be found in Arizona, for example, but what makes the golf different in Los Cabos is the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean on the horizon. There is nothing comparable to hitting a ball on a course designed by a golf legend while enjoying the sight of a whale breaching in the distance. This scene is repeated more often than players would imagine, especially from December through April.
The average price of the Los Cabos courses that admit visitors is around $250, with discounted rates available from 2:00 p.m. onwards.
And what is even better, visitors have golf at their disposal almost 365 days a year, since it rarely rains in Los Cabos, a tourist destination that receives annually about three million tourists and that among those who have a second home here are celebrities such as Leonardo di Caprio or George Clooney.
Los Cabos is located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, west of the rest of the Mexican Republic. The geographic region is a dynamic mix of desert landscapes, beaches and mountainous areas. “El Arco” is the most prominent geographical point and is located where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.
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Three main zones
Los Cabos is made up of three main areas. To the east is tranquil San Jose del Cabo, which maintains the look and feel of an authentic Mexican village, has a pleasant Art District in the Historic Downtown and a new marina in the Puerto Los Cabos area.
Connecting San Jose del Cabo with Cabo San Lucas is the Corredor Turistico, a 33-kilometer four-lane highway surrounded by breathtaking views of the desert and the Sea of Cortez coastline. It is on this coastal strip where luxurious resorts and world-class golf courses are located.
Here is for example Palmilla Resort, the pioneer hotel in Los Cabos (1956) where celebrities such as John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Dwight D. Eisenhower stayed. Los Cabos soon became a favorite choice of celebrities due to the beautiful beaches, luxury and privacy of the resorts, feeling disconnected from the world. On the other hand, the Tourist Corridor is considered a golfer’s paradise for having seven splendid courses made by some of the best designers in the world. Los Cabos’ pioneer course, Jack Nicklaus’ Palmilla Golf Club, opened in 1992.
The Tourist Corridor connects the west end with the attractive Cabo San Lucas. With lively bars and elegant shopping centers near the marina, Cabo San Lucas is known worldwide for its pleasant bay where you can enjoy all kinds of water activities.
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The fields
Below you will find the directory of golf courses available in the area, ordered from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo along the Transpeninsular Highway (Tourist Corridor).
Cabo San Lucas Country Club
The Cabo San Lucas Country Club, on a 745-acre site, features one of designer Roy Dye’s masterpieces. The resort is located less than a mile from Cabo San Lucas. It is the only golf course in the area with views of the famous Cabo Arch, a peculiar rock formation that marks the junction of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The course is located on a slope facing the Sea of Cortez, with breathtaking views of Finisterra and Bahia San Lucas from every hole and offers options for every level of player. At 540 meters, the 7th hole is the longest in all of Mexico. The par-72 course measures 7,220 yards. Resort facilities include a state-of-the-art practice facility and one of the finest clubhouses in Los Cabos.
Cabo del Sol
Located about 14 kilometers from Cabo San Lucas, in the Tourist Corridor, Cabo del Sol is the crown jewel of the Koll Partners’ Cabo del Sol Resort. It is one of the best courses in Los Cabos and was rated by Golf Digest magazine as one of the top ten courses in the world. The resort offers two 18-hole layouts.
The first is the Ocean Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and stretches more than a mile along the coast between areas of rugged rocks and sunny beaches. Nicklaus says of it that it has the “best three finishing holes in the world of golf.” The 5th hole and signature 17th are ranked, according to Golf Magazine (January 2000), among “The 500 Best Holes in the World.” In 2013, Golf Magazine ranked it 97th among the top 100 golf courses in the world.
The Desert Course is a masterful design by Tom Weiskopf, with 180-degree ocean views from almost every hole and offers breathtaking panoramas of the Sea of Cortez from its 18 holes, which have been sculpted into the natural surroundings. It opened in December 2001.
The 7,100-meter course design takes advantage of natural river courses and includes subtle elevation changes and deep bunkers.
Cabo Real Golf Club
Cabo Real Golf Club presents different landscapes of cactus, desert, bermuda grass and ocean views. This par 72 stretches over more than 7,000 yards. The first six holes run over somewhat hilly terrain, while the others are along the beach and coastline.
Some of the challenges have been carved out of two canyons surrounded by trees, cacti and impressive rock formations that will leave the player with breathless on every tee. Undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in Mexico.
Built and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1993, with three oceanfront holes, it has hosted two Senior PGA Grand Slams and other prestigious tournaments. The front nine holes are considered the most difficult in Los Cabos.
Its three spectacular oceanfront holes put Cabo Real on the world golf map in 1996, when several whales put on a spectacular show jumping a few yards offshore during the Senior Slam tournament. Long considered a favorite of many professionals, Jack Nicklaus also plays it from time to time.
The course is also known as the Pebble Beach of Mexico.
El Dorado Golf and Beach Club
El Dorado is another impressive course designed by Jack Nicklaus, who spent many hours walking along the coast, hills and canyons of the area to create this golf layout that blends in with the surroundings and enhances the beauty of the original landscape. This impressive course, not open to the public, has several seaside holes and more than a mile of coastline.
Palmilla Golf Club
“It is one of the most spectacular golf courses I have ever seen,” said its designer, Jack Nicklaus, about his ‘creature’ , opened in 1992. Palmilla Golf is a 27-hole, par-72 championship course in all possible permutations of its three 9-hole courses.
Now known as One&Only Palmilla, it is the classic resort in the area, the one that started it all, and the golf course added variety and color to this already splendid resort in the Los Cabos Corridor.
A majestic desert terrain with breathtaking views inspired Nicklaus to create one of the most spectacular courses in the world.
The 27-hole One&Only Palmilla course is divided into three magnificent layouts, each of which offers an original and unique landscape.
The options are the Mountain Nine, the Ocean Nine and the Arroyo Nine, and none of the three should be missed. Each hole offers splendid views of the Sea of Cortez in the distance. The newest is the Ocean course and Nicklaus mentions that it was like designing a mountain golf course along the seashore. Highlights the 5th hole of the Mountain Course. It is considered the best in Palmilla, with a high tee and a shot to an island fairway.
Querencia Golf Club
Ranked as the best course in Mexico by Golf Week Magazine in 2010, Querencia offers 18 holes surrounded by cactus and palm trees and breathtaking ocean views on more than 120 hectares. Tom Fazio’s first project in Mexico is a true gem, a celebration of nature in a private and relaxed club setting.
San José Country Club
Opened in 2007, this Nicklaus Design creation offers beautiful greens on rolling hills that are part of the Sierra de La Laguna Mountains. Each hole on the course offers beautiful panoramic views. There are variations in elevation and the undulating championship greens make it a challenge for experienced golfers as well. The numerous bunkers test the skills of any golfer. Hole 7 offers a fabulous view that emphasizes the stunning contrast of desert and the Sea of Cortez.
Punta Sur Golf Course Los Cabos
This 9-hole par 35 course located in San Jose del Cabo is more difficult than many would think at first glance. It has ocean views, numerous bunkers and lakes and is surrounded by one of the most tranquil settings in the area. This field was originally built by the Mexican government and then sold to a private investor group in 2004.
Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club
Puerto Los Cabos has a 27-hole course. With the recently completed 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf, Marina Course, and the additional 9-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf, Mission Course, this club offers one of the most exclusive golf experiences.
The three 9-hole combinable layouts are championship designs, set above the Sea of Cortez and etched into the desert hills and backdrop of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. The views from the course are unparalleled, with the rare combination of desert and coastline.
Diamante Cabo San Lucas
On the shores of one of the most beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean coast of the American continent is the Diamante Cabo San Lucas resort, with its two spectacular 18-hole courses: the Dunes Course, designed by Davis Love III, and El Cardonal, the work of Tiger Woods, in fact his first golf course design. The Dunes Course is reminiscent of Scottish links courses and has been one of the most awarded courses in Mexico, having been ranked 36th in the Top 100 in the world by Golf Magazine. El Cardonal is reminiscent of the classic Florida courses where Tiger grew up playing golf.
Twin Dolphin Golf Club
The newest addition to the Los Cabos golf family is the Twin Dolphin Golf Club, designed by Todd Eckenrode and Fred Couples. The par 72, 6,400-meter course, with ocean views from most of its holes, is located within Twin Dolphin, a development of more than 500 hectares.
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