Best of 2024 - Los Cabos Part 1
Another year is drawing to a close. Time to look back on so many activities and trips - from Namibia to Los Cabos in Mexico. These two destinations were also among my annual highlights for 2024.
Los Cabos - Gulf spectacle between desert backdrop and Pacific Ocean - Part 1
Even if you've already played some of the world's best golf courses, there are still destinations that get your pulse racing. One of these for me is Los Cabos, in the south of Baja California in Mexico. 18 spectacular courses designed by world-famous golf architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Tiger Woods vie here for golf enthusiasts from all over the world and make the choice an agonizing one. The Lands End also has plenty to offer water sports enthusiasts, art lovers and gourmets alike. My personal highlight here was taking part in the pro-am of the tournament week "The World Wide Technology Championship" (WWT) with some of the best PGA players in the world - as "Once in My Lifetime".
From the November gray in Germany straight to summer-warm Mexico
On November 3, we flew non-stop from Frankfurt directly to Los Cabos and this first flight was celebrated there with a lot of hello and live music. And what was nice about it was that we had a day flight, because the time difference is 8 hours back. This was one of the reasons for this trip. The second was to make me the only European to take part in the PGA Po-Am tournament WWT on the El Cardonal golf course, whose architect is none other than Tiger Woods. What an honor! The third reason was certainly the diversity of this destination at the southern tip of the state of Baja California Sur, between the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. An exciting combination of enchanting desert landscapes with meter-high cacti, beaches with crystal-clear water and mountains up to 3000 meters high in the hinterland. Los Cabos is also considered a pioneer in terms of sustainability and is committed to responsible tourism with active programs to preserve natural resources and the ecological balance. In this context, 42% of the Baja California Sur (BCS) region has been designated as a nature reserve and the oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau described the destination as the "aquarium of the world", the UNESCO designation reads: "a jewel for nature conservation, of inestimable value". Unfortunately, there was little time to explore this "jewel", as golf on the five most important courses here was absolutely paramount. With 350 days of sunshine a year, Los Cabos is also the golfing Mecca of Latin America. Its career in terms of super golf courses began just over 25 years ago and today the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula is already considered a hotspot for excellent golf. First and foremost, the Diamond Project has evolved into one of the best golf experiences in the world and a luxurious retreat for homeowners. It began with the debut of the Davis Love III-designed Dunes Course, ranked 36th in the world on Golf Magazine's Top 100 list. This was followed by Diamante's second championship course, the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal with its own clubhouse, Tacos & Tortas restaurant, golf simulators, a training facility, golf academy and Diamante's signature comfort stations and first-class service. Tiger Woods will soon build on the success of El Cardonal with a second TGR-designed course called Legacy Club.
A PGA tournament week with a difference & golfing with friends
As a die-hard golfer who always watches the worldwide tournaments on TV, you know the procedure: Usually a match play is played here with scoring at each hole. Here at the Pro-Am tournament on the El Cardonal at Diamante golf course, which started the day before the official tournament, it was a best-ball scoring system. In other words, we played as a team in a flight of four and counted the best score. The fact that I was playing with two journalists from Korea and Sweden as well as the PRO David Lipsky from the USA was a new experience: while my colleagues were so excited that they could only concentrate on their game, I had a lively chat with the pro during our four-hour walk. Yes - a tournament can be like that too! The fact that I was able to sink an eagle putt for the first time in my golf career and contributed to several birdies with my approach is now my mantra for bad scores. That and the attraction of the course, designed by Tiger Woods, will remain unforgettable for me. Yes, and also the disco at hole 10 with a personal greeting on the tee. What I still remember is the fantastic panoramic view of the sea from the tee on the 17th and the perfect putt on the narrow green on the 18th. "Well done" was the motto afterwards and the cocktail couldn't have tasted better. The winner's party in the evening with a delicious buffet dinner from the Michelin-starred kitchen and great concoctions ended late at night because the great band just wouldn't stop and the dancing in a fun group simply made everyone "happy". In my opinion, this is also due to the heartfelt friendliness and spontaneous affection of the Mexicans. From the tourism people to the flight partners, who have now become friends. Good to know, because even as a solo traveler you immediately make contact.
The former organized four rounds of golf for me with all the bells and whistles - from the latest set of clubs to tee times and usually lunch and drinks on the side. I have fond memories of the 9 holes of the Cabo Real course with different layouts, from the desert atmosphere on the first three holes and sea views on the 7th, to the hilly courses with flowering shrubs on the back nine. At 100 USD for the green fee, it is still one of the more affordable courses here.
At Solmar GC, the pro was even waiting for me and accompanied me on the extremely windy course right by the sea. The holes with waste areas, the island greens and the stylish clubhouse on the hill with a fantastic panoramic view of the course are unforgettable. A links course par excellence with a rate of around 300 USD. No fewer than 27 holes, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Normann, awaited me on the Puerto Los Cabos golf course, which runs between white villas. All with incomparable views of the fascinating blue of Cortez Bay, the challenging dunes of the Baja desert and the mountains of the Sierra de la Laguna. Here you will find three championship courses designed by two of golf's most legendary heroes: The Ocean, - Vista and Mission Course. I found the Mission Course to be the most beautiful, with an elevation of over 122 meters, wonderful tee shots into the valley and a panoramic view of the sea. In between, small thatched-roof bars invite you to eat and drink, which results in a relaxed game afterwards. Green fees here range between 200 and 400 USD, depending on the season. Last but not least, the Quiviria Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2014, should be one of the best golfing experiences here, also because it has held the title of "The Development of the Year" since its opening. Although I didn't play it, I was driven around the course by manager Antonio. The Jack Nicklaus signature course between rocks, waste aereas and a links ambience by the sea is extremely challenging and really only recommended for good players. The 17th in particular, with its small green in the middle of the rocks, is a real challenge. In between, you can relax in the cozy bars with a large selection of drinks and burgers. My impression: Not for rookies and those on a tight budget, as the green fee costs USD 470. Guests of the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort have a price advantage here.
Text & photos: Elsa-Maria Honecker
