The Outlier: TPC Danzante Bay

In Baja by Suzanne Koch

You may be tempted to book a trip to Cabo for some above-par golfing but the little-known destination of Loreto is hiding golf’s latest winning shot.

Located on the east side of the Baja Peninsula just four hours north of La Paz, Loreto has that off-the-grid feel that even the most seasoned adventurer would be pleased to find. As of now, Alaska Airlines is currently the only carrier offering direct flights from the U.S. out of Los Angeles. While getting here sounds like a challenge, it’s actually a total blessing. The small seaside destination is home to just two resorts and its downtown has the true feeling of old Mexico. Here, you’ll find the 1697 mission that brought the town fame, along with the start of El Camino Real. In short, Loreto is undiscovered.

One of its two resorts Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa is located 20 miles south of the town and has everything an outdoor enthusiast could want. But it’s TPC Danzante Bay that stands out, waiting to be conquered.

The 18-hole Rees Jones-designed course starts at sea level and rises like a mammoth, overlooking the miles of uninterrupted sea. Stretching 7,237-yards, the course winds through valleys, arroyos, dunes and foothills, hugging the Sierra de la Giganta mountains at every turn. While the course opened less than two years ago in December 2017, one could easily imagine that the landscape was made for it. And since debuting, it’s garnered accolades from the industry’s best. Golf Digest gave it an Editors’ Choice Award for Best in Travel 2018 and Best Resorts Mexico/Central America 2019, Golf Advisor named it Best of 2018: Mexico and Golf Odyssey awarded it New Course of the Year. And all for good reason.

Aside from the unspoiled location and diverse play Danzante Bay offers, it’s the signature hole No. 17 that will make even non-golfers swoon. Perched 250 feet above the water on 6,200 square feet of green, the shot is backdropped by the glimmering horizon and nearby islands. With three sides plunging vertically down to the calm water, it’s easily a bucket-list hole and a highlight for anyone who tees up here.

Even Danzante Bay’s practice facility rivals that of the best in the world with a dedicated short game area and nine-hole putting course inspired by the Himalayas putting course in St. Andrews, Scotland. 

How To Get There: Alaska Airlines offers direct flights from Los Angeles to the Islands of Loreto.

Where to Stay: Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Loreto offers multiple restaurants, a spa, a fitness center and a wide array of outdoor activities like world-class fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, horseback riding and more.

tpcdanzantebay.com

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This article originally appeared in the 2019 Fall/Winter issue of InMexico Magazine.

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