Leisure Plus Luxury: 3 Tips for Planning the Perfect Los Cabos Golf Vacation

Over the course of a little more than 30 years, Los Cabos has become one of the world’s greatest golf destinations, boasting no less than 18 first-class courses from a who’s who of legendary players and designers, including Jack Nicklaus, who has designed six of them, and Tiger Woods, who is currently working on his third.

It’s not just the designers who are remarkable, however, but the settings. Nearly every course features spectacular ocean views, and many layouts wind through desert or dunes, and offer backdrops of rugged mountains, before the inevitable jaw-dropping crescendo of crashing waves (Pacific Ocean side), or idyllic palm-framed greens against a serene sea (Sea of Cortez side), with the postcard perfection of each only magnified by passing pleasure yachts and seasonally breaching whales.

It’s a place, in other words, that every destination golfer must visit at least once.

That said, it’s not the kind of golf destination where you just grab your clubs and head for the nearest airport or private jet FBO.

A little planning is in order if you want to optimize and maximize your time – on and off the course – in this sun-kissed paradise along the southernmost rim of the Baja California peninsula.

With that in mind, here are three simple tips for planning the perfect Los Cabos golf vacation.

Pick Out the Courses You Want to Play Beforehand

The 18 currently operating courses in Los Cabos (yes, more are on the way!) fall into three broad categories: public, private, and playable with some restrictions.

In the first category are the courses at Cabo Real, Cabo San Lucas Country Club, Campestre, Palmilla, Puerto Los Cabos, and Vidanta at Grand Mayan. All are open to the public and playable without any restrictions.

In the second category are Querencia and El Dorado. If you are not a property owner at one of these developments, or friends with one, these course are inaccessible.

The largest category by far, however, is the third: courses playable with some restrictions. This group includes Diamante’s Dunes Course, ranked among the world’s 100 best, as well as Tiger Woods’ El Cardonal and Oasis Short Course. It also includes Quivira Golf Club, Jack Nicklaus’ latest local masterpiece, Tom Fazio’s Chileno Bay Golf Club, the Greg Norman designed Rancho San Lucas, Fred Couples’ Twin Dolphin, the Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf designed courses at Cabo del Sol, and the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Costa Palmas Golf Club.

By restrictions, what we mean is that tee times are reserved for those at select resorts, residential and rental properties. But trust us: if you really want to play any of these superb courses, you most definitely can.

We should also add, this being 2021, that Los Cabos as a destination has been committed to maximum safety since the start of the pandemic last year, a commitment also shared by local golf courses. Golf as a pastime is perfect for the age of social distancing, but even so, courses have gone the extra distance to ensure players feel safe, and are safe at all times.

Find a Luxury Villa or Home Rental Close to Your Favorite Courses

Once you’ve picked out a course or two (or three) where you want to play most often during your Los Cabos vacation, the smart move is to find a villa or home rental that is conveniently close.

Luxury villas and beach or course adjacent rentals are, of course, the preferred option for destination golfers, especially when traveling in groups.

There are several reasons for this, of course; one being privacy, two being safety, three being luxury. As long as you’re paying to play some of the world’s best courses, after all, why not stay at one of the region’s most remarkable properties?

We might also add a fourth, since for small groups and those planning extended stays home rentals are not only more luxurious than local luxury resorts, but quite often more affordable as well.

Luckily, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping rentals available, from villas hugging the hillside cliffs in the exclusive Cabo San Lucas enclave of Pedregal to beachfront homes all along the coast, each filled with a unique mix of luxe amenities.

And of course top rentals offer round-the-clock concierge service, with easy access to everything from private chefs and sommeliers to mobile massage and spa services.

Blend in the Perfect Mix of Wining, Dining & Pampering Amenities

Play golf by day, but at night? Just play. That’s the motto of destination golfers everywhere, and naturally Los Cabos offers plenty of tempting options along these lines, from restaurants featuring top chefs and extensive wine lists to pampering spas where couples can relax together in total comfort and privacy.

And of course, as you may have heard, Los Cabos also has more than a few beautiful beaches.

Need more details? All you have to do is ask.

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 credit: Quivira Golf Club

Upcoming Events Calendar

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop (Virtual Session) – Jan. 31 – Feb. 6

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26

Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) – Feb. 5

Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14

Día de la Bandera Mexicana (Flag Day) –  Feb. 24

Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament – Feb. 28 – Mar. 2

March

Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament – Feb. – Mar. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 18 – 21

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 21

Semana Santa – Mar. 28. – Apr. 3

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23

Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race – Apr. 23 – 26

NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally Road Race – Apr. 23 – 30

May

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 6, 13, 20, 27

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 7, 14, 21, 28

June

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Jun. 3 -7

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25

Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament– Jun. 10 – 12

Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – Jun. 23 – 27

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 17

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Jul. 19 – 24

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament at Palmas de Cortez – Jul. 22 – 26

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 3 – 7

Wahoo Gold Cup Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 21

September

Mexico Independence Day – Sep. 16

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 10 – 14

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 14 – 17

Bisbee’s Black and Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 19 – 23

November

WON Tuna Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Nov. 3 – 6

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20

December

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31