You’re standing on the first tee. The desert heat is starting to shimmer off the sand, but there’s this sharp, salty breeze coming off the Sea of Cortez that hits you right in the face. It's confusing. Is this a desert course? A links course? Honestly, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos golf is a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, but in the best way possible. It’s one of the only places on the planet where you can play a front nine designed by Greg Norman and a back nine designed by Jack Nicklaus in a single round. Usually, when you get two legendary egos like that on one piece of dirt, things get messy. Here, it just feels like a masterclass in two very different philosophies of pain and beauty.
Most people booking a stay at the Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort assume the course is just a "hotel amenity." That's a mistake. This isn't some flat, watered-down resort track where you can spray the ball anywhere and find it. It’s a 7,100-yard beast that demands you actually think about where you’re landing the ball. If you come here expecting a relaxed afternoon of drinking margaritas and hitting 300-yard drives into wide-open fairways, the Arroyo and Mission nines will eat your lunch.
The Norman vs. Nicklaus Identity Crisis
Let’s talk about the Mission Course first. This is Greg Norman’s territory. If you know Norman’s design style, you know he loves "flashy" bunkering and using the natural undulations of the land to mess with your depth perception. The front nine here is very much a desert-style layout. You have these massive transitions from manicured Paspalum grass to "don't-even-try-it" waste bunkers and cactus forests.
The par-3 6th hole is a perfect example of what Norman was trying to do. It’s a downhill shot that looks easy enough until you realize the wind is swirling off the ocean and the green is guarded by sand that looks like it belongs on a postcard but plays like a nightmare. You’ve got to commit to a club, or you’re going to be chipping from the scrub.
Then you hit the turn.
Suddenly, you’re on the Ocean Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus. The transition is subtle at first, but then the elevation changes get more dramatic. Nicklaus, being Nicklaus, wanted to bring the water into play as much as possible. The back nine is where the "Secrets Puerto Los Cabos golf" experience really earns its reputation. The 14th and 15th holes are basically perched on the edge of the world. On a clear day, you can see whales breaching in the Sea of Cortez while you're trying to figure out how to stick a long iron on a green that feels like it’s the size of a postage stamp.
Why the Grass Actually Matters (No, Seriously)
I know, talking about grass sounds like a snooze-fest. But at Puerto Los Cabos, the turf is actually a huge part of the strategy. They use Paspalum. This stuff is salty-water tolerant and incredibly dense. The big takeaway for you? The ball sits up. It’s like hitting off a premium carpet. However, Paspalum is also "sticky." If you’re used to the ball rolling out 40 yards on a dried-out fairway in Arizona, you’re in for a shock. Your drives will stop relatively quickly, and your chips will "grab" the green faster than you expect.
Kinda changes how you play your short game, right? You can’t really bump-and-run as effectively here. You’ve got to fly it to the hole.
The Comfort Stations: The "Secret" Part of Secrets
Let’s be real for a second. We aren’t all Tour pros. Sometimes the golf is secondary to the experience. This is where the resort side of the operation shines. The "Comfort Stations" at Puerto Los Cabos are legendary. We aren't talking about a dusty cooler with some lukewarm water bottles. These are fully staffed huts every few holes serving up tacos, sliders, and top-shelf tequila.
It’s a blessing and a curse.
I’ve seen many golfers start the Mission nine with high hopes of breaking 80, only to discover the spicy tuna sliders and Paloma cocktails at the third comfort station. By the time they reach the Nicklaus-designed 12th hole, their swing has magically turned into a rhythmic, drunken sway. If you’re playing for money, stay away from the second round of tequila until at least the 16th hole. If you’re just here for the vibes, the comfort stations are basically the highlight of the trip.
📖 Related: Eden Park Hotel London: Why This Bayswater Spot Stays Under the Radar
Real Talk: The Cost and the Logistics
Golf in Cabo isn't cheap. It hasn't been cheap for twenty years, and it isn't getting any cheaper now. Expect to pay anywhere from $250 to over $400 for a round depending on the season and your guest status at the Secrets resort. Is it worth it?
If you compare it to some of the private clubs nearby like Querencia or El Dorado, it’s a steal because you can actually get a tee time. But compared to your local muni? It’s a splurge. You’re paying for the maintenance, the views, and the fact that you’re playing a course that feels like it was carved out of a National Geographic spread.
One thing people often get wrong is the transportation. The course is right there, but the clubhouse is a short shuttle ride from the main Secrets lobby. Don't try to walk it with your bag. You’ll be sweaty before you even hit the range. And speaking of the range, use it. The transition from the humid air at the resort to the drier air on the elevated tees can do weird things to your distances.
The Strategy for Surviving the Wind
The wind in Los Cabos usually picks up around 11:00 AM. If you’re a serious stick, you want the earliest tee time possible. By 2:00 PM, the "breeze" is more like a gale coming off the Pacific, and it turns the par-5s into three-shot marathons.
Specifically, look at the 13th hole. It’s a long par-4 that usually plays right into the teeth of the wind. Most amateurs try to smash a driver to make up the distance, but the fairway narrows right where your ball wants to land. The move here is actually to take one less club, keep it low, and play for a bogey. A bogey on 13 is like a birdie anywhere else when the wind is howling.
Is it Friendly for High Handicappers?
Sorta. Look, the fairways are wider than some of the other desert courses in the area (looking at you, Quivira). But the "forced carries" are what kill your score. If you can't carry the ball 150 yards over sand and cactus, you’re going to lose a lot of Titleists.
The resort does offer multiple tee boxes, and for the love of everything holy, use them. Don't play the tips just because you saw a pro do it on YouTube. The "II" or "III" tees are where the course is actually designed to be enjoyed by human beings.
Comparing Puerto Los Cabos to Other Local Tracks
If you’re staying at Secrets, you might be tempted to head over to Cabo del Sol or Palmilla. Both are fantastic. But Puerto Los Cabos has a specific "ruggedness" that the others lack. Palmilla feels very "old world luxury," while Puerto Los Cabos feels like you're actually out in the wild. You’ll see roadrunners, iguanas the size of small dogs, and occasionally a hawk eyeing your sandwich.
The greens here are also notoriously tricky. They don't just break; they "slide" toward the ocean. Even if a putt looks like it’s uphill, if the ocean is behind you, that ball is going to move faster than you think. Always find the water before you read your line. It’s the golden rule of Cabo golf.
📖 Related: Lake Martin Golf Courses: Why You Might Be Playing the Wrong One
What Most People Miss: The Third Nine
Wait, did you know there’s a third nine?
Back in the day, the plan was always for Norman to have 18 holes and Nicklaus to have 18 holes. Currently, there are 27 holes available. Most resort guests get funneled into the "composite" course (the Mission and Ocean nines), but there’s also the Vista nine. It’s often less crowded and offers some of the highest elevation points on the property. If the main course is backed up, ask the pro shop if you can get on the Vista. The views are arguably better, even if it doesn't have the same "celebrity designer" pedigree on every single hole.
Actionable Steps for Your Round
Don't just show up and wing it. If you want to actually enjoy your time playing Secrets Puerto Los Cabos golf, follow this checklist:
- Book 60 days out: If you’re staying during peak season (November through April), the prime morning times vanish.
- Hydrate before the tequila: The sun here is deceptive because of the breeze. You’ll be dehydrated before you hit the back nine. Drink a liter of water for every two holes.
- Check the wind forecast: Use an app like Windguru. If it says 20+ mph, pack your "stingers" and leave the high-launch woods in the bag.
- Tipping culture: Bring small bills. The staff at the comfort stations and the caddies (if you use one) work incredibly hard in the heat. A little goes a long way.
- Forget the driver on the par-4 3rd: It looks tempting to go for it, but the waste bunker on the left is a graveyard for ego-driven drives. Take a 3-wood or hybrid and stay in the short stuff.
Golf in Baja is about survival as much as it is about scoring. Puerto Los Cabos gives you a little bit of everything—the desert, the ocean, and enough food to make you forget about that triple bogey on the 7th. Just remember to look up from your scorecard every once in a while. The view is why you paid the greens fee in the first place. High-level golf is great, but watching a pelican dive for fish while you're lining up a birdie putt? That’s the real reason people keep coming back to this specific corner of the world. No follow-up needed—just get out there and play.