Quivira Golf Club, which scales the heights at Land’s End and is among the highest-rated of Jack Nicklaus’ international designs, has grown mightily in stature since its debut in 2014. The vertigo-inducing experience of tiptoeing along sheer granite cliffs with the crashing sea far below has captured the imagination of visiting golfers from around the world.
A favorite topic of many 19th hole discussions following a round at Quivira is, “What were your favorite holes?” We decided to ask Director of Golf Antonio Reynante, a student of the game who has toured the course many times since his arrival four years ago, to name his top three favorite holes.
“It’s always tough to select your three favorite songs from a great recording artist’s repertoire, whether it’s Bob Marley or Bob Dylan or the Beatles,” he said. “It is as if every single song is great and you do not want to leave any single one off the list.
“The same thing happened to me when I sat down to pick my three favorite holes at Quivira, but I tried my best.”
No. 6, Par 3 – A true challenge for all levels of players. Just when you think you have seen it all on the fifth hole, the short par 4 with a narrow sloping fairway that skirts a cliff and drops to oblivion, you make the turn on No. 6 to face the most stunning, dramatic and isolated golf hole you will ever see in your life. Hidden in a little corner at the southernmost point of Baja, this dazzling par 3 will force you to hit a solid shot into the prevailing wind. When in doubt, take 2 or 3 extra clubs to flight the ball through the wind. The reward of a well-struck shot that lands on the green will make your whole vacation.
No. 8, Par 4 – A pure player´s golf hole, majestic in every single aspect. This is a brutal par 4 embraced by the greatness of the Pacific Ocean. The scorecard yardage—399 yards from the back tees—is very misleading. The broad fairway eventually narrows and climbs straight uphill to a well-defended green tucked in a cleft of the dunes. Faced into the wind, you can add at least 50 yards to the hole from any set of tees you choose to play. Artfully designed, it is one of the best holes I have ever seen or played. Not only because of its beauty, but because of the illusion it creates of being a straight hole. The key at this strategic right-to-left dogleg masterpiece is to take dead aim off the tee and commit to the shot!
No. 12, Par 5 – Do I really need to say anything about the most unique hole at Quivira, a double-dogleg par 5 that drops from the top of a dune and zigzags along an island-style fairway bounded on both sides by sand? Probably not, but here are some key words: Favorite…Height…Drama…Length…Dunes…Fun…Pacific Ocean…Pacific Ocean…Pacific Ocean…Sunset. I think No. 12 is a true turning point in the round. Solid play is required to get away with risky shots and still end up with a good score on this massive 635-yard hole. But whatever the result, enjoy the ride from the elevated tees down to the beach.
Story provided courtesy of Quivira and Antonio Reynante.
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Saludos from Co-Founders…
Chris Sands – Writer and Michael Mattos