A Nicklaus design and great bargains await where the Sonoran Desert meets the Sea of Cortez
Mexico attracts more tourists to its golf courses than any location in the world except Hawaii. And while most golfers traveling to Mexico are drawn to the country’s golfing Mecca, Los Cabos, there is now a fresh, undiscovered option for the adventurous traveler: Puerto Peñasco, where the Sonoran Desert meets the Sea of Cortez.
For golfers, the main attraction in Puerto Peñasco is Peninsula de Cortes, a 7,100-yard masterpiece created seven years ago on top of sand dunes by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II. The picturesque course, designed with the sea on one side and a large estuary that changes with the tide on another side, features nine breathtaking ocean-side holes.
“There’s not a golf course in Cabo that’s as good as this one,” said Luis Torres, director of golf at the Mayan Palace. “When you come here, it’s a great chance to play one of the top courses in the country without having to pay top 10 prices.”
Stay-and-play packages at the luxurious Mayan Resort are perfect for a family vacation, a romantic retreat or a boys golf trip. The 700-room resort, which sits just south of the course, features the Brio Spa, a wine bar, a massive pool, a kids club and the impressive Bakal restaurant that overlooks the Sea of Cortez.
Until recently, the resort was only accessible by car. But in June, AeroMexico began flying into Puerto Peñasco on Thursdays and Sundays from Las Vegas for under $300. Airport officials are hoping to see flights to and from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver in the near future. The gated Mayan Palace is conveniently located a mile from the airport—giving die-hards enough time to squeeze in 18 or even 27 holes before an early afternoon flight.
As is customary with most Nicklaus designs, there is plenty of room off the tee at The Peninsula and a premium is placed on the second or third shot. The greens are complex, but receptive and fair. The fairways are hard to beat. Peninsula de Cortes was one of the first courses to use Paspalum turf, a newer Bermuda substitute that is well-suited for warm-weather courses near salt water. The soft, thatchy fairways give you a sensation that your ball is propped up on a tee.
Ted Simons, executive vice president of Nicklaus Golf Academies, has played dozens of Nicklaus signature courses, but Peninsula de Cortes remains one of his favorites. Simons said the aesthetics are almost mesmerizing.
“The native vegetation is beautiful as it’s mixed in with the white sand of the dunes and bunkers against the brilliant green of the turf,” he said.
But Simons warned against being taken in by Peninsula’s stunning scenery.
“When the wind is up, the degree of difficulty increases substantially,” he said. “You have to think your way around the golf course a bit more as the dunes and native vegetation come into play. The holes are laid out such that the wind is always coming from a different direction; that keeps the course interesting no matter how many rounds you play.”
The 388-yard, par-4 third is the signature hole and the No. 1 handicap, thanks to an uphill, blind tee shot and a 20-yard gap to a stadium-sized green that sits on water. Simons prefers No. 13, a 425-yard par-4 with an elevated green. The approach shot is blind from the fairway and multiple bunkers surround the green, which is framed by the Sea of Cortez.
When you’ve had enough golf, there is plenty to do and see in Puerto Peñasco, also known as “Rocky Point.” Explore the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and its 400 craters; go fishing, scuba-diving, sailing, jet-skiing or swimming in the warm Gulf of California waters. Or simply lounge by the massive pool at the Mayan Palace while sipping a margarita and diving into a plate of fish tacos.
The 700-room Mayan Palace is located 20 miles outside of town and is operated by Grupo Vidanta, one of the largest golf resort developers in Mexico. Vidanta’s other courses are located on the Riviera Maya, Acapulco, Nuevo Vallarta and Los Cabos. More information on the Mayan Palace can be found at http://www.mayanpalace.com/puerto-penasco. To book golf packages, contact [email protected]
