RANCHO SAN LUCAS DEBUTS NEW GREG NORMAN COURSE
Rancho San Lucas, an 834-acre resort and residential community fronting a 1.2-mile stretch of beach on the Pacific Ocean 15 minutes from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, recently celebrated the official grand opening of the Greg Norman Signature golf course and Rancho San Lucas Golf Club.
The course is the showpiece of the resort and further positions Los Cabos as one of the top golf destinations in the world.
Inspired by the native terrain and featuring panoramic views, the Greg Norman Signature course at Rancho San Lucas is a versatile 7,210-yard, par-72 course laid out within earshot of the Pacific Ocean. Spanning three different ecosystems, the links-style course meanders through a thick cactus forest creased by winding arroyos before descending to enormous windswept dunes.
Featuring a dramatic 300-foot elevation change, the course has five holes on the beach, notably the par-3 third, which parallels the sea and gives players fine views of breaching whales during the winter months. There’s also a signature island green at the testing par-3 17th hole.
“Rancho San Lucas is the most spectacular piece of oceanfront property I’ve seen in a long time, so to have the opportunity to build a course on this site was truly once in a lifetime,” said Norman. “My goal was to keep it as natural as possible, using my ‘least-disturbance’ approach, while showcasing the property’s three unique ecosystems: the ocean, the sand dunes and the arroyos. We wanted to build a sustainable course that is playable from all perspectives, including the forward tees. My design company is committed to making a global impact by creating courses that withstand the test of time, and I truly believe this golf course is one of the best we’ve ever built.”
A ranchero-style clubhouse overlooks the fairways and sea. The practice facility features a spacious driving range, an 18-hole putting course, and dedicated chipping, pitching and sand play areas.
Rancho San Lucas is a private club with exclusive access available to homeowners and guests of Solmar Hotels & Resorts, including the new on-site luxury hotel, Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas.
TIANGUIS POSTPONED
Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism and the State of Yucatan have announced that Mexico’s annual tourism show, Tianguis Turistico, has been postponed until the fall.
The show was to have taken place in the Yucatan city of Merida later this month, but the “decision to postpone this year’s edition of Tianguis Turistico was a precaution and in alliance with what is taking part in the world at this moment,” organizers said in a statement.
The 45th edition is now scheduled to take place Sept. 19-22.
RIU BUILDS A PROMINENT PRESENCE IN PLAYACAR
There’s no need for guests at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya to “bar-ter” with those serving beverages when it comes to having a margarita or two or three … the 520-guest unit, upscale retreat is one of several resorts RIU has in Playa del Carmen’s Playacar district, with all the properties being all-inclusives.
Among its attractions are several bars, including outdoor ones for those who like lounging by or in a swimming pool, soaking up some of the Riviera Maya’s famed sunshine.
The property is one of Riu’s top-of-the-line Palace resorts, but resort general manager Xavier Saez says Riu hasn’t been resting on the resort’s laurels, having last year renovated the resort that opened in 2006.
“The work carried out has consisted of an absolute redesign of outdoor areas and common areas and rooms,” Saez says of the “intensive renovations. You can see the new style that Riu is introducing, while the hotel continues to show the majesty that has characterized it since its opening. We kept the majesty of it.”
That majesty includes large chandeliers, pillars and often eye-catching artwork throughout a lobby that provides views of the famed sea that Playa del Carmen fronts. The architecture of the white, colonial-style structure that in part flanks pools that are lined by palm trees.
EXPLORA MODIFIES CANCELLATION POLICIES
explora reports it has decided to change its modification and cancellation policies for new bookings made as of March 9 with check-out dates up to Nov. 1 because of COVID-19.
The South American resort firm says the special conditions basically consider the following:
When making your reservation, you pay only 10% of the total booking amount as a guarantee, instead of the usual 30%.
The remaining 90% shall be collected 10 days before the check-in date.
No charges apply if the cancellation is made up to seven days before the check-in.
“We hope these special flexibility-oriented measures can help you to better deal with the challenges currently faced by our industry, which we know requires additional efforts from all of us,” explora says. More information is available by emailing: [email protected]
