Nicklaus Design has topped Golfweek’s 2016 ranking of the Best Caribbean & Mexico Courses with No. 1 Cap Cana (Punta Espada), located in the Dominican Republic, and more golf courses on the top-50 list than any other designer. Three of the 12 Nicklaus Design courses ranked improved their position on the list, three maintained their position, and two were newcomers: No. 15 Quivira, Golf Inc.’s 2015 “Development of the Year” (Mexico), and No. 17, Santa Maria Golf & Country Club (Panama).
Cap Cana took the top spot for the eighth straight year since it first appeared as No. 1 on the list in 2009.
Nicklaus Design has five golf courses open in the Caribbean and 25 open in Mexico. Of the 25 courses located in Mexico, 10 were ranked in Golfweek’s latest list. The Nicklaus Design layouts ranked in Mexico are No. 6 Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Bahia); No. 11 Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Pacifico); No. 13 El Dorado Golf & Beach Club; No. 14 Cabo del Sol (Ocean); No. 15 Quivira; No. 16 Vista Vallarta GC (Nicklaus); No. 36 Puerto Los Cabos (Nicklaus/Norman); No. 43 One & Only Palmilla GC (Mountain & Arroyo Nines); No. 44 Moon Palace GC (Lakes & Jungle); and No. 50 Club Campestre.
The full ranking of Nicklaus Design courses included in the top-50 list follows, with last year’s ranking noted in parentheses.
1. (1) Cap Cana (Punta Espada), Cap Cana, DR, 2008
6. (6) Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Bahia), Pinta Mita, Mexico, 2009
11. (12) Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (Pacifico), Punta Mita, Mexico, 2008
13. (15) El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 1999
14. (14) Cabo del Sol (Ocean), Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 1994
15. (NR) Quivira, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 2015
16. (13) Vista Vallarta GC (Nicklaus), Vista Vallarta, Mexico, 2001
17. (NR) Santa Maria G&CC, Panama City, Panama, 2012
36. (33) Puerto Los Cabos (Norman/Nicklaus), San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 2008
43. (45) One & Only Palmilla GC (Mountain & Arroyo Nines), Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 1993
44. (40) Moon Palace GC (Lakes & Jungle), Maya Riviera, Mexico, 2005
50. (46) Club Campestre, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 2008
