Jack Nicklaus mostly overrated as a designer: Cabo del Sol Ocean Course a big exception

Jack Nicklaus is largely overrated as a golf course designer. Or at least, the guys who actually design the seemingly endless roll call of courses that end up with Jack Nicklaus’ name on them are overrated. That’s the way of life in today’s celebrity architect crazed golf world.

Golfers see the Nicklaus name on a course and go ga-ga like a crazed teen who’s spent her parents fortune making American Idol vote calls.

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course is the exception worth all the Jack frenzy however.

This course in Los Cabos has received raving press ever since it opened of course. Which only makes a natural cynic like me all the more doubtful.

It deserves all the fawning however. This is the rare ocean-desert combination course. Seven of its holes play along the surf - in the most dramatic showstopping way possible - and it’s also in a desert with huge forced clears and cacti galore. Nicklaus made almost every approach shot to the tucked away greens a thinking man’s delight too.

The only course I’ve played in the last year that’s produced close to same kind of wonder is WolfCreek, Mesquite’s wonder of skyscrapper tees. And Los Cabos will never be mistaken for Mesquite.

For a complete review of the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course and tons more on Los Cabos, stayed tuned to TravelGolf.com and the new Luxury Golfer.