PUBLISHED ON SCGA FOREHER
Instagram versus reality; the notion when something looks incredible on social media but when you see it in real life, it doesn’t live up to the hype. It leaves you feeling lackluster and maybe even has you thinking you’ve been duped.
This is quite a regular occurrence with travel, and we see it happen with destination golf courses as well.
However, I am happy to report that this is certainly not the case with Los Cabo’s Quivira GC. In fact, I say that the reality is far better than the photos (and the photos are stunning).
When you visit Quivira in person, you experience something beyond the photos you see online – you get to hear the waves crashing next to you, feel the ocean breeze on your face and (hopefully) watch your ball soar down the fairway and right onto the green. You can try capturing all that in a photo (I know I certainly did), but much of the Quivira experience has to be felt in order to truly understand.
Sitting right at the tip of the Baja Peninsula where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, this Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course is nothing short of breathtaking to both look at and play – I may even make the claim that it is my favorite golf course in the world.
But why?
Why Quivia is a place you don’t want to miss
The Views
From up on the high desert cliffs to down in the sand dunes, there is no such thing as a bad view on this golf course. Most oceanside golf courses boast a couple of ocean-view holes, but at Quivira, you can soak up the beauty of the Pacific Ocean from every single hole.
My 18-hole round here takes me longer than any other golf course, thanks to the time tacked on for photo ops. Everywhere you turn, there is something worth capturing to store in your memory bank (and to brag about with friends).
The Course
Quivira starts at sea level and takes you on a ride 200 feet above the surf. Along the way, you journey through canyons and arroyos, through sand dunes and desert landscapes, and finally, the course leads you back to the ocean to wrap up your round.
In short, there are a lot of different terrains to navigate that put your mental and physical golf skills to the test. It’s essentially all of the different types of golf courses you’ve played wrapped into one that certainly keeps you on your toes.
Though you’ve got everything from the ocean to the desert to rocks, the course isn’t as difficult as you may think – Nicklaus intentionally designed it that way. He wanted it to be something beautiful and a bit of a challenge but enjoyable for all.
The Comfort Stations
Speaking of enjoyable, you’ll love the comfort stations sprinkled throughout the course. These aren’t your average golf cart snack shacks – these are full-blown mini restaurants where you will want to do more than grab a drink and a bag of chips and go to the next hole.
Expect to take it slow on this course as the comfort stations are meant to be a rest from your round, where you can refuel with delicious tacos and high-quality spirits. Add to that the views, and you’ll start to understand what the name “comfort station” really means.
The Resort
Quivira is part of a massive property that is home to two Pueblo Bonito resorts and a handful of residential communities.
Pueblo Bonito is the ideal place to serve as your home base for playing Quivira and exploring the surrounding area. It offers an all-inclusive program with different levels that give you access to an array of amenities.
We suggest staying at the resort’s Towers, which provides a next-level luxurious experience.
Picture this: an oceanfront VIP lounge where you can sip on a margarita while watching the whales play in the waves; 24-hour butler service at your disposal to bring you what you need when you need it; a state-of-the-art fitness center that has the best workout views you’ve ever seen; and an exclusive fine-dining restaurant with the hottest flavors of the Baja cuisine.
Speaking of food, no matter where you stay at Pueblo Bonito, the food here is not your typical all-inclusive meal plan – the options are vast, and you can’t go wrong at any of the dining on-property.
The Growth
Just in case the Quivira course wasn’t enough, the design of the area’s second Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is in its final stages. This new course is expected to be equally as incredible as the first and will feature iconic panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and so much more.
This new addition to the Quivira family will take golfers through undulating desert foothills and wide valleys, and offer a different challenge than its sister course, but one that doesn’t sacrifice the quality that the Quivira name is known for.
If you’re looking for a luxurious golfing adventure that goes above and beyond its promise and your expectations, Quivira GC in Los Cabos is the place.