SPECTACULAR SEASIDE SWINGS
Enticing golf options in Los Cabos
I waggle my seven-iron a couple of times, take dead aim at the pin, and, just when I’m ready to pull the trigger, a deafening explosion shakes me to the core. I back off from my ball and watch as a giant plume of sea spray shoots into the deep-blue sky beside me. Massive waves smashing against impenetrable rock. It’s quite a meeting. And, then again, so are the desertmeets-sea courses at the tip of the Baja...and all the bogeys that come with them.
The incredible par-3 6th at Quivira – one of many seaside holes I play where sea-authored “explosions” add to the allure – is definitely a sight to behold. The sliver of green sits high above the pounding sea, dangerously close to the cliff, and the tee box is even closer. It’s a breathtaking golf hole and, without a doubt, one of the world’s great par-3s.
But Quivira, a new Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Los Cabos, is just one of a dozen or so beautiful seaside courses in this renowned Mexican tourism stronghold. Long known for its beaches, bars, and luxurious resorts that sit along the shimmering sea, Los Cabos has certainly become a hot little habanero when it comes to its enticing golf options. Sure there are other decent golf destinations in Mexico – Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and the Riviera Maya, for example – however, they really don’t hold a candle to the awesome seaside swings in Cabo.
Nearly all of the courses in Los Cabos, which is at the tip of the 1,247-kilometre long Baja California Peninsula, are situated in “the corridor” between the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José Del Cabo. (Collectively, the region is known as Los Cabos). And, with the exception of a few exclusive enclaves where membership is required, the golf is quite accessible, although pricey. In high season, green fees at the premier public courses run between $190 and $375. In summer, when temperatures can soar past 35 C, the snowbirds leave, demand plummets, and prices come down substantially.
Regardless of the time of year you visit, getting tee times is rarely an issue. During my visit in early April, tee time availability was a non-issue. Tacos at the turn (a “free” treat at a number of courses), attentive service (tipping with U.S. dollars is standard), water coolers, exceptional turf conditions, and free range balls are also standard at the courses.
What are also standard are the sweltering sun, the dry-as-a-bone desert, and the thundering sea. Most of the top courses have a handful of holes that dart down to the water and offer that special seaside experience that makes golf in Cabo what it is: exceptional and highly-memorable. While there are a few outstanding courses that do not include seaside holes – Club Campestre San Jose and the Desert Course at Cabo del Sol come to mind – there probably aren’t more than a handful of holes in Los Cabos that don’t at least boast a view of the sea.
While many people consider the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol the trump card (it’s a heralded Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that boasts six oceanside holes, including a riveting finishing run that Nicklaus claims is the best in all of golf ), the quirky (at times) Quivira is every bit as dramatic and, certainly, memorable. The cliff-hugging cart path to reach the stunning seaside holes (and the best comfort station in golf ) is a ride you won’t forget. And the bulk of the course, which tumbles and rolls through wind-sculpted sand dunes, is outstanding.
Opened in 2014, Quivira is not the newest course in the area. Puerto Los Cabos, which will soon boast 36 holes, currently has nine holes by Jack Nicklaus (who has now designed six courses in Los Cabos) and nine holes by Greg Norman. Built on a rocky, rugged site high above the marina, Puerto Los Cabos is yet another stunner with a couple of riveting stretches of seaside golf. Unfortunately, a few difficult uphill holes ( like the starter) don’t help it. Tip: lubricate your golf swing with an extra tequila at the comfort station.
To complete my golf adventure in Los Cabos, rounds at Palmilla (three challenging nines by, you guessed it, Jack Nicklaus) and Cabo Real (sneaky good back nine), topped me up in terms of sun, sand, and swings. After six rounds in six days, I figured I did the whole desert-meets-sea golf scene in Los Cabos justice. True, the distractions — such as the tacos, tequila, and thundering surf — made the golf a little extra challenging. But, as we all know, it’s a fairly difficult game to begin with. May as well make your bogeys on the Baja!
For competitive golf packages to Los Cabos, visit www.questrogolf. com.