Golf at Los Cabos
Combine mountain surroundings with a picturesque
ocean setting and you have the recipe for some spectacular golf courses in Los Cabos.
It was Don Koll, a dedicated golfer and successful Orange County, California,
developer, who in 1990 saw the future for the game here and commissioned Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus to design three signature
nine-hole courses near his Hotel Palmilla.
Koll's impact on Los Cabos is enormous. Over ten years ago he envisioned this area as a world class resort center, today there are three
Nicklaus designed golf facilities in Los Cabos: twenty-seven holes at Palmilla, 18 holes at the new Eldorado Golf Club at Cabo Real, and 18
holes at Cabo del Sol. In addition, there are the Robert Trent Jones II and Dye Corporation courses along the corridor between San José del
Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Los Cabos has been the site of the PGA Grand Slam Tournament since 1995, attracting golf greats such as
Raymond Floyd, Dave Stockman and Hale Irwin.
Though considered by some as intimidating, the five main golf courses are ultimately playable. Low handicap players will find them challenging
and will appreciate the genius and skill that went into their designs while less experienced players will be rewarded with a good day's combat.
The magnificent terrain is comparable to that found in Arizona and California desert courses. What sets Los Cabos apart is the presence of the
Sea of Cortéz, a sparkling water-wonderland of incredible hues reaching as far south as the eye can see. Golfers here have an added bonus -
11 months of rain free play.
Cabo del Sol is a Jack Nicklaus signature course with 1.5 miles of oceanfront. Considered by some to be the most challenging
in Los Cabos, even those who don't agree with this say it is of spectacular design and a thrill to play. Plenty of arroyos, sand traps and other
obstacles makes play interesting.
As well designed as the front nine, the back nine will tease intermediate players, but beginners may find themselves hitting out of arroyos.
Cabo del Sol professional Brad Wheatly says "play within yourself, don't try to do too much. Keep out of the desert, but if you get stuck, stay
focused on the ball." Of the nearly two miles of ocean frontage, 1.5 miles of it is devoted to holes 6, 7, 8, 16, 17 and 18. Because the area is a
wonderful combination of natural beauty and brilliant architecture, Jack Nicklaus says that Cabo del Sol "has three of the best ocean finishing
holes in the world." Of 3,500 courses rated by Golf Digest, Cabo del Sol is one of the top ten public courses in the world.
Any discussion of golf in Los Cabos must begin with the Palmilla. It was Don Koll's vision, determination and resources that brought Jack
Nicklaus here to set the scene for the creation of this unique blending of desert and sea, one of the world's truly picturesque golf destinations.
Palmilla is the most classic of Mexican resorts in Los Cabos. The Palmilla golf courses are of traditional Mexican design with the Arroyo Nine,
back Mountain Nine, and the new Ocean Nine. Of the new Ocean course, Nicklaus said it was like "designing mountains by the sea." Nearly
every hole has its own view of the shimmering, electric blue Sea of Cortéz in the distance.
Gentle slopes, wide fairways, and large but challenging greens greet players on the first few holes. From the back tees, the 6th hole features a
long dog-leg right, and plays 460 yards. On the 560 yard 7th hole, play is alongside a deep, foreboding arroyo. The last of the Arroyo holes
are "three pretty holes," says PGA Professional Brad Wheatly. Diverse in length and enhanced by several water and sand hazards, the
mountain holes are as beautiful as they are challenging. The 10th is an incredible drive off of a cliff, the omnipotent sea at your back. But it is
the 14th that is regarded as the greatest hole at Palmilla, with a force-carry from mountain tee boxes to a well-manicured island fairway. The
14th green is laid down on the natural slope of an arroyo, making it look a great deal longer than its documented 401 yards.
Tour the Palmilla Golf Club
G2Real Player Video - 56K ISDN / Cable
Tour the Cabo Del Sol Golf Club
G2Real Player Video - 56K ISDN / Cable
Tour the Hotel Cabo San Lucas
G2Real Player Video - 56K ISDN / Cable
|
|
