Baja Diamante Boasts Ground Breaking
of Nicklaus Design Golf Course

Baja Diamante celebrated its ground-breaking for the Nicklaus Design golf course on Thursday March 16th, 2006. The bulldozers roared with the crowd at 1:00 p.m., as they pushed the first mound of dirt, for what is soon to be an 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course.

The Nicklaus Design golf course is being constructed by Diamond Golf International, which is based in Puerto Vallarta. They are projecting a completion date of May 2007, just 13 months away. For all of you golf enthusiasts reading this, mark your calendar. Baja Diamante will soon be one of Baja's premier vacation, retirement and golf resorts.

Their goal is to have one of the top-100 golf courses in the world and certainly one of the best courses in Mexico. They hope to be on the level of other Nicklaus courses, such as El Dorado, Palmilla, Cabo del Sol and Punta Mita (near Puerto Vallarta).

Ideal weather is one of the many reasons that attracted Jack Nicklaus, founder of Nicklaus Design, to Mexico a decade ago, and why Mexico is becoming one of the world's most sought-after golf destinations. San Felipe overlooks the pristine Sea of Cortez and the weather is awesome. There are only a few places where you can golf in short sleeves at 8:00 a.m. in December.

News about this is buzzing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson, because everyone knows what Nicklaus Design has done throughout Mexico in Puerto Vallarta and in Los Cabos, with Cabo del Sol, Palmilla and El Dorado and around the globe, as the world's leading design firm.

So what does this mean for San Felipe? A bright future, including a spectacular golf course and exclusive residential community. There is a huge demand for San Felipe because it is only 2 hours south of the border and within easy driving distance of 38 million Americans in the Southwestern United States. San Felipe is a beautiful, sleepy fishing village nestled along the east coast of the Baja Peninsula. Already, 7,000 Americans are living there on a part-time or full-time basis.

Recently, the Concord Group completed its market study of San Felipe in January 2006. They reported that buyers are attracted to San Felipe for the following reasons: 1.) Value-driven vacationers and second home buyers are looking for a home to rent out in the short term, with the plan to retire there later. 2.) Retirees are attracted by the warm climate and relative affordability of San Felipe. 3) Investors are looking to "flip" their properties to make a quick profit.

In fact, the American Recreational Property Survey by the American Resort Developers Association estimates that approximately 17 percent of all households in the tri-state area of California, Nevada and Arizona will purchase a second home in the next 10 years.

And, the Mexican Government estimates that approximately 2,500 U.S. residents purchase a home on the Baja Peninsula each month. Thus, there is a potential annual demand for over 25,000 second and retirement homes on the Baja Peninsula over the next 10 years. As a result, the Concord Group is projecting that San Felipe will capture 6 percent of that demand, equivalent to a demand of approximately 1,500 new second homes per year through 2015.

BEST's Golf Guides to Mexico recently positioned Nicklaus Design as the dominant design firm in Mexico. The recognition came in conjunction with the magazine's 2006 list of the "Top 30 Courses in Mexico," where Nicklaus Design led the pace for the second year in a row by taking nine spots, four of which were in the top 10.

Nicklaus Design currently has 13 courses open for play throughout Mexico, another 15 under construction or under design, and has at least six more prospects.

According to Tim Kenny, Executive Vice President for Nicklaus Design, at least half of those prospects and projects under development have a residential tie-in. "For us, this represents confirmation of our analysis of the Mexican market," Kenny added. "The movement now in Mexico is toward residential rather than resort. Typically, in an emerging market, golf begins with resort play. But the bulk of our new signings in Mexico begin with residential. It's interesting that this is the only country in the world, at least from what I see, that is similar to what has happened in the United States with residential and high-end golf communities."

People will see that the land is incredible...it is breathtaking...that's why they're building a residential community around the golf course. In addition to the spectacular Nicklaus Design golf course, Baja Diamante will provide a lifestyle second to none with a wide array of luxury single-family homes and condominium residences that have unequaled panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez. World-class amenities include an existing hotel on the sands of the Sea of Cortez, with a restaurant, pool and tennis court plus a proposed luxury yacht marina with 350 slips.

The golf course will be challenging enough for the pros, but accessible and playable for amateur golf enthusiasts of all skill levels. The state-of-the-art practice facilities will be set up to resemble an actual golf hole, so players can better visualize the incredible golf experience awaiting them.

For additional information about Baja Diamante, visit www.sanfelipemarina.net or call 866-341-0167.