El Dorado

The legend of the mysterious city of El Dorado has lured explorers to many parts of Central and South America over the centuries. However, since 1999, adventurers to Mexico have had a new golden golfing destination to seek at the El Dorado Golf & Beach Club on the southern tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula.

Situated on the “Golden Corridor” between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucan, the course lies within an exclusive estate that was created by the Discovery Land Company for well-heeled golfers who quite like the idea of residing within a gated, private beach and golf community, enjoying more than a mile of a stunning, secluded coastline.

El Dorado’s architect, Jack Nicklaus, is said to have spent many hours walking the shoreline and rambling amongst the towering sand hills here, mapping out a layout that blends in seamlessly with its surroundings. In fact, the job he did was so good that many consider it to be one of the very few course designs anywhere to have successfully linked dramatic coastal holes with a desert landscape.

The front and back nine both end in satisfying style with downhill par fives that offer a decent chance of picking up a birdie but it’s the short par three 16th that will remain in the memory for a very long time – played across a sandy cove that fronts onto the Sea of Cortez, sea breezes from the left will almost certainly force the tee shot to be aimed at the beach if it has any chance of finding an exposed green perched on the edge of the coast.