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Quivira Golf Club: The Best of Two Worlds, Great Golf & Fantastic Food

Quivira Golf Club: The Best of Two Worlds, Great Golf & Fantastic Food

In the world of golf, Quivira Golf Club stands apart from all others. Built by Jack Nicklaus, golf’s greatest champion, Quivira is a course that only someone with the experience, talent and vision of Nicklaus could have conceived and designed.

A spectacular tour de force, this 7,085-yard layout, opened to international acclaim in 2014, scales sheer granite cliffs high above the roiling sea. The multi-themed routing plays to and from the bluffs as it meanders through massive dunes and desert foothills, climbing nearly 400 feet above sea level.

An engineering feat as well as a strategic gem, Quivira has been recognized as one of the most challenging and memorable resort venues in the hemisphere. Also one of the most celebrated. Earlier this year, Quivira received a Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award in the ‘Best Golf Resorts in Mexico & Central America’ category. This is the sixth consecutive year the club has been singled out for recognition by the sport’s most respected publication.

Nicklaus, to his credit, did not create an imposing test for experts only at Quivira. “It’s not a hard golf course,” he remarked. “It is very user-friendly. It may look difficult because of where it is, but the course is very playable.” This is especially true for players willing to move up a set of tees from their normal preferred yardage. Onshore breezes, uneven lies, slippery greens and an abundance of sand can ramp up the challenge. Playing from a forward set of tees is an easy way to reach more greens in regulation--and have more fun.

Mindful of the precipitous terrain, Nicklaus built backstops, kicker slopes and containment areas at Quivira that tend to gather the ball to safety. A case in point is the dazzling par-3 13th hole, which plays across a chasm to a tiny wafer-like green that rests atop a pinnacle of granite high above the surging sea. Hit safely to the grassy slope to the left of the green, and the ball will generally roll down the slope and onto the putting surface.

Complementing the across-the-board appeal of the course is the total golf experience offered by Quivira. An all-inclusive club, Quivira offers players numerous opportunities to refresh and fortify themselves. The comfort station beside the oceanfront practice facility, which golfers can access prior to teeing off, offers snacks, ice-cold beer, margaritas and tequila-based Bloody Mary’s, a.k.a. Bloody Maria’s.

Behind the tee boxes at the fifth hole, perched 275 feet above the sea with jaw-dropping ocean views, the “Cliff” comfort station awaits with ready-to-go refreshments, notably breakfast burritos in the morning.

The “Oasis,” a halfway house situated near the eighth green, showcases the culinary talents of the resort’s chefs. Here players can take a seat on the open-air patio high above the sea to enjoy fresh-off-the-grill regional Baja cuisine, from tacos to tostadas. In addition, a full bar features blanco, reposado and anejo tequilas.

Players can refresh themselves a final time at the “Cañada” comfort station near the 16th tee, which sits high above the tub-shaped fairway and marks the layout’s return home.

Anchoring the club is a thatched-roof, beachfront clubhouse conveniently located between the first tee and the 18th green. Roughly the height of a palm tree, this stylish gathering spot, its large rectangular bar a popular 19th hole, sits above the sandy shore a short distance from the rolling surf. The clubhouse contains a golf shop featuring top apparel brands and logoed golf merchandise.

Open for breakfast and lunch, the clubhouse features a smoothie bar, superb omelets and chilaquiles served with green or ranchera sauce. Lunch features a custom salad bar, burgers, sandwiches, and excellent fish tacos.

In the evening, the space is transformed to The Quivira Steakhouse, open for fine dining from late afternoon through evening. After dark, it’s dining under the stars within earshot of the surf. In addition to perfectly grilled prime steaks, the restaurant offers a superb array of appetizers (don’t miss the San Carlos deep fried calamari dressed in a creamy smoked jalapeño pepper). Chef’s selections include Smoked pork ribeye glazed with gravy sauce, confit vegetables and mashed potatoes; and rack of aged lamb with apple, mint and ginger gravy sauce, asparagus and brussels sprouts.

The best golf and dining experience in Los Cabos? It’s Quivira, no close second.