Recommend April 2011 - (Page 78)

TEE TIME for swingers mexico The Sheraton Hacienda del Mar in Los Cabos. I New courses and great stays make for memorable golf vacations in Mexico. sarah muñoz It’s no coincidence that Mexico’s top vacation destinations are also the most generous in golf courses. Each region, of course, offers something different—one only has to picture the desert landscape of Los Cabos and verdant surroundings of Riviera Nayarit—but they all have one thing in common: the ocean is always near. Not only does the presence of the sea offer its own great vistas and wind challenges for golfers, but it also adds another attraction to a great Mexican escape. Each of Mexico’s great golf destinations has also recently welcomed new golf courses, are expecting more and most convenient of all, has a bouquet of properties growing around them. The ubiquitous choice among golfers is Los Cabos. Long known as the golf mecca in this hemisphere, its wide variety of accommodation options also make this an easy choice. “Los Cabos golf courses are known for their dramatic layouts, holes with dramatic views of the desert, mountains and sea, and an emphasis on shot-making ability through arroyos and sculpted fairways,” explains Marisa Gomez, director of sales for the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar. 78 april 2011 Among the more recent crop is Puerto Los Cabos, which has the 9-hole Marina Course by Jack Nicklaus and the 9-hole Mission Course by Greg Norman; still in development are 18 more holes. Meanwhile, Quivira Los Cabos will have two Nicklaus-designed courses, with the first 18 holes due for completion in the first half of 2012 and the second 18 the year after that. The Cabo Riviera Marina, an 18-hole Peter Dye Signature golf course (with the option to add nine more), is scheduled for completion late next year. Then there are the classics, including the Cabo del Sol courses— Ocean and Desert. According to Gomez, there’s one hole that exemplifies the golfing experience in Cabo del Sol. “The 17th hole on the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol is regarded as one of the greatest par 3s in the world,” says Gomez. “Golfers play their tee shots from a clifftop over the crashing surf to a green perched on a granite rock outcropping with the Sea of Cortez looming in front of and to the right of the green. This is one of the few holes in the world where you actually play over the sea from the tee.” continued on page 80 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Hurtigruten's Trollfjord
Savoring Adventure on Small Ship Cruises
Turkey Beyond Istanbul
Stepping Out in Eastern Europe: Go Escorted
2011 Guide to The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda
Heading Down Under
India's New Gems
Show-Stoppers on Stage—and on the Plate
Two Sides of a Hawaiian Vacation
Little Palm Island & Ocean Key Resort, Florida
Key West Fun Pass
RIU Panama
Tea Time for Swingers

Recommend April 2011