Golf Course Review: Cabo del Sol – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

For the millionth time I must say I have one of the coolest gigs in the world. To be able to travel to fantastic golf vacation destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for the purpose of reviewing world class golf courses, is a privilege I don’t take lightly.

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course – Los Cabos – click for more

On my recent Hooked On Golf Blog World Tour stop to Cabo, I had the pleasure of playing Cabo del Sol, a Jack Nicklaus signature design course built in 1994. The course is ranked by many top publications in the top 100 in the world, as well as ranked #1 in Mexico.

Location

Part of what makes Cabo del Sol and the other golf courses in Cabo so great is the location. Los Cabos is located about 1,000 miles south of Los Angeles on the Baja California peninsula. That’s barely a 2.5 hour flight from Denver.

The weather in Cabo is fantastic all year, averaging 78 degrees. There are 350 sunny days per year, meaning one could take 10 days break from golfing per year for other activities, like going to a spa.

Design

Jack Nicklaus had some fantastic real estate to work with when designing Cabo del Sol. Nearly half of the course’s 7,091 yards are on the ocean in the form of holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17 and 18. Can you say “Pebble South?” Jack Nicklaus himself said about the course, “the best piece of golf property I’ve ever seen.”

There are five sets of tees at Cabo del Sol. The longest playing set of tees (Black), measures at 7,091 yards. Slope from the back tees is 145 with a course rating of 74.4. In other words, the course is plenty of challenge even for scratch players or pros.

One of the most dramatic parts of the course is the stretch from hole five green through hole eight tee. Hole five is ranked the toughest on the course, a 490 yard par-4. From there holes six (pictured above) and seven are back-to-back par-3’s on the sea. Absolutely fantastic stretch of golf.

Carve this tee shot left to right. Try not to let the Sea of Cortez distract you!

Tee

Teeing areas at Cabo del Sol are typical of desert target style courses. The tees are mini islands in the desert, framed by finely manicured desert foliage and large cacti.

Many tee shots require some forced carries but nothing crazy. They’re completely manageable. Movement of the ball in both directions can help the player navigate the course from the tee and many tee shots tempt the player to hit driver when perhaps a more conservative play may be a better idea.

Fairway

Cabo del Sol’s fairways are much wider than they appear from the tee. The landing areas are spacious. Missing the wide fairways is possible though, and penal. Native desert areas are often the last resting place for a chance at par.

Looking at the fairway and the Sea of Cortez as a pirate ship passes by in the background. Where else does this happen?

Hitting approaches from the fairways can be a challenge. Stances can be slightly uneven, influencing shot lines which may be opposite what may be optimal.

Green

Approaching the greens at Cabo del Sol is challenging, Nicklaus style. Jack’s bunker complexes and design angles make approach shots the most critical shot on most of the holes. Proper approaches are the key to making par or birdie here.

Not a bad green complex, if you like tremendous scenery. Click to zoom.

The greens at Cabo del Sol are quite fun to putt. They’re large, with some very tasteful and fair undulations. Good reads and properly executed putts won’t produce any unwanted surprises. They’ll produce birdies and pars.

Make your own tacos! Brilliant – click to zoom

Tacos

One of the highlights of my ENTIRE trip to Cabo was the taco stand at Cabo del Sol. The course is world famous for their tacos, to such an extent that sometimes the tacos get more press than the golf. Please note that I dedicated only one paragraph to the tacos…

Facilities

The practice area is very well maintained with high quality range balls and cleaning stations. I was happy to hit the range before my round. The back was not happy. But after a few swings and loosening up in the warm Cabo weather, my back was back…so to speak.

There’s a practice putting area right next to the 1st tee, surrounded by large cacti and beautiful desert foliage.

Clubhouse as seen from #1 tee. Click to zoom.

The 40,000 square foot clubhouse at Cabo del Sol is home to a well appointed and classy pro shop. The open air building also boasts fine dining, men’s and women’s lounges, lockers and meeting facilities.

People

Even better than the courses and the places I get to see on my golf press trips are the fantastic people who run them, like my new friend and director of golf at Cabo del Sol, Greg Tallman. I had a fantastic time playing my round with Greg. I’m still amazed by the driver “off the deck” shot. Brilliant…

The service at Cabo del Sol was impressive, as has been my experience with just about every course and resort in the area. On the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, customer service is as good as anywhere I’ve been.

Conclusion

Cabo del Sol deserves all the accolades and awards it has received. The golf experience at Cabo del Sol does not disappoint. The facility has no weaknesses. From course design to amenities to course conditioning, throw in one of the best locations on the planet, the golf experience is tough to beat.

Cabo del Sol website

My Streak of Consecutive Golf Holes Without Losing a Golf Balls Ends After Spanning One Month, Three Countries, and 12 Courses

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, August 4th, 2013
Categories: Hackers • HOG World Tour • Miscellaneous

Didn’t lose a golf ball in Mexico!

I’ve had a hell of a record going for an entire month of golf on some very tough golf courses. Coming into yesterday I’d gone 192 holes without losing a golf ball. Yesterday’s round was a Greek charity scramble. Scrambles are a different animal in golf. You try shots you normally wouldn’t when other players are already safely in play. I lost a ball on the 8th hole at Wingpointe, a short par-3 over water. I came up short and heard the sound of my ball hitting a rock. Never saw where it went. For all I know it was sitting nicely on a tuft of grass somewhere, but I’ll never know. Didn’t see a splash. So after seven holes yesterday it came to an end at the heartbreaking number of 199! Wow.

199 consecutive holes played without losing a golf ball!

I started the new record, but that one ended exactly nine holes later, on another par-3, the 17th. My record now stands at one. I managed play the finishing hole without losing a ball!

Here’s the final tally of holes/courses

7/4/13 Kingsbarns, Scotland 3
7/5/13 Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland 18
7/6/13 Castle Course, Scotland 18
7/6/13 Balcomie Golf Links, Scotland 18
7/10/13 Bonneville Golf Club, Salt Lake City 9
7/15/13 Bonneville Golf Club, Salt Lake city 18
7/18/13 Cabo del Sol, Los Cabos Mexico 18
7/19/13 Cabo Real, Los Cabos Mexico 18
7/19/13 Diamante, Los Cabos Mexico 18
7/24/13 Bonneville Golf Club, Salt Lake City 18
7/25/13 Fore Lakes Executive Course, Murray UT 9
7/30/13 River Oaks Front Nine, Sandy UT 9 (174)
7/31/13 Bonneville Golf Club, Salt Lake City 18 (192)
8/3/13 Wingpointe Golf Course, Salt Lake City 7 holes (199)

The record spanned three countries and 12 courses (some I played more than once). It started in Scotland then went from there to the USA, Mexico and back to the USA.

That was fun.

Golf Equipment Review: 3UP Golf Balls

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, August 1st, 2013
Categories: Golf Balls • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear • Reviews

3UP 3F12 Golf Balls – click to zoom.

I had a hell of a round going yesterday. Made eagle on the par-5 first hole with a solid 4-iron to about eight feet. Made the putt. Five pars and then a solid 6-iron to about 10 feet on the par-3 6th from 185 yards, birdie. After par on #7 I was three under. Then I completely gagged, going bogey-triple bogey on the last two holes of the front nine. I bounced back great on the back nine with birdies on #10 and #12. I ended up shooting even par on the back and a +1 73 for the round, despite having a triple bogey and a few bogeys.

The great shots I hit during yesterday’s round wouldn’t have been possible with a low quality golf ball. That uphill 4-iron on the first hole from 195 or that great 6-iron which hit pin-high from 185 and stuck right there would not have been possible with a “distance” or non “tour” spin ball. Was I playing a Titleist ProV1? Perhaps a Srixon Z-Star or Bridgestone B330? Nope. I was playing a ball you may have never heard of, until now.

3UP

3UP is a new kid on the golf ball block. They’re elbowing their way into a market ruled by billion dollar companies. The company was founded by Rob Zimmerman, a 2 handicap. Zimmerman survived a mild heart attack in 2012 and decided to take on a new path with his new lease on life, making golf balls. Fast forward a year and lowly TK here is playing a very fine golf ball. Let’s take a look at the 3UP 3F12.

3UP 3F12 Golf Ball Overview

The 3UP 3F12 golf ball was built with a little bit of old school balata spin and new school distance. For those who don’t remember the balata days, balata golf balls were very soft and had extremely high spin rates, much higher than what we see these days. That high spin was great on short irons and short game, but made driving the ball straight extremely difficult. The covers on balata balls were so soft that a bladed iron could literally cut through. The ball would be cut open, egg shaped and completely unplayable.

The 3UP golf ball’s technology produces balata-like spin, about 5% more spin on shorter irons than regular golf balls.

The distance of the golf ball is comparable to any big name golf ball on the market. I’ve hit some cracking drives with the 3UP, like the drive on #18 yesterday. #18 was a 470 yard par-4. I was 145 from the pin for my 2nd shot. You do the math. The 3UP ball produces low side spin off of driver shots, which makes it more accurate and long.

Technology

So what makes the ball produce such great spin on the short irons, yet great distance off the driver? The ball is a 3-piece (in other words 3-layer) ball.

The outer layer is a cast urethane, the same material most high end “tour” balls has. This layer is where the “feel” in the short game and putting comes from. 318 dimples are aerodynamically designed to give the ball the proper amount of lift and carry.

The middle layer is called the “mantle” layer. The mantle layer is made from an ionomer plastic. This layer helps to reduce driver spin, yet doesn’t compromise shorter iron spin.

The center layer is, you guessed it, the core. Just like the earth’s layers! The core is the primary layer for distance.

On The Course

I couldn’t wait to tell some 3UP stories from on the course, which I did in the intro. I have many more, like the 7-iron I backed up on the 4th hole at River Oaks, with a tail wind. Not possible with other golf balls!

I gave some 3UPs to a friend Kevin, a mid-teen handicap on the rise. He loved the feel and was gushing to me about how he hadn’t been able to get that kind of spin from other big name golf balls. I watched him produce several shots, even from the rough, which bit and held greens he normally wouldn’t have been able to hold. Sold.

3UP after 45 holes – click to zoom

Durability

I’m very impressed with the durability of this ball. Typically high spin balls are not durable. In the photo to the right, check out my 3UP ball after 45 holes. There are just a couple of scratches from some square grooved wedges, but the ball is nearly like new.

Charity

This is really awesome. 3UP will donate $3 to charity from every dozen balls sold. That’s fantastic. Don’t worry about losing a golf ball! You just donated to charity!

Critiques

While I love this golf ball, I think it will be a tough go to break into a market which has some very big names with multi-million dollar advertising and PR budgets. Maybe this small article will help a bit. I do think that at a retail of $39, a ball someone isn’t familiar with might be a tough sell. I think pricing under $30, even $24.99 would be a better price point.

Packaging

I like this. A dozen 3UP golf balls does not come in a cardboard box, with four cardboard boxes inside. Instead, the balls come in a nice bag/pouch with a tie string. When you’re done with the balls, you have a great golf accessory bag to put tees and ball markers in!

Conclusion

Hats off to Rob and 3UP. The ball is everything they say it is. The spin in the short game is stellar and the ball is plenty long.

Related Links

HOG 3UP photos

3UP Website

Top secret pictures of the new TaylorMade Super Mega-Quad Core i111.4 driver prototype

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Categories: Golf Equipment • Golf Gear • Miscellaneous
Tags: TaylorMade

I know that the new TaylorMade SLDR slider driver just came out and it is the longest driver they’ve ever made. There’s a lot of excitement about it. But I have top secret connection who got me a new TaylorMade prototype driver which we may be seeing in the next six months to perhaps year from now. I’ve been hitting this thing for a couple of weeks and let me tell you, this thing is LONG! It took me a bit to get the settings dialed in but when I did, it was amazing!

TaylorMade Super Mega-Quad Core i111.4 driver prototype – click to view larger image

Below are the current details and specs for the new prototype TaylorMade Super Mega-Quad Core i111.4 Driver. Its a beast!

• Mega-Quad Core i111.4 Technology

• Hybrid iOS/Android/TMAG Operating System

• Loft, Lie, Swingweight, Face Angle, Shaft Flex Adjusted Via Software

• Built In Golf GPS With 40,000,000 Courses Pre-Loaded

• Internal Monitor Supports Resolutions up to 13,696×10,696

• Built-In WiFi and 6G Cellular Connectivity

• Hybrid Can Opener/Cigar Cutter

• HDMI Port (supports up to 5 monitors)

• Dual Ethernet Ports – 10 USB Ports

• Built In Firewall

• Speaker/Headphone Jacks

• Compass

• 6 Thunderbolt Ports

This isn’t the first TaylorMade prototype HOG has uncovered. Remember a few years back the TaylorMade r15 SuperMegaQuad proto?

Golf Apparel Review: Antigua Men’s Santa Fe Golf Shorts

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, July 30th, 2013
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Reviews

Antigua Santa Fe Men’s Golf Shorts

In my last golf blog post I reviewed the Antigua Men’s “Quiet” polo, a very stylish and comfortable shirt. A perfect match for the shirt are the shorts I’m wearing even as I write, the Antigua Men’s Santa Fe Shorts.

Santa Fe Overview

Santa Fe is an artsy city located in New Mexico, approximately an hour north of Albuquerque. Santa Fe is the capitol of New Mexico with a population of 68,642. Oh wait, I’m reviewing Santa Fe shorts, not the city…

Santa Fe Shorts

Antigua’s $50 (retail) Santa Fe Shorts are a combination of 95% polyester and 5% spandex. No cotton, which is a very good thing. No wrinkles, no shrinking, no ironing, low maintenance.

The shorts employ the same Desert Dry technology as the Quiet Polo, a technology which pulls moisture from the player’s skin and helps it evaporate, keeping the player dry and comfortable.

A styish “contrast piping detail” runs down the side of the leg.

Colors

The Santa Fe Short is available in five colors: Black/Steel (pictured), Navy/Apple, Smoke/Melon, Steel/Margarita, White/Steel.

On The Course

These are some of the most comfortable golf shorts I’ve ever worn. They’re very light on the skin and lightweight. I can definitely attest to the Desert Dry technology, as I feel nice and cool with no excessive moisture, even in some very hot 100+ F rounds.

Even with sweaty hands getting in and out of the pockets is easy.

During the golf swing I feel no tight spots or binding anywhere. The swing is free of restrictions.

Conclusion

One pair of Santa Fe Shorts is most definitely not enough. I could replace all the billions of shorts in my wardrobe with these. I just might. I have yet to find a better combination of style comfort and performance in a pair of golf shorts.

Antigua Men’s Quiet Polo review

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