Mexico’s Golf Gem: TPC Danzante Bay
It’s all about the acronym.
TPC stands for Tournament Players Club. Licensed by the PGA Tour, the TPC network is a chain of 30 premier resort, daily-fee and private golf facilities. Maintained to the highest standards, each TPC course is an eco-friendly gem built by a renowned architect to test players at all ability levels, from duffers to experts.
The PGA Tour’s flagship Tournament Players Club is TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Designed in 1980 by Pete Dye, it hosts The Players Championship, an elite event that attracts a strong field each spring.
But not all TPC venues host championships. Several function as resort destinations for golfers seeking a “bucket-list” experience.
Based on its spectacular location and superlative design, TPC Danzante Bay, one of only two TPC clubs located outside the U.S. (and the only TPC facility in Mexico), has quickly gained status as a must-play course. A true one-off, the course transitions from canyons and arroyos to foothills and dunes, presenting an unforgettable golf experience along with breathtaking views.
Situated on the outskirts of Loreto on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula, TPC Danzante Bay was laid out by legendary course designer Rees Jones, who was handed a majestic parcel of land set back from the sea. Jones and his team took their time plotting the holes.
TPC Danzante Bay Occupies a Unique Baja Landscape
“Most of the world’s most popular golf courses that have stood the test of time were built slowly,” Jones explained. “Golf holes aren’t really designed and built from a plan – you feel them in the land. This land was so good it told us what to do. The holes fit the land naturally.”
Like all outstanding courses, TPC Danzante Bay has a diverse collection of holes that build in drama and interest as the round progresses. The well-strategized layout offers a firm but fair test from each set of tees, which range from 7,237 yards (black) to 4,916 yards (red). From start to finish, golfers enjoy panoramic views of the sea, the towering Sierra de la Giganta mountains, and the Islands of Loreto, a National Marine Park. According to Jones, the course pays homage to how golf originated – at the place where the land meets the sea.
“This is a golf course that both avid and casual golfers will want to travel to play, enjoy and experience,” Jones said when the course opened in 2017, adding that the course is playable by any caliber golfer. “The golf course has open entrances, pockets and sandy areas to capture the ball and keep it from going into the desert. We kept the green contours mild so that the putting surfaces are manageable. People will want to play this course over and over again because the conditions change daily with the wind.”
A Par-3 to Rival the 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass?
TPC Sawgrass is renowned for the island green at its par-3 17th hole, but TPC Danzante Bay has a signature par 3 of its own that may surpass it. Rees Jones and Owen Perry, the resort’s owner, changed the initial routing to make way for the club’s one-of-a-kind par-3 17th, which straddles the crest of a rocky peninsula and commands a dazzling view of the Sea of Cortes. Celebrated by international golf publications as one of the greatest one-shotters in the world, this mid-length par 3 plays downhill to a peninsula green yoked by a horseshoe-shaped bunker. The slim, elongated putting surface clings to a rock outcrop 250 feet above the glittering sea and distant islands. Not only does this stunning hole fit its setting hand-in-glove, the “WOW” factor is off the charts.
TPC courses are known for their amenities, and TPC Danzante Bay is no exception. The club has a driving range wedged into a canyon and a dedicated short game practice area as well as a pro shop and clubhouse with a grill and bar. By the way, when you order a margarita or a Mexican dish at the club, rest assured that no TPC facility in the states can match them for flavor or authenticity.
The golf course is next to Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, a family-friendly resort with a full-service spa on the shores of the bay, offering travelers an ideal place to relax and unwind. In fact, with its rich array of land and sea activities, from ATV desert tours and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters to easy access to historic Loreto, a charming Pueblo Mágico, TPC Danzante Bay stands apart from all other TPC facilities.
