Puerto Los Cabos

The spectacular 18-hole layout at Puerto Los Cabos could be said to have something of a split personality at the moment as the current hybrid configuration consists of a 9-hole circuit designed by Jack Nicklaus and a 9-hole loop from Greg Norman.

The long term plan is to double the Golden Bear’s nine holes, creating a public course called The Marina, and extend the holes on the Great White Shark’s existing track to form an 18-hole course named The Mission.

For now, the contrasting styles of the two nines present golfers with a game of two halves – literally – and they offer a sneak preview of what’s to come in the fullness of time when Grupo Questro, the developers, complete the golfing element of the Puerto Los Cabos estate.

The Norman front nine is characterised by deep and steep greenside bunkers – those positioned above and below the green at the par four 5th are particularly eye catching – whilst the Nicklaus back nine has more of a desert course feel with island tees forcing golfers to carry tee shots across native vegetation at many of the holes.

Both courses occupy hilly terrain that lends itself to some serious changes of elevation – none more so than at Norman’s 213-yard 6th, the signature hole on the card, where a lofty teebox is perched more than 200 feet above the fairway.

The best of the Nicklaus holes is the par five 14th, where an arroyo crosses the fairway as it winds its way to an oceanside green that’s positioned between a couple of small sand dunes.