We know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t Los Cabos already have an incredible collection of world-class golf layouts 
from a who’s who of prestigious course designers?
The answer is yes. In just over 30 years, since the first modest 9-hole muni was built at Punta Sur, Los Cabos has amassed one of the world’s finest collection of championship-level courses, with over a dozen stunning tracks from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Davis Love III and Tom Weiskopf.
It’s a golfing portfolio any region in the world would be proud of; in fact, in Golf Digest’s recently released rankings, Los Cabos boasts four of the world’s 100 best international courses. Golf Magazine has three of its 15 currently operating courses rated among the 100 best in the world, period.
What’s truly amazing, however, is that Los Cabos appears to be just getting started. As many as a half-dozen new courses are expected to open in the next few years, including challenging new layouts from Woods, Nicklaus, Norman, Fred Couples and Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Here is a brief overview of the glories destination golfers can look forward to in coming years…
Expanded Course Offerings at Puerto Los Cabos
Puerto Los Cabos already is home to what since 2008 has been the world’s only composite course between Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. The “Shark Meets the Bear” at this luxurious development outside San Jose del Cabo, which not only features golf, but high-end resorts, restaurants, a marina, a beautiful beach, and superb sculpture and cactus gardens. But one course – even with a front nine by Norman, and a back nine by Nicklaus – was never the goal. The idea was that eventually the two big-name golfers and designers would return and add to their original designs, giving PLC two full 18-hole courses: a private course from Norman, a public course from Nicklaus. Nicklaus’ second nine opens later this month, but since Norman’s is still years away, PLC will in the near-term showcase a 27-hole concept similar to that used by Palmilla Golf Club. Golfers can build their 18-hole experience from any of the three available 9-hole offerings.
The First Fred Couples Design in Los Cabos
Fred Couples only captured one major championship – the 1992 Masters Tournament at Augusta National – but his sweet, seemingly effortless swing and consistent play translated to over 60 total wins, and better than two decades of stardom on the PGA Tour. Now he’s coming to Los Cabos, designing the highly anticipated Twin Dolphin Golf Club. If the name Twin Dolphin sounds familiar, it’s because it is: it was the name of a pioneer resort which originally opened in the Los Cabos tourist corridor during the 1970s. The reincarnated version will accompany Montage and Maravilla, two new resort and residential projects overlooking Bahia Santa Maria. Play is expected to begin later this year.
A New Greg Norman Course at Rancho San Lucas
Solmar Group is not only one of the premier Los Cabos hospitality brands, but a legacy company whose history is inextricably tied up with the growth of tourism in Cabo San Lucas. The group’s founder, Don Luis Bulnes Molleda, was the manager of the Land’s End community’s cannery before he partnered with Luis Coppola on Finisterra, and then opened his own Hotel Solmar in 1974. Rancho San Lucas is Solmar’s ambitious new resort and residential development on Cabo San Lucas’ Pacific Coast. It joins a portfolio that already includes Solmar Resort, Grand Solmar and Playa Grande, and will be centered around an 18-hole golf course from Norman that is expected be open by late 2018 or early 2019.
A Second Jack Nicklaus Course at Quivira
When legendary champion Jack Nicklaus kick-started the Los Cabos golfing boom in the early 1990s, his natural canvases were found at tourist corridor properties like Palmilla and Cabo del Sol. Now, with the success of Diamante and Nicklaus’ first magnificent effort at Quivira, the golf focus has shifted to the Pacific Coast. Quivira Golf Club opened in 2014 and has climbed the world rankings in near record time, so reports that Nicklaus is returning to design a second course for the Pueblo Bonito affiliated development counts as big news. Groundbreaking on the new layout is expected to happen next summer.
A Second Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course in Los Cabos
Robert Trent Jones Jr. is one of the least heralded Los Cabos course architects. There’s no secret why. He’s one of the few that has never won a major championship. Then again, he is the son of the most prolific designer ever, and a man who has designed over 270 courses around the world during his own acclaimed 50-year career. Jones helped put Los Cabos on the golfing map when television cameras caught whales breaching near a seaside green during a 1996 PGA Senior Grand Slam event at his Cabo Real course. Now he’s returning to design a second local loop, this time for luxury brand Four Seasons at their new Costa Palmas resort on Los Cabos’ gorgeous East Cape. Expect the new golf course to open in mid to late 2019.
A Third Tiger Woods Course at Diamante
Diamante ushered in the second wave of the Los Cabos golf boom with Davis Love III’s majestic links style Dunes Course, which has been showered in accolades ever since it opened in 2009. The Dunes may be the showpiece, but the star at Diamante is now 14-time major champion Tiger Woods, who has already designed two courses for the resort and residential development north of Cabo San Lucas – the parkland El Cardonal and the 12-hole Oasis short course – and has another in the development stages. Woods, who has made news recently with a return to form following years of back and knee-related injuries, will be a favorite at next month’s Masters Tournament. Groundbreaking on his third Diamante offering, a lush layout in the style of Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, is expected to begin in 2019.
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 Diamante Cabo San Lucas.
Upcoming Event Calendar
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
Wine & Cheese Festival at Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar – March 10
El Triunfo Festival Artesanal – March 11
East Cape Arts Festival – March 18
Traditional Fiestas in San Jose del Cabo – March 14 – 19
El Ganzo Music Presents: Jenny & The Mexicats – March 24
Semana Santa (Holy Week) – 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
Los Cabos Culinary Awards – April 25
2018 Taco Fest Los Cabos at Casa Dorada – April 28
May
483rd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3 – 5
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10
Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20
Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – May 30 – June 2
June
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 7, 14, 21, 28
Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 11 – 17
Fiesta de la Musica – June 21
Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1
July
East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21
Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4
August
East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25
September
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16
October
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21
Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2
November
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4
WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18
Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20
Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22
December
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27
Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24
Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
Please let me know what you think about this!