Top Public and Private Golf Courses in Cabo San Lucas

Like many warm-weather vacation destinations, Cabo San Lucas is popular with golfers of all skill levels. Golfers from near and far flock to the Baja Peninsula to enjoy sweeping ocean views, soak up year-round sunny weather and test their skill at close to 20 courses — some ranked by Golf Digest among the best in North America. Pack your clubs and discover truly incredible public and private golf courses in the Los Cabos area.

Public courses

Bring your three best golf buddies and schedule a tee time at one of Cabo’s picture-perfect public golf courses. Here are two you won’t want to miss.

Palmilla Golf Club

San José del Cabo’s Palmilla Golf Club boasts 27 holes of challenging golf, over three separate 9-hole courses: Mountain, Ocean and Arroyo. Tee times are for 18 holes, so you can choose whichever two suit your fancy. The Mountain Course is known for its pristine greens and 470-yard uphill par four on hole three. The Ocean Course sits right up against the Sea of Cortez and features a 600-foot elevation gain in the first six holes alone. Finally, the Arroyo Course takes you through desert landscapes, across deep canyons and high atop hills where you’ll be rewarded with impressive ocean views.

Rancho San Lucas Golf Club

One of the newest courses on the scene, Rancho San Lucas is a Greg Norman Signature Course that opened in early 2020. The professional golfer-turned-course designer created Rancho San Lucas in a way that showcases the three ecosystems that surround the 7,210-yard course: the ocean, sand dunes and arroyos. Using what he calls his “least-disturbance” approach, each hole blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, while still providing incredible water views.

Private and semi-private courses

In the Los Cabos area, you’ll find a wide range of courses that are either private (available only to those who are members) or semi-private. Semi-private courses are typically open to those staying on-premises, like at on-site resorts. Others allow members to bring guests. Here are a few to check out, if you can score a tee time.

Cove Club

Located in the resort community of Cabo Del Sol, Cove Club is a public-turned-private course reserved just for members of the club and their guests. If you become a member (or have a friend who invites you to play), you’ll enjoy a Jack Nicklaus-designed course that is definitely challenging, but all your hard work will be rewarded along the way. Be sure to stop at Bambi, a vintage Airstream-turned-beachside taco stand located between holes 9 and 10.

El Dorado

Another members-only Nicklaus course, El Dorado is perfectly positioned along two miles of rugged coastline between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. As you play your way through 18 holes, you’ll enjoy landscapes ranging from desert foothills to quiet canyons to oceanfront vistas. After your round is done, trade your golf polo in for a swimsuit and make a splash at the chic El Dorado Beach Club.

Diamante

More than just a single course, Diamante includes the world-class Dunes Course, the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal, a fun par 3 short course, and a challenging 15-hole putting course. Give yourself enough time to at least experience both 18-hole courses. The Dunes Course, designed by Davis Love III, was ranked 36th on GOLF Magazine’s 2019 list of the world’s top 100 courses. El Cardonal was Tiger Woods’ first design project, styled after the Southern California courses he grew up playing. The course is open to Diamante residents and guests of the on-site resort and hotel.

Costa Palmas Golf Club

Costa Palmas Golf Club is not only the only course on the East Cape, but it’s also one of a few walkable courses in the region. With a links-style design by Robert Trent Jones Jr., it’s an ideal course for players of all skill levels. Each six-hole section features a different landscape. Dunes surround the first six holes, followed by an upland middle six holes. The last six holes offer views of the chic Costa Palmas Marina. The course is open to members and guests of the on-site Four Seasons hotel.

Stay and play

With a Pacaso second home in Los Cabos, you’ll have ample time to work on your handicap at courses around Baja. Then, at the end of the day, you can total up your score and talk through your favorite holes from the comfort of your luxury retreat.

A guide to the top Cabo San Lucas golf courses