If you are heading to Los Cabos in 2021, there are a few essential items you need to pack. Sunscreen? Of course. Bathing suit? No-brainer. Golf clubs? Absolutely. The land of leisure, where incredible landscapes and unlimited budgets meet, is a golfer’s paradise. Here more than anywhere, the world’s best course designers appear to have been given free license to bring their most ambitious ideas to life. As a result, Los Cabos boasts some truly spectacular golf courses. But with so many people wanting to play, access is inevitably restricted. Here, we run through the best golf resorts in Los Cabos that give guests the opportunity to play the most spectacular courses while enjoying a life of luxury.
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Rancho San Lucas
Rancho San Lucas / ©Brian Orr
One of the newest resort communities in Los Cabos, Rancho San Lucas made an instant impression when it opened its Greg Norman-designed golf course in 2020. However, with last year playing out as it did, it will introduce itself to the world in earnest in 2021. The 7,210-yard layout has been tailored to work with Los Cabos’s terrain and locale, which makes for a more sustainable golfing experience. Described as a “least-disturbance layout,” the design works naturally with the dune and desert landscape, taking golfers on a journey through three ecosystems. It also brings the first island green to the region – the spectacular par-three 17th. The oceanfront resort is spread across 834 acres of pristine beach and offers a residential lifestyle for owners and guests. There are several resorts within the enclave, including the Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences
Four Seasons Resort and Residences opened in 2019 / ©Four Seasons
Another relative newcomer in the ever-evolving landscape of the Baja Peninsula, Four Seasons Resort and Residences opened late in 2019 and, due to the pandemic, has barely had a chance to shine. Situated on the East Cape, the luxury resort comes complete with a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course designed by the esteemed architecture firm Robert Trent Jones II. The course’s design is inspired by traditional Scottish links strategies, such as unguarded entrances from the fairways and seamless transitions from one putting surface to the next tee box. The designers describe the course as being sectioned into three movements. The first movement brings golfers up to idyllic, windswept dunes and the Sea of Cortez; the second movement ventures higher and offers dramatic views of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains; and the third movement returns to the water, providing glimpses of the area’s coves and harbors. With few other resorts located on the East Cape, the unbroken views are awe-inspiring. The Costa Palmas Golf Club also offers a six-hole, par-three short course and ample practice areas. It is exclusive to owners and resort guests, meaning fairways are always ready and waiting. For more information on Four Seasons Los Cabos Resort, read our review here.
[See also: The Top Luxury Hotel Golf Courses in the World]
One&Only Palmilla
A stunning resort that has been featured in the Elite Traveler Top 100 Hotels and Top 100 Suites, One&Only Palmilla is a paradisiacal hideaway designed for the ultra-private traveler. Situated on a quiet stretch of coastline overlooking the Sea of Cortez, the resort offers access to a stunning 27-hole golf course designed by the legend himself, Jack Nicklaus. The course is divided into three nine-hole courses, each named after the standout features of their landscape. Golfers can play the nine-hole courses in a variety of 18-hole combinations, providing an array of experiences and different challenges. Expect stunning views of the Sea of Cortez from every hole and dramatic changes in elevation. Golfers will particularly enjoy the third hole on the Mountain Course, a 470-yard par-four that has been described as one of the greatest in the world. One&Only Palmilla offers a popular golf package that includes unlimited play on all 27 holes, a golf lesson and two 60-minute apres-golf sports massages.
oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla
Quivira Los Cabos
One of the most exclusive communities in Los Cabos, Quivira is an exquisite enclave offering the very best in luxury Los Cabos living. The master plan is still coming together, with a St. Regis Resort and Residences due to open in 2022. The resort boasts several fine-dining options and world-class leisure facilities, but the jewel in the crown is the Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course. Seemingly carved into the tip of the Baja Peninsula, the course provides dramatic ocean views from every hole. Its narrow fairways and natural exposure can make for demanding conditions and provide even the most capable of golfers with a challenge. The course will certainly get the better of many who play it, but the layout provides ample opportunity to relax and unwind in other ways. Players can refresh themselves during the round at one of four comfort stations interspersed throughout the facility. These stations serve everything from delightful local dishes to exclusive tequilas, so golfers can be sure to come off the course more relaxed than when they started, no matter how high their score.
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