By Design - February 2020

8 | By Design T he operators of Mexican resort Diamante Cabo San Lucas turned to Paul Cowley, ASGCA, to create a putting course that would join its other golf offerings: the 18- hole Dunes and El Cardonal courses and Oasis short layout. The new putting course is located next to the clubhouse and the first tee of the Dunes course—which Cowley co-designed with professional golfer Davis Love III and his brother Mark Love. “It occupies three acres of turf and is built on what was the second half of the original eighteenth hole,” says Cowley. “It enjoys some of the best views and vistas of the golf complex and also serves as an event and activity lawn area.” The 15-hole putting course totals 507 yards, and is made up of three par-two holes and 12 par threes, for a total par of 42. Holes vary in length from 14-to-64 yards. “The course is laid out in a continuous loop of grass cut at green height, and the surrounding turf is cut at a fairway height,” says Cowley. “There’s 25 feet of elevation change on the course, and the turf is Seaside Paspalum.. Each of the 15 pinnable areas are big enough for three-to-five pin locations. The greens are cut to a stimp speed of between nine and 10.” Designed to play in both directions, the course has a total of 30 different hole configurations—a downhill hole one day becomes an uphill hole the next, with the numbered flags reversed on alternate days. Players tee off one flag length away from either side of the previous cup, and perpendicular to the centerline of play. Play starts and finishes at the fifteenth flag. The 15-hole layouts are named East and West, corresponding to the direction that the first hole is played into. A scorecard details both courses and a handicap rating for each hole, which allows players of different skill levels to compete. “Opened in 2019, the new putting course has been very successful,” says Cowley. “It appeals to players wanting to play more after a round, beginners of all ages, husbands with wives and entire families. From the amount of ASGCA DESIGN EXCELLENCE DIAMANTE CABO SAN LUCAS Putting in style A new 15-hole reversible putting course provides guests at a Mexican resort with a fun golf facility that caters for families and friends.