GOLF COURSE REVIEW - QUIVIRA GOLF CLUB
Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus Signature Design
Year Opened: 2014
Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Slope: 142. Rating: 74.1
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,019
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 428 Yds 10 - Par 3 222 Yds
2 - Par 4 389 Yds 11 - Par 5 554 Yds
3 - Par 3 210 Yds 12 - Par 4 375 Yds
4 - Par 4 316 Yds 13 - Par 5 635 Yds
5 - Par 5 616 Yds 14 - Par 3 148 Yds
6 - Par 4 310 Yds 15 - Par 4 355 Yds
7 - Par 3 180 Yds 16 - Par 5 564 Yds
8 - Par 4 409 Yds 17 - Par 4 493 Yds
9 - Par 4 399 Yds 18 - Par 4 416 Yds
Par 35 3,257 Yds Par 37 3,762 Yds
Awards Won: Best Golf Resorts in Mexico by Golf Digest (2016), #1 course in Mexico by Golf Advisor, Development of the Year by Golf Inc. - 1st Place (2015), Best New International Golf Course by GOLF Magazine (2014), World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses by Golf Digest (2018), Best Golf Course by Golf Aficionado (2022).
Website: quiviraloscabos.com/golf
HISTORY: "This is one of the great pieces of property in the world," course designer Jack Nicklaus said. If the greatest golfer of all-time makes a statement like that, then I trust his judgement.
"We tried to create some excitement on the mountain and in the dunes, and I believe we've created a golf course that plays as spectacular as it looks,” Nicklaus added. "I've never seen any place that has three holes hanging out over the ocean like this golf course does. They are unbelievable. This is a diverse golf course with inland settings; its got desert, its got ocean, its got rocks. It has a little bit of everything."
Nicklaus, who has six course designs on the Baja Peninsula, has crafted some of the finest golf courses in the world. In fact, in the United States alone he has sixteen courses ranked in the top 200 and four layouts in the world top 100.
“This property afforded us a rare opportunity because of its topographic diversity and natural environment,” Nicklaus said. “Our team worked with the canvas Mother Nature provided to create one of the most spectacular courses in the world.”
Quivira Golf Club was created on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, the true Land’s End and stands out as one of the most beautiful and stunning golf courses in the Eastern Hemisphere. With sites of Humpback Whales breaching, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, gorgeous scenery and legendary sunsets, Cabo San Lucas and more specifically, Quivira Golf Club is the place to be.
From the highest point on the course at 380 feet above sea level on the 15th hole to the lowest point of just 30 feet on the final green, Quivira offers vistas that you just can’t believe. Toss in three miles of white beaches, desert cliffs and of course, the panoramic ocean views. What else could one ask for?
COURSE REVIEW: The opening hole at Quivira is a modest par four of 428 yards from the black markers. Plenty of desert on both sides of the generous landing area awaits. A medium iron should remain to a fairly long green, which is 33 paces in depth and rolls from back to front. This hole, which was originally the 18th, plays back toward the ocean, which sets the tone for a stunning round of golf.
The second hole bends slighty to the right, with a desert wash 100 yards short of the green. A very wide fairway is easily accessible, leaving a short iron to a long and narrow putting surface. One of the so-called easier holes on the course, so give yourself a shot at birdie, as they will be hard to come by.
A sliver of a green awaits the golfer on the robust, par-3 third. Stretching 210 yards from the tips, this hole is quite difficult, with bunkers guarding the right and center portions of the green. The slope of the surface is from back to front and left to right, so be precise with your approach.
The fourth is a wonderful risk-reward par four of just 316 yards. A series of fairway bunkers dot the landing area, so play left to avoid the sand, thus leaving a very short club to attack. The tiny green is only 24 paces in depth and is fronted by a deep bunker. Avoid the trouble and birdie is a possibility.
Number five is a massive par-5 of 616 yards in length, yes a true three-shotter. Heading back towards the ocean, this S-shaped monster requires a blast from the back tees over a pond and a fairway flanked by desert wasteland. Play down the right side, as the fairway slopes towards the green. Your layup needs to stay clear of the pot bunker in the middle of the landing area. Now it’s time for a short iron approach to another tiny green of just 27 paces. The two-tiered putting surface rolls from front to back, so choose the right club.
To say that your heading to some of the most spectacular vistas in golf is an understatement, as you take a 4-5 minute drive up the side of a mountain to the sixth. Just 310 yards, this oceanfront par four is 275 feet above sea level and offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. Although it’s tempting to go for the green from the tee, the prudent play is out towards the fairway as it slopes hard down to the left. The putting surface is wide, but just 17 paces in depth, so your landing area is limited. This is where the fun begins!
Built alongside a cliff, the par three seventh is 180 yards in length with a long and narrow putting surface and playing downhill. Stay right, as the slope will feed your tee shot towards the green. Miss left and your chances of staying out of the ocean are slim and none.
Playing alongside the historic lighthouse, the oldest structure in Cabo San Lucas, that was used in the early 1900s, the eighth is a tough par four that generally plays back into the wind and stretches over 400 yards. The fairway slopes from right to left, so your tee ball must be played accordingly. The infinity-style green slopes right to left, with a large bunker guarding that side. Most balls to the right will feed down towards the green. One little fact about the lighthouse. The building served as part of the backdrop in the movie Troy starring none other than Brad Pitt!
The closing hole on the outward nine sweeps hard from right to left and plays uphill from the fairway. Although not long in length, make sure you take enough club to reach the small putting surface. Sloping hard from left to right, the two-tiered green is just 21 paces in depth and protected by a deep bunker. Take note of the beautiful views of the Pacific, as you tend the flag for your playing partners.
After a quick snack at the rest area, the longest par three opens the back nine. 222 yards in length, number 10 requires length and accuracy, as desert left makes for a difficult up and down and missing right will find a bunker that will test even the best players. The green slopes from right to left with plenty of movement.
The par-5 11th is a sweeping dogleg right that plays downhill from tee to green. Although over 550 yards in length, getting home in two is a real possibility. Desert certainly protects the right side and dunes flank the left, but a solid second will leave a very short approach. The green is under 30 paces in depth and protected by closely mown areas. One of the best birdie, or should I say eagle chances on the course.
It says only 375 yards from the back tees, however the 12th hole plays directly uphill from tee to green, so you best blast a driver to reach the fairway. The landing area is situated on top of a dune ridge with the mighty Pacific to the right. The landing area is split in two and is one of the most difficult driving holes, as the fairway slopes hard to the right. The sandy waste area in the middle of the fairway sees plenty of errant shots. The green is oblong and runs away towards the ocean. Play left and let the slope carry you close.
Number 13 is the longest hole on the course, reaching 635 yards in length. Swinging to the right and then back left, it requires precision in all three phases of your game. First, a tee ball down the right side to take advantage of the slope, then a layup to an appropriate yardage, as the landing area is guarded on both sides by sand and desert. Talk about precision, your approach will have to be deadly accurate, as the putting surface, the longest on the course, is also the narrowest at Quivira. A back flag will add 20-30 yards to your approach. Good Luck!
Another signature hole at Quivira, the 14th is a stunner of a par three. Despite being only 148 yards in length, the green is protected in the front by a rock outcropping, to the right by the ocean and deep by vegetation. The putting surface sits alone, like an oasis, as you beg to get home safely. Bail out left if you must, but you really need to go for it.
Carved into the dunes, number 15th is a 90-degree par four that swings hard to the right. Playing uphill, a tee shot over the corner of the dunes will leave less than 100 yards to the narrow putting surface. The landing area off the tee is the tightest on the course, as dunes await a miss-guided tee ball. Sloping from back to front, the two-tiered green is just 28 paces long.
The final par-5 on the course is the 16th at 564 yards. The fairway from tee to green slopes from right to left and plays uphill off the tee. Sand in the middle of the landing must be avoided at all costs. More sand in the middle guards the layup zone, however the green is situated well below, so playing down towards the right will leave a reasonable chance at birdie or better. Just 26 paces in depth, the green is very wide with bunkers left and deep. This hole is the highest point of the golf course at 380 feet above sea level.
From the highest to one of the lowest, that’s what awaits on the 17th. The fairway is nearly 100 feet below the teeing area in a beautiful valley that offers stunning views of the mountains and the sea. Although buildings down the left take away from the beauty of this hole, this monster par four reaches 493 yards in length. Even with a successful tee shot, you’ll be left with a long iron or fairway metal to a putting surface that’s tucked behind mounds and a deep bunker. Shaved chipping areas guard the rolling green. Be happy with a par, or even a bogey. I would have been!
The closing hole at Quivira replaced the previous 17th hole and is stretched to 416 yards. Bending slightly to the right, the player must avoid the vast sand areas on both sides to leave a medium iron approach to a semi-blind putting surface. Bunkers short of the green are the biggest defense to this very wide green.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: What can I say that hasn’t been said already. Well, first off, I wish I had more time to play this great course again and again. I hope to be back to visit. I think Jack Nicklaus said it best. “I’ve never seen any place that has three holes hanging out over the ocean like this golf course does. They are unbelievable. This is a diverse golf course with inland settings—it’s got desert, it’s got ocean, it’s got rocks; it has a little bit of everything. It’s not a hard golf course; it is very user-friendly. It may look difficult because of where it is, but the course is very playable.”
Quivira is not a public facility, so you need to be a guest of the resort or a member to have access to this gem. The price to play is quite steep, but if you’re already in Cabo, then what the heck. Rates range from as low as $306 to as high as $465 during prime time from October to May.
Just remember, the key to happiness will be with the correct tee markers. Sure, you could play the black tees, but that’s over 7,000 yards. The gold tees are 6,500 plus and the blue 6,100. Play the tees that make sense to you. Don’t be heroic. Golf is played for enjoyment, unless you’re on Tour.
Besides the golf, the practice facility is top notch, as it features a double-sided range that is parallel to the ocean and beach. There are practice bunkers and of course putting greens, along with a short-game practice area and an 18-hole putting course.
To top it off, there are four comfort stations around the course, with all food and refreshments included, such as sliders, fish tacos and of course, adult beverages!
Talk about a must play. You could spend a full day and not be disappointed. I certainly wasn’t and I can’t wait to come back.