Palmilla: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Jack Nicklaus' first Latin American design has tightened its access. For 2026, the Mountain and Arroyo nines are reserved for members and resort guests, and visiting golfers play the Ocean nine. Here is what that means for a Los Cabos trip.
The news: two nines have gone private
The headline for travelling golfers in 2026 is an access change at Palmilla. From the start of 2025, the club reserved its Mountain and Arroyo nines for members and guests of the One and Only Palmilla resort, and visiting golfers now play the Ocean nine. In practice that means a non resident booking through the public channels is steered toward the Ocean nine rather than a free choice of all three.
This is the kind of quiet policy shift that catches trip planners out, because Palmilla has long sold itself on the variety of its 27 holes. If you read older guides that describe pairing the Mountain and Ocean nines as a visitor, treat that as out of date and confirm the current arrangement with the club before you commit a tee time to your Los Cabos schedule.
The course, and why it still matters
Palmilla opened in 1992 as Jack Nicklaus' first signature design in Latin America, and it remains one of the founding courses of the Los Cabos golf scene. It is a 27 hole layout of three nines, the Arroyo running through desert washes, the Mountain climbing into the foothills, and the Ocean dropping toward the Sea of Cortez. The variety across the three was the original draw, and the Ocean nine carries the best of the sea views.
Los Cabos has added a string of dramatic newer courses since, several of them on our Mexico shortlist, so Palmilla now competes in a crowded field. What it keeps is pedigree, mature conditioning and a central location on the corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, which makes it an easy round to slot into a wider trip.
How to play it in 2026
For a visiting golfer, the route in is the Ocean nine, booked directly with the club or through a Los Cabos golf package; staying at the One and Only Palmilla opens up the Mountain and Arroyo nines as well. Palmilla does not publish a flat seasonal green fee, and Los Cabos high season rates are among the steepest in Mexico, so request a current quote and confirm directly before booking.
On timing, Los Cabos plays year round, with the prime golf window running through the cooler, drier months from roughly November to May and the summer hotter and quieter. Book peak season tee times well ahead, play early for the best of the light over the Sea of Cortez, and treat Palmilla as one round in a corridor that has plenty of marquee alternatives.
Our take
Our take is that the access change matters more than it first looks. Palmilla's reputation rested on the sweep of all 27 holes, and a visitor now mostly sees the Ocean nine. It is still a good round in a fine setting, but if you want the full Palmilla you need to stay at the resort, and if you want the best golf in Los Cabos you have stronger options nearby.
For a 2026 Los Cabos trip, decide whether Palmilla earns its place on access or sentiment, confirm the current policy and pricing directly, and let one concierge balance it against the corridor's newer courses so the schedule plays the way you want.
Plan your Los Cabos golf trip
From Palmilla's Ocean nine to the corridor's marquee newer courses, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Can visitors still play Palmilla Golf Club in 2026?
Yes, but access has narrowed. Since the start of 2025 the Mountain and Arroyo nines have been reserved for members and One and Only Palmilla resort guests, and visiting golfers play the Ocean nine. Confirm the current access policy directly with the club before booking, as resort courses adjust these rules.
Who designed Palmilla and when did it open?
Palmilla was Jack Nicklaus' first signature design in Latin America, opened in 1992. It is a 27 hole layout of three nines, Arroyo, Mountain and Ocean, on the corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas in Los Cabos, Mexico.
What are the green fees at Palmilla for 2026?
Palmilla does not publish a flat seasonal rate; pricing varies by season, time of day and whether you are a resort guest, and is quoted on request. Los Cabos resort green fees in high season are among the highest in Mexico, so request a current quote and always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, access and policy details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.