Is this the new "must play" course on Cabo San Lucas golf vacations?
Do you remember hearing about a lawsuit filed this past summer by a couple dozen National Hockey League players against a guy who supposedly took their $25 million and didn’t build the Cabo San Lucas, Mexico golf course he promised?
Well, the course is built, it’s open for play, and it has been generating some considerable buzz (for the right reasons this time).
You’ll see why when you take a look at these amazing photos, one of which shows stone-sided “hitting caves” on what may be the coolest practice range you’ve ever seen.
Some have described Diamante as, "the Bandon Dunes of Mexico."
It may look like Bandon Dunes, but this is the Dunes Course at Diamante (diamantelife.com), the new Davis Love III-designed course you can play on Cabo San Lucas golf vacations. This par 72 behemoth stretches to a full 7,300 yards, and carries a rating/slope of 75.4/146.
According to Love, “You are either playing towards the ocean, along the ocean or away from the ocean. And then, at times, you’re down in the dunes and you pop up and are surprised by the view of the ocean. It’s groundbreaking to put a course like this in a resort area like Cabo.”
The green fee at Diamante through May 15, 2010 is $275, but this includes breakfast, lunch, snacks; use of the practice facilities; a caddie; and the IVA (”value-added” tax). Those familiar with Cabo San Lucas golf vacations know that, while steep, this price is not out of line with the other top courses there.
Take a moment to drink in these gorgeous photos, courtesy of famous golf course photographer, Larry Lambrecht.
The ever-present beach and ocean are a major part of Diamante's appeal.
The Diamante Dunes Course's practice facility includes four "hitting caves."
Another Bandon-esque hole at Diamante.
Even when you can't see the ocean at Diamante, you know it's nearby.
Speaking of Larry Lambrecht, a few weeks ago I told you how you can get a copy of his highly sought after coffee table book, 
Emerald Gems: The Links of Ireland, for the best price offered anywhere ($20 less than Amazon.com and with free shipping).
They nearly sold out during the holidays, but there are still a handful of copies left at this price. If you’d like one, you can order your copy of Emerald Gems here.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
It seems way overpriced to me. Cabo is not Pebble Beach.
You’re right in one respect: Pebble Beach Golf Links gets $495 a round! In fact, Diamante is not overpriced relative to the other top courses in the area, which all charge between $200-$350 in high season. And given the extras Diamante throws in (food, drinks, caddies, etc.) it might even be considered the value play of the lot!
Great to hear from you!
Um, thanks, Rick. Great to hear from you, too.
The course looks amazing, but I would be concerned about safety given the growing violence in many parts of Mexico.
Hi Bob. Any violence seems to be concentrated in certain areas, i.e. border towns such as Tijuana and Juarez. Cabo is a full 1,000 miles south of all this — the equivalent of New York City down to Orlando, Florida — and is virtually immune from it.
Those “Cabo courses” are really expensive…besides its hot as the devil…great fishing , hotels & great restaurants….(add the cost of bringing your clubs on the airplane….whew
Hi Craig, course looks great and price seems reasonable, all things considered. I am wondering if you could link me to the lawsuit previously mentioned, or at least tell me who was involved? Thanks.
Take your pick: New York Post; New York Daily News, or just Google — Kenneth Jowdy golf — and you’ll find more articles you could hope for.
Ironically, I just played this course today and it’s spectacular. The course has only been open about 1 month but it is already in pretty good shape. It’s not overpriced for Cabo standards and the whole staff here really go the extra mile to make sure that everything is perfect. How about your choice of brand new Prov1, Taylormade or Srixon range balls to start off the day? The comparisons with Bandon Dunes and Kukio are right on par but the layout and architecture is better than Pebble Beach in my opinion. Diamante doesn’t have as many weak holes as Pebble and the condition is far better. Cabo is beautiful this time of year with temperatures around 80 degrees and very little wind. The hitting bays on the driving range are really neat but we could probably lose the rock music. You won’t get service like this at any other public course and it’s worth the money especially compared to other courses in Cabo. I wouldn’t make the car drive south down the baja peninsula for about 1000 miles from San Diego as you would have to drive through some rough areas along the border but flying into the San Jose del Cabo airport and driving the 40 minutes from the airport is probably safer than doing the same in a US metropolitan area. If you play both Diamante and Cabo del Sol Ocean you have played the two best courses in Mexico and I have memories worth the high green fees.
Thanks for the additional info John — didn’t realize Diamante provided your choice of range balls. That’s a nice touch.
Am wondering about the background of this Money from Hockey players?
See comment #9 above — two links to newspaper articles when the story first broke.
Cabo imune to violence? Tell that to the Canadian that was shot last week. Better to say you need to watch were you are, instead of sounding like a Timeshare Salesman
The statement was that Cabo is, virtually immune from violent crimes, and by that I meant the drug/turf wars that are making all the headlines. You’re right, though, isolated incidents can happen anywhere.
How about staying home and spending your hard earned money at any of the thousands of incredible golf courses available here in the US. I know travel is exciting and great to brag about, but play at home and try some of our hidden gems first.
I would think that most Americans who take golf vacations started out patronizing domestic facilities, then expanded their reach as they sought to experience different courses and cultures. Not sure bragging rights has anything to do with it in most cases. I’m also not a fan of your protectionist stance. Golfers from other countries spend A LOT of money at American courses and resorts. Should we tell them to stay home, too?
Great article Craig, thanks for the preview. The courses in Cabo are top notch, especially the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol. I can’t wait to get down there again to play this one.
I have played Diamnate twice and this is a spectacular golf course and a must play. Service is great from the very beginning with free sliders at the driving range and free food and drink throughout the course. Course has five sets of tees so you can choose your medicine. Fairways are pretty wide open and greens are big so at least your stats will loook good. Shot 84 and a 85 and had a ton of fun. Each hole is unique and brings different strategy’s into your game. One time you are grippin and rippin and the next you are trying to put the ball in a certain area of the fairway. Each foursome has a forecaddy and you need to listen to him. Great course , that just might be better then Cabo Del Sol. Bring your camera
As far as the violence in Cabo, Out at 1:30-200am in a strip joint will usually increase your odds of finding trouble weather you are canadian or american . Futhermore, no matter where you are in the world, acting like idiots will get you in trouble. Behave yourself and show some respect to the mexican people and they will treat you like you are a king.
Played Diamante last Friday. It’s definitely a “wow” course, and an overall fantastic experience. You are treated like royalty from the moment you drive your car up to the bag drop. The course itself is as dramatic as any I’ve seen (although Davis Love must have been on acid when he designed the greens — undulating would be an understatement!). If you’re by yourself, try to get paired up with a member. As a golfer, he will know the course much better than the forecaddies, and will be proud to show it off to you. As for the cost, golf in Cabo generally is ridiculously overpriced; but Diamante at $250/275 for the entire experience is an absolute value compared to the greens fees at Cabo del Sol.
I played Diamante in November. The course was amazing and the service could not have been better. How many places have Pro V1s on the range?? You absolutely get what you pay for. The par 5 17th hole is insane. (3rd photo above) I will definitely go back…one of the best courses I have ever played.
I played Diamante last Tuesday and had a great time. The entire experience was great and at $275 it may seem expensive, but compared to some of the other courses in Cabo, it’s worth it. The tortilla soup and fresh tamales at the comfort stations were a nice touch. We had a great forecaddie, who was a big help. The course was in very good shape for being so young and the views were amazing. This course will only get better and will probably not be going private any time soon, so enjoy!
Does anyone know if the greensfee includes BEER?
I believe it does.