One of the most anticipated local golf tournaments, Paws ‘n Claws, returns for its 13th edition on Sunday, April 8, and as
always is sponsored by the Los Cabos Humane Society, with proceeds benefiting local spay and neuter programs, adoption efforts, and other animal focused initiatives.
Golfers certainly get their money’s worth for the $350 ticket, with a continental breakfast, entry for an 18-hole tournament on Palmilla Golf Club’s gorgeous, Jack Nicklaus designed Ocean and Mountain courses, admittance to an afternoon BBQ catered by Acre, one of San Jose del Cabo’s finest restaurants, and, as an added bonus, 50% percent off a future round at Palmilla.
Palmilla designer Jack Nicklaus is the godfather of golf in Los Cabos, with six superb courses to date on his Land’s End resume. Developer Don Koll first brought the Golden Bear to Los Cabos in the early 1990s, a move that first paid dividends in 1992, when Nicklaus crafted 9-hole Mountain and Arroyo courses opened at Palmilla. Those 18-holes were the first in Latin America for the legendary champion, but hardly the last.
Last week, when Golf Digest revealed its biennial rankings of the 100 Best Courses in the World, five were from Mexico, and three of those five were designed by Nicklaus (Cabo del Sol and Quivira in Los Cabos, and Four Seasons Punta Mita near Puerto Vallarta). Palmilla didn’t make that list this year, but it remains one of the finest courses in the country (Golf Digest ranked it 13th out of 220 courses in Mexico), with a unique 27-hole layout comprised of three separate 9-hole courses (Mountain, Arroyo and Ocean, the latter of which was added in 1997).
According to Nicklaus Design, the Ocean and Mountains nines used for this year’s Paws ‘n Claws both have plenty of challenges in store for participating golfers: “The Ocean nine drops 600 feet in elevation during the first six holes with the third green perched on the beach. Although away from the shore, two fabulous par 3s are memorable. The sixth rests below beautiful casitas cut from the mountainside. The climb back up from the shore brings demanding golf at the short par-4 eighth and dramatic par-5 ninth.
“The club’s ‘Amen Corner’ comes at holes 4-6 on the Mountain nine. Water lurks off the tee and near the green of the par-5 fourth, creating the best risk-reward scenario on the course. The most daunting shot comes off the fifth tee, where a ribbon of a fairway is bound by canyons on either side. The approach leaps the canyon to a green below. Water runs up the left side of the par-3 sixth.”
Palmilla Golf Club has a rich history as a tournament site, beyond serving as the usual site of Paws ‘n Claws. The Senior Slam for the 1997 Senior PGA Tour was contested at Palmilla, with Nicklaus narrowly losing on his own course to Hale Irwin. Palmilla also hosted the biggest amateur event in the world, the Audi World Cup Finals, in 2007.
The post-tournament meal this year, as last year, is an afternoon BBQ hosted by Acre at the Outdoor Event Center in La Playita, just outside San Jose del Cabo. Acre is one of the leading lights (along with Flora Farm and Huerta Los Tamarindos) of the local farm-to-table movement. The 25-acre Acre farm is acclaimed for its fresh produce and onsite restaurant and cocktail bar, and now the site of the area’s only treehouse accommodations. The BBQ is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m., and as always will be accompanied by live entertainment and a silent auction. Local rock band Pura Vida performs this year, and BBQ only tickets are available for $100.
For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo courtesy of Nicklaus Design.
Upcoming Event Calendar
January
La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21
Los Cabos Mountain Marathon – Jan. 20
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3
February
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22
Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour – Feb. 10 – 11
Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 8 – 13
Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14
San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 16 – 17
Baja Hog Motorcycle Rally – Feb. 21 – 25
Vidanta Los Cabos Grand Opening Featuring Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Zedd – Feb. 23 – 25
March
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11
Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17
El Triunfo Festival Artesanal – March 11
East Cape Arts Festival – March 18
Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 14 – 19
Semana Santa – March 25 – 31
Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1
April
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – April 5, 12, 19, 26
Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – April 8
NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26
May
483rd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
El Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10
Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20
White Party at Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced
Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – May 30 – June 2
June
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 7, 14, 21, 28
Cabo Comedy Festival – Dates Note Yet Announced
Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 11 – 17
Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Sport Fishing – Dates Not Yet Announced
Grand Velas Los Cabos Grand Chefs Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
Fiesta de la Musica – June 21
Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1
July – August
East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4
October
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21
Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27
November
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18
Please let me know what you think about this!