Los Cabos Golf | Cabo Del Sol Ocean Course

Hole 1

Par 4

Opening hole presents a stern test and challenges players right out of the box. A nest of bunkers to the right of landing area and a deep nosed bunker in front of the green penalize an aggressive play not properly executed. The putting surface is open on the front left to permit a run-up shot. However, the back right portion of green is subtly angled away from the fairway, asking players to approach with the preferred high fade shot pattern of course designer Jack Nicklaus.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	436	419	402	320	310

Hole 2

Par 5

This rugged par 5, angled from left-to-right, turns inland into the desert, with a sandy arroyo flanking the entire left side of fairway. Whether going for the green in two or laying up for position, the second shot requires precision. The ideal approach area (80-120 yards from the green) is squeezed on all sides by fairway bunkers, forcing players to challenge the sand or face a longer approach. The elevated green requires a high, soft shot.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	574	558	523	508	415

Hole 3

Par 4

A decision is required on the tee of this potentially drivable par 4. Attempting to drive the green brings the surrounding trouble into play on an otherwise simple hole that will yield to conservative play. Penal fairway bunkers left and right plus the natural desert area framing the entire right side of hole are in play for long hitters who go for the green. The skewed putting surface slopes away from the fairway.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	327	320	293	273	252

Hole 4

Par 5

Beautiful par 5 with panoramic ocean views asks players to shape the ball from right-to-left off the tee. Fairway runs downhill from tee to green and tests ability to play from a variety of uneven lies. Risk-reward element is present for big hitters who try to reach in two but who must carry the deep arroyo fronting the green. The front portion of slim green slopes sharply from back to front, making putts from above a front hole location speedy and delicate.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	555	542	527	498	423

Hole 5

Par 4

Demanding No. 1 handicap hole requires precision and length. Although it plays downhill towards the beach, this sturdy par 4 plays each of its 490 yards from the tournament tees. With a gentle left-to-right dogleg and a long second shot into a prevailing crosswind, the hole design allows players to roll approach shots onto the large flat green that fronts the Sea of Cortes.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	490	469	447	355	320

Hole 6

Par 3

The first of four spectacular par 3’s on the Ocean Course, this visually intimidating hole plays from a granite shelf to an island-style green nearly encircled by a surging tidal pool. Two gaping bunkers at front left of kidney-shaped green prevent hooked tee shots from tumbling into sea. Two rock-encased bunkers behind green save players who go long from a fate worse than sand.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	184	177	167	149	125

Hole 7

Par 3

While back-to-back par 3’s are rare on world-class courses, holes 6 and 7, given their magnificent seaside setting, are a notable exception to the rule. From tee boxes set a few meters above boiling sea, a short-iron shot is played into a crosswind slightly uphill to a small, undulating green tucked into shouldering dunes and granite outcrops framed by bunkers and beach grass. Pin is partially obscured by a rock formation when placed to the right. An accurate tee shot is required.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	139	132	123	111	99

Hole 8

Par 4

With the rolling waves of the Sea of Cortes to your back, better players must challenge the fairway bunker and swath of desert up the left side for the best angle to the green on this testing uphill hole, which calls for two forced carries over desert. Approaches with mid-irons or hybrid clubs to the well-bunkered green are best played left to right over the broad arroyo that crosses in front of the narrow green. Greenside bunkering is plentiful and penal.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	450	418	380	337	272

Hole 9

Par 4

The ever present desert guards the entire left side, but length is the primary requirement to reach this broad-shouldered par 4 in regulation. Readily navigable, the open-entry green accepts run-up shots. A prominent bunker on right of fairway must be avoided to set up a long second shot to the huge green. Approaches must be placed carefully, as collection areas to the right front and right rear flank a mound that can funnel shots toward center of green.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	469	450	426	387	350

Hole 10

Par 4

Both accuracy and length are required on this dramatic straightaway par 4. Mid- to short-iron approach shot to perched green plays over prominent rock outcrops and picturesque cactus garden. Hole favors a right to left shot, especially when flag is located in the back left. Native desert islands of cardon cacti and other cactus species—barrel, cholla, pitahaya--frame right side of fairway from the tee.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	436	404	353	341	307

Hole 11

Par 4

Split fairway design forces players to make a choice from the tee. The safe play to the right sets up a blind short iron over a cavernous bunker to an elevated, well-defended green. Better players can take a more direct route to the left side of the split fairway by carrying the ball over a wide stretch of desert. Pin placement dictates which line is best each day. A back right pin makes the right fairway the prudent play, while a left pin placement will tempt a more aggressive play up the left side.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	352	344	328	314	233

Hole 12

Par 5

Target golf at its best. Little margin for error was provided on the only par five on the course not sited on the ocean. Dramatic downhill tee shot must carry an arroyo fronting a narrow, Redan-style green skewed to the line of play and sloped from front-right to back-left towards the sea. Yawning front bunkers will challenge even the best players. The elevated tees serve up fine views of the El Faro Lighthouse in the distance.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	515	500	473	446	309

Hole 13

Par 3

Target golf at its best. Little margin for error was provided on the only par three on the course not sited on the ocean. Dramatic downhill tee shot must carry an arroyo fronting a narrow, Redan-style green skewed to the line of play and sloped from front-right to back-left towards the sea. Yawning front bunkers will challenge even the best players. The elevated tees serve up fine views of the El Faro Lighthouse in the distance.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	213	208	193	171	131

Hole 14

Par 4

Intimidating tee shot on yet another excellent short par 4. This hole tests a player’s accuracy and fortitude, with forced carries over the same deep arroyo twice. A right side fairway bunker provides definition and perspective on the downhill tee shot, which favors a right-to-left shape. A precise shot is required to a green squeezed between an arroyo on right and desert hillside on left.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	366	351	331	317	207

Hole 15

Par 5

Teeing off from the highest point on the course provides a memorable view of the Sea of Cortés and the El Faro Lighthouse. Downhill all the way, this hole invites players to let out the shaft with the driver. Long hitters have a realistic eagle chance if they successfully negotiate the pot bunker near center of the otherwise generous fairway. The more assertive play is to carry the cluster of bunkers indenting the right side of fairway. From here the well-bunkered green will accept run-up approach shots.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	550	515	497	480	410

Hole 16

Par 3

New Hole

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	175	165	149	112	98

Hole 17

Par 4

Aimed directly to sea, the breathtaking tee shot here requires a forced carry over a canyon-like arroyo. Players challenging the left hand bunker are rewarded with a shorter approach. The wafer-like green, set atop a granite cliff above the Sea of Cortes, gives the appearance of floating in the ocean. The downhill approach requires precision, as the slim terraced green, flanked by bunkers, shrugs off indifferent shots. The safe play is short right of target.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	447	427	342	319	229

Hole 18

Par 4

The ocean borders the entire right side of this stunning closer, which doglegs gently to the right as it traces the shoreline. Left-to-right is the preferred shape from the tee on this spectacular hole. The prevailing wind allows the hole to play shorter than listed yardage but also pushes big tee shots toward a narrow bottleneck where balls can tumble over the cliff edge onto the rocky beach below. The long angled green sits just above the beach, with a small pot bunker on the left forcing players to challenge the ocean or face a tough pitch from a sizable bail-out area left of green.

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	430	419	385	358	296

Tee	Black	Gold	Blue	White	Red
Yards	7108	6818	6339	5796	4786
Rating / Slope (M)	74.4 / 145	73.0 / 140	70.6 / 133	67.8 / 126	63.3 / 114
Rating / Slope (W)			76.9 / 137	73.9 / 132	68.1 / 118

The Cabo del Sol Ocean Course

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course Hole Description

Ocean Course Rates