Jack Nicklaus helped put Los Cabos golf on the map

LOS CABOS, Mexico -- A love of fishing led Jack Nicklaus to discover the beautiful tip of the Baja Peninsula in the 1960s.

Nicklaus later returned in the 1990s to design the 27-hole Palmilla Golf Club's original Arroyo and Mountain nines, launching a golf boom that continues today.

Nicklaus has built six Cabo golf courses. His latest, Quivira Golf Club, celebrated a grand opening in December 1014 with Nicklaus on hand to introduce what might be the most scenic course the Golden Bear has ever designed.

The holes that play through towering sand dunes and along granite cliffs along the ocean are among the most spectacular in Cabo. Golfers are allowed to savor the setting at elaborate comfort stations overlooking the shoreline while splurging on tacos, sliders, snacks and drinks that are included in the cost of a round.

Another Nicklaus beauty, the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol, has several greens sitting right on the beach like a tourist. Nicklaus has nine holes done at Puerto Los Cabos, a project that hopes to become a full routing within a couple of years. Golfers currently play the Nicklaus nine and nine holes from Greg Norman for a full round.

The Club Campestre San Jose doesn't get as close to the beach as the others, but its views of the Sea of Cortez and fun routing more than justify a visit. The El Dorado Golf & Beach Club remains private, but it's another wonderful example of just how influential Nicklaus is in the game of golf south of the border.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Jack Nicklaus helped put Los Cabos golf on the map