Palmilla Golf Club
The grande dame of Los Cabos golf, Palmilla was Jack Nicklaus's first design in Latin America when it opened in 1992. Its 27 holes spread across three distinct nines, Mountain, Ocean and Arroyo, climbing the foothills for sweeping views and dropping toward the Sea of Cortez, with desert flora, dramatic elevation change and the warm Baja light framing every shot. It set the template that made Cabo a golf destination.
Photo: One&Only Palmilla Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Palmilla is where the Los Cabos golf story begins. When Nicklaus opened it in 1992 it was the first course of its kind on the Baja peninsula, and the formula it established, desert and ocean, mountain and arroyo, sweeping Sea of Cortez views, became the blueprint for everything that followed. Three decades on it remains a benchmark, mature where the newer Cabo courses are raw, and rich in the elevation change and shot variety that the original Mountain and Arroyo nines deliver.
For the travelling golfer it is the historic heart of a Los Cabos trip and a course with genuine pedigree among a coastline now thick with big name designs. The Ocean nine, added in 1999, brings the seaside drama, while the climbing inland holes give the round its range. Paired with the modern Cabo courses up and down the corridor, Palmilla anchors a golf week in one of the game's most photogenic destinations.
Palmilla Golf Club at a glance
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Opened
- 1992, Ocean nine 1999
- Type
- Desert and ocean, 27 holes
- Par
- 72 per eighteen
- Yardage
- approx 6,771 to 7,036 yds
- Green fee
- Around 95 to 245 dollars
Designer, opening, layout, par and length verified June 2026: Palmilla Golf Club was Jack Nicklaus's first design in Latin America, opening in 1992 with an Ocean nine added in 1999. Its three nines, Mountain, Ocean and Arroyo, combine into par 72 eighteens of roughly 6,771 to 7,036 yards. Indicative 2026 green fees for outside play run roughly 95 to 245 dollars per person by season and time of day, cart, range balls and water included, with preferred rates for One&Only Palmilla guests. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Palmilla is really three courses in two, with the front and back built from any pair of the Mountain, Ocean and Arroyo nines. The Mountain and Arroyo holes climb and tumble through the foothills, all elevation change, cactus framed corridors and long views back to the sea, the kind of dramatic desert golf Nicklaus pioneered here. The Ocean nine, the 1999 addition, is the one most visitors angle to play, dropping toward the Sea of Cortez for the seaside holes that fill the brochures.
Across all three the desert framing is constant, with paspalum turf cut through arroyos and native scrub, generous landing areas off the tee and Nicklaus's trademark demands around firm, well guarded greens. The elevation means club selection is rarely simple, and the ever present trade wind adds another layer, so a calm morning and a breezy afternoon play very differently.
Ask for an Ocean combination if you can, take in the views between shots, and remember the Mountain and Arroyo nines are largely reserved for members and resort guests, so plan access accordingly.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and public play; the Ocean nine is most available, with Mountain and Arroyo reserved mainly for members and One&Only guests |
| Green fee | Roughly 95 to 245 dollars per person by season and time of day, cart, range balls and water included, preferred rates for One&Only guests (2026, indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead for the November to April high season; staying at One&Only Palmilla eases access and rates |
| On the day | Carts are standard; paspalum turf, a full practice facility and the resort sit on the property |
| Getting there | In San Jose del Cabo, around 30 minutes from Los Cabos International airport along the corridor |
| Best months | October to May for the most comfortable golf; midsummer is hot and humid with a chance of storms |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; rates change by season and time of day, so always confirm directly before booking with Palmilla Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is One&Only Palmilla itself, the landmark resort the course is named for, which bundles rooms with preferred golf access and the run of the property. It is the indulgent, convenient choice and the surest route to the Mountain and Arroyo nines.
For a wider Cabo trip the resort corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is lined with hotels at every level, putting Palmilla and the region's other big name courses within a short drive. The gateway is Los Cabos International, around half an hour away, making a multi course Baja golf week straightforward to build.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Palmilla and around Los Cabos.
Plan a Los Cabos golf trip around Palmilla
We build the week around a round at Palmilla, add the best of the Cabo corridor and sort a base with golf and rooms together. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Palmilla Golf Club questions
Who designed Palmilla Golf Club?
Palmilla was designed by Jack Nicklaus and was his first golf course in Latin America, opening in 1992. The original Mountain and Arroyo nines were joined by an Ocean nine in 1999 to create a full 27 hole layout.
How many holes does Palmilla have?
Palmilla has 27 holes across three nines, named Mountain, Ocean and Arroyo for their terrain. They combine into three different par 72 eighteens of roughly 6,771 to 7,036 yards, so the front and back can change from visit to visit.
How much does it cost to play Palmilla?
Indicative 2026 green fees for outside play run roughly 95 to 245 dollars per person depending on season and time of day, including cart, range balls and water. Guests of One&Only Palmilla receive preferred rates. Fees change through the year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Which nine is the best at Palmilla?
The Ocean nine, added in 1999, has the headline holes along the Sea of Cortez, while the Mountain and Arroyo nines climb through the foothills for elevation and views. The Mountain and Arroyo are reserved mainly for members and resort guests.
Where is Palmilla Golf Club?
Palmilla sits in San Jose del Cabo, in the Los Cabos region at the southern tip of Baja California, around 30 minutes from Los Cabos International airport along the resort corridor.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, layout, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.