A new golf course designed by four-time major champion Ernie Els is progressing in the popular destination of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Announced in 2023, Oleada Golf Links will anchor an expansive resort community. Preview play is set for July, with a grand opening in mid-November.
Cabo San Lucas has emerged as a hub for golf development, attracting designs from notable architects amid growing tourism and real estate activity. The latest project, Oleada Golf Links, marks Ernie Els' first course in Mexico. Fresh renderings highlight its evolution on an 860-acre site within the Oleada Pacific Living & Golf community, which spans a mile of oceanfront about 15 minutes from downtown.
Els, working with design partner Greg Letsche, praises the natural terrain as exceptional. "The setting... is the kind architects dream about: dramatic but not manufactured, offering natural movement that requires little earth-moving," he told GOLF.com. The layout starts on elevated desert areas with cacti before descending to ocean-side holes, incorporating a rugged, links-style feel despite not being a traditional links course. Wind influences the design, featuring wide landing zones, varied approach angles, and emphasis on ground-based play.
The broader development includes three luxury resorts, wellness and fitness facilities, hiking and biking trails, orchards, and nursery spaces. Infrastructure will remain distant from the course to preserve its integrity. Access prioritizes resort guests and homeowners, with limited stay-and-play options for others.
This addition joins recent works by Greg Norman, Fred Couples, and upcoming projects from Tom Fazio and Tiger Woods, underscoring Cabo's appeal as a golf destination.
