Nicklaus Design dominates rankings of Mexican courses

Nicklaus Design takes nine of top 30, including three of top five, according to a survey by BEST’s Golf Guides to Mexicos

Mexico has proven to be among the world’s hottest and most competitive golf markets, but the numbers reflect that Nicklaus Design years ago solidified its reputation south of the border. In a recent ranking of the Top 30 courses in Mexico by BEST’s Golf Guides to Mexico, nine of Nicklaus Design’s 12 courses open for play in the country made the list, including three of the top five spots and four of the top seven.

It is Jack Nicklaus who is credited for creating the golf boom in Mexico, particularly his pioneering work in Cabo San Lucas on the Baja Peninsula. Interestingly, the rankings were top heavy in the "Oso Dorado’s" (Golden Bear’s) work in Cabo. Capturing the list’s top spot was the world-ranked Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol (No. 73 in GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100), followed by its Cabo neighbor El Dorado. Nicklaus Design’s first-ever Cabo layout, Palmilla Golf Club and its 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf, took the fourth spot.

The focus in the rankings on Nicklaus Design then shifted to the Puerto Vallarta region, where the Four Seasons Golf Punta Mita ranked No. 7, followed by Vista Vallarta at No. 12. A sixth Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, Moon Palace in Cancun, was No. 18 and is likely to rise with the recent and much-applauded opening of the Dunes nine to complement the resort’s existing 18 holes.

The remaining three entries are all Nicklaus Design layouts–Mayan Palace in Playa del Carmen (No. 23), Club de Golf Bosques (No. 25), and Cozumel Country Club (No. 28).

Nicklaus Design currently has 12 courses open for play throughout Mexico, including nine courses that feature 18 or more holes of golf. Nicklaus Design is likely to pad its dominance in Mexico with 14 more projects under construction or development, including three more in the Cabo region.

Nicklaus Design partner, Diamond Golf, strengthened its position as the dominant golf course construction firm throughout Mexico. Diamond Golf built 15–all since 1992– of the 30 ranked courses and were responsible for all nine Nicklaus Design entries.

Nicklaus Design continues to lead the way in global golf course design, with over 65 courses under construction or under development in 15 different countries. Thirty-four of those65 courses are scheduled to open in 2006.

Best’s Golf Guide to Mexico is a twice-annual publication distributed throughout North America. Supported as well as distributed by the Mexican Tourism Board (CONSEJO), Best’s Golf Guide to Mexico is read by thousands of golf consumers, golf professionals, golf-oriented travel agents and golf and travel media in the United States and Canada.

RANK / COURSE NAME
1
CABO DEL SOL OCEAN COURSE
2
EL DORADO GOLF COURSE
3
ISLA NAVIDAD COUNTRY CLUB
4
PALMILLA GOLF CLUB
5
QUERENCIA COUNTRY CLUB
6
EL TAMARINDO COUNTRY CLUB
7
PUNTA MITA FOUR SEASONS RESORT GOLF COURSE
8
TRES VIDAS CLUB DE GOLF
9
CABO REAL GOLF COURSE
10
MEXICO CLUB DE GOLF
11
CABO DEL SOL – DESERT COURSE
12
VISTA VALLARTA – NICKLAUS
13
VISTA VALLARTA – WEISKOPF
14
GUADALAJARA COUNTRY CLUB
15
El TIGRE at PARADISE VILLAGE
16
BOSQUE REAL COUNTRY CLUB
17
LA VISTA COUNTRY CLUB & GOLF A.C.
18
THE GOLF CLUB AT MOON PALACE
19
CLUB DE GOLF CHAPULTEPEC
20
ESTRELLA DEL MAR GOLF COURSE
21
BAJAMAR
22
EL PALOMAR COUNTRY CLUB
23
MAYAN PALACE
24
FAIRMONT ACAPULCO PRINCESS
25
CLUB DE GOLF BOSQUES
26
CLUB DE GOLF LA HACIENDA
27
ATLAS COUNTRY CLUB
28
COZUMEL COUNTRY CLUB
29
PLAYACAR CLUB DE GOLF
30
LAS HADAS GOLF AND RESORT