Greg Norman Golf Course Design Announces Grand Opening of Rancho San Lucas Golf Club in Los Cabos
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) – the premier signature golf course design firm in the world – announces the Grand Opening of Rancho San Lucas Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Inspired by the native terrain and featuring near-endless panoramic views, Rancho San Lucas Golf Club is a 7,210-yard, par-72, championship-caliber course backdropped by the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean. Spanning three different ecosystems, the golf course meanders through a thick cactus forest creased by winding arroyos before descending to enormous windswept dunes. The layout features five holes on the beach, notably the par-3 third, which parallels the sea and will give players fine views of breaching whales during the winter months.
Norman attended the grand opening celebration on Thursday, Feb. 20 joined by the developer, Solmar Group chairman Francisco Bulnes, VIP guests, international media and dignitaries.
“Rancho San Lucas is the most spectacular piece of oceanfront property I’ve seen in a long time, so to have the opportunity to build a course on this site was truly once-in-a-lifetime,” said Norman. “My goal was to keep it as natural as possible, using my ‘least-disturbance’ approach, while showcasing the property’s three unique ecosystems: the ocean, the sand dunes and the arroyos. We wanted to build a sustainable course that is playable from all perspectives, including the forward tees. GNGCD is committed to making a global impact by creating courses that withstand the test of time, and I truly believe this golf course is one of the best we’ve ever built.”
Grassed from tee-to-green in SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum, a disease-resistant, drought-tolerant varietal, the course features a unique revetted bunkering design unlike anything else in the region. Specifically tailored to Cabo’s terrain and locale, GNGCD integrated indigenous landscapes and grass varietals that use the least amount of water and in doing so, succeeded in creating a sustainable golf experience that flows naturally with the dune and desert landscape.
The developer, Francisco Bulnes, relates a story about how the course was built. “In the beginning, Greg told me, ‘It’s such an amazing piece of property, we’re only going to clear the fairway corridors 10 meters at a time.’ Most designers mass clear a site and then attempt to re-vegetate it later. Not Greg. He was very careful to remove specimen trees and plants and shelter them in a nursery. He wanted to work at a very slow rate, so he could evaluate the site’s contours and build the course in an environmentally responsible way. This took several months, but that’s what his ‘least-disturbance’ design philosophy is all about: keep earthmoving to a minimum, and step as lightly as possible on nature’s toes. We’re excited to share this world-class golf course with our guests and home owners.”
Rancho San Lucas is a private club with exclusive access available to homeowners and guests of Solmar Hotels & Resorts. With two on-course comfort stations, each providing Mexican specialties and ice-cold refreshments, players can enjoy an all-inclusive experience during the round. A handsome ranchero-style clubhouse overlooks the fairways and sea and the practice facility features a spacious driving range, an 18-hole putting course, and dedicated chipping, pitching and sand play areas.
Poised to become the next great venue in Los Cabos, Rancho San Lucas Golf Club is the centerpiece of an 834-acre master-planned resort and residential community. Located 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas and boasting 1.2 miles of expansive beachfront on the Pacific Coast, the development also features the Norman Estates real estate enclave, a private gated community within Rancho San Lucas featuring 32 luxury estate homes and 40 condominiums.
In concert with the Rancho San Lucas masterplan, Norman Estates features coastal hacienda-style homes that reflect a rustic-meets-contemporary, ranch-inspired aesthetic. The carefully selected design is the work of Norman Design Group’s acclaimed interior designer, Kirsten Norman, whose vision blends masculine and elegant touches that ensure every detail is a natural continuation of Greg’s distinctive lifestyle. The beachside luxury homes are priced from $1.9 to $7 million. Owners will have access to an exclusive, members-only private beach club.
Rancho San Lucas Golf Club is GNGCD’s 106th completed global design, spanning 34 countries and six continents. For more information: www.ranchosanlucas.com
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About Greg Norman Golf Course Design
Since its inception in 1987, Greg Norman Golf Course Design has been one of Norman’s true passions in both business and life. His experience playing many of the world’s great golf courses over a 25-year career served as a catalyst to develop this interest and turn it into a thriving company. Today, GNGCD courses span the globe, covering six continents and 34 countries.
GNGCD’s design philosophy is grounded in a “least-disturbance approach” that blends golf courses with their surrounding environment to enhance the properties’ natural features. The company is highly-regarded as an industry leader in promoting sustainability and the compatibility of golf courses with the environment, with many projects having been certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for environmental stewardship. For more information: www.gngcd.com
About Rancho San Lucas
Rancho San Lucas is an 834-acre resort community set in rolling desert foothills that slope to 1.2 miles of pristine beachfront on the Pacific Ocean. Located 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, a deep-sea fishing, golf and nightlife capital, this exclusive, gated enclave occupies a privileged location that offers a level of serenity rarely found in Cabo. The low-density community is elevating the standard of coastal living in Los Cabos with The Villas at Rancho San Lucas and the Norman Estates, a pair of residential communities. The masterplan is also home to two resorts–Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas and The Residences at Rancho San Lucas. Standout amenities include an adults-only infinity pool, kids pool with a mini waterpark, saltwater lagoon, seaside spa and private beach cabanas, state-of-the-art fitness center with Life Fitness equipment, a full-service beauty salon, and a health clinic and concierge services. Hotel guests and residents enjoy 15 miles of jogging and mountain bike trails. Coming soon is a tennis facility, sports complex and a Mexican Village offering shopping and entertainment, a variety of world-class dining venues, an amphitheater and more.
Media Contacts:
Jane MacNeille, Greg Norman Company
jane.macneille@gregnorman.com
(561) 640-7000
Rachel Esserman Maher, Rancho San Lucas
rachel@rempublicrelations.com
(310) 497-6856
