Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course

Puerto Los Cabos opened in 2007 with an irresistible twist: the world’s only composite course from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus and Greg “The Great White Shark” Norman. Norman designed the nine-hole Mission Course, highlighted by its 213-yard 6th, a par-3 with an elevated tee box that looks down from the equivalent of a 10-story building to a bunker fringed green set against a backdrop of nearly 10 miles of jaw-droppingly beautiful coastline. Nicklaus, meanwhile, designed the challenging nine-hole Ocean Course. The plan had always been for each of these nines to be expanded into its own 18-hole course, a plan which came to partial fruition in 2018 when Nicklaus returned to design his second nine-hole layout. The new addition has been dubbed Nicklaus II, to differentiate it from Nicklaus I, as the original Ocean Course is now known. No dates have been announced as yet for Norman’s second nine, so as of this writing Puerto Los Cabos is operating much like Palmilla, in that visiting golfers can mix and match their favorite 18 from the 27 available holes.

Diamante-The Dunes Course

Davis Love III’s links-style Dunes Course at Diamante was a revelation when it opened in 2009. It’s currently rated as the best course in México by Golf Digest, and the 38th best course in the world by Golf Magazine. To play this challenging and lavishly-praised 7,300-yard loop, you must be staying at a Diamante hosted resort (The Resort at Diamante, or soon-to-open hotels from Hard Rock and Nobu), or express interest in a timeshare or fractional ownership options at Diamante. The latter offers a great opportunity for those who would like to spend a month or two every year with access to one of the world’s best courses. In addition to Love’s masterful links course, Diamante also hosts two Tiger Woods-designed courses, with a third in the works.

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course

Los Cabos has drawn a host of legendary names to design the ever-increasing number of championship-level loops in the region, but 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus was the one who put the area on the map. The Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol was his first local masterpiece. When it premiered in 1994, he called it “the best golf property I’ve ever seen.” Nicklaus, not a man prone to hyperbole, added: “I firmly believe that these (17 and 18) are the two best finishing holes of any course in the world.” Plenty of others have agreed on both counts. The Ocean Course has been ranked as one of the 100 best courses in the world for 15 consecutive years and counting. It’s a world-class layout in every respect, with dramatic vistas of desert, mountain and sea, and seven holes bordering the Sea of Cortés. For those who like to play from the tips, the Ocean Course measures out at 7,111-yards.

Quivira Golf Club

Quivira is a legendary golfer and designer Jack Nicklaus’ sixth Los Cabos layout, and his second local masterpiece. “Our team worked with the canvas Mother Nature provided,” Nicklaus said, “to create one of the most spectacular courses in the world.” Set on the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas, this 7,085-yard course is breathtaking in every respect, with 18 holes winding magnificently along sheer cliffs, and through desert foothills and windswept dunes. Seven holes hug the coast, and ocean views are available from all 18 fairways (keep your eyes peeled for seasonal glimpses of migrating whales). In addition to stunning scenery, there are four mid-course comfort stations serving up cocktails and tasty treats (burritos, anyone?), while more filling fare is available pre or post-round at the onsite steakhouse. The course is accessible to guests at all four local Pueblo Bonito resorts – Blanco, Rosé, Pacifica and Sunset Beach – as well as the luxury residential developments Quivira, Copala, Montecristo Estates and Novaispania. A second Quivira course from Nicklaus is in development.