Construction is underway on a new 18-hole design from Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates in La Paz, Mexico. The course is being built amid
the tropical dunescape of Paraiso del Mar, a 1,700-acre residential/resort development.
Laid out on a secluded peninsula overlooking the Bay of La Paz, just minutes by water taxi from La Paz itself, Paraiso del Mar Golf & Country Club
has been routed amid miles of pristine dunes and wildlife sanctuaries. Hills/Forrest has worked with this stunning setting to create what will be
Mexico's first true links experience, not to mention the country's first Audubon International Signature project, when it opens for play in Fall 2006.
"This property has all the markings of a classic, pure golf experience," says Arthur Hills, founder and principal of Toledo, Ohio-based Arthur
Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. "The peninsula on which this land sits could not be more beautiful. The sandy, gentle roll of the topography
inspired a design comparable to the great courses of the British Isles ? with weather and climatic conditions a Scot could only dream about. Pieces of
property like this one come along only once in a great while. Paraiso del Mar is special, something that will stand out in the Baja market and endure
the test of time."
Located on the tip of Baja Peninsula, two hours north of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz is Baja California Sur's capital city. Unlike its neighbors to the
rapidly developing south, La Paz still retains the small-town charm of a traditional Mexican fishing village.
More than 1,000 acres of the development's 1,700 acres have been set aside for wildlife sanctuaries and open space. The remaining 700 acres will be
used for residential units, including single-family homes and condominiums, resort hotels and recreational amenities. A 10-year project, with its
first phase due for completion along with the golf course next Fall, Paraiso del Mar will comprise more than 2,000 condominium units, 1,500 single
family homes and five hotels (totaling 1,500 hotel rooms). It will also include tennis courts, a marina, swimming pools, a beach club, country club,
church and miles of hiking trails.
Paraiso del Mar's primary developers are Fair Enterprises, headed by John Fair of Denver, Colo., and Luis Cano, a La Paz native and seasoned real
estate developer in Baja California. Both men were previously involved in the Residences at Esperanza, in Cabo San Lucas.
Current real estate opportunities range in price from the low $200,000's to more than $1,000,000, and include 294 two- and three-bedroom homes and
more than 400 two-, three- and four-bedroom condominiums. They range in size from around 1,450 square feet to more than 3,100 square feet. Owners have
the option to buy a golf membership for $20,000 that offers access to all club amenities including golf. To date more than $100 million worth of real
estate has already been sold. Future plans include a second 18-hole course.
As the development's centerpiece, the course at Paraiso del Mar Golf & Country Club will maximize views of the Sea of Cortez, the Cape of La Paz
as well as the property's wildlife preserves and natural dunes. Now being built by Gravi Construction, the project is being directed by Hills/Forrest
partner Brian Yoder.
"This course and the development complementing it are totally unique," Yoder says. "It's just so natural. Arthur says it reminds him of St. Andrews
with the natural dunes formations and the gnarly vegetation. It's a fanciful comparison, with all the cacti on site. You won't see many of those in
Fife. However, the Paraiso property also features huge swaths of ocotillo, which is gorse-like shrub without the yellow flowers ? but with all the
thorns!"
Yoder points out that designing a links course in Baja does require some departures from tradition. Paraiso del Mar G&CC will feature salaam
paspalum turf, as opposed to fescues and bents. "And we have designed a couple irrigation ponds on the golf course. The 18th is a wonderful, short,
drivable par-4 around a pond, which departs from the links model somewhat. But the vast majority of holes evoke a genuine links environment.
"You simply can?t beat the natural setting here. The 6th and 14th holes are both par-3s playing in opposite directions on a dune line overlooking the
beach and the Sea of Cortez. The 13th plays up this high dune, right to its apex, so from the fairway you?ll see the flag waving but the horizon line
will be the green surface itself. Standing on 13 green, players will be looking down on 14 tee. Great views and anticipation."
Paraiso del Mar G&CC will be Mexico?s first Audubon International Cooperative Signature Sanctuary, golf?s highest and most exacting environmental
standard. No firm working in course architecture today boasts a stronger Audubon Signature resum? than Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. In
1995, the Hills/Forrest design at Collier?s Reserve GC in Naples, Fla. became the first course in the world to earn Audubon International?s
Cooperative Gold Signature Sanctuary status. Another Hills/Forrest creation, Oitavos Golfe Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, Portugal ? host of the
European PGA Tour?s Open of Portugal ? became Audubon?s first International Gold Signature Sanctuary when it opened in 2001. Paraiso del Mar will be
the second.
"There are wildlife preserve areas all through the Paraiso del Mar course," Hills adds. "Holes 1 through 4, 9 and 18 ? that whole area plays through a
protected environmental corridor. As a firm, we?ve always been committed to building golf courses that relate closely to the land and don?t require a
tremendous amount of earth moving or disruption- always keeping in mind the strategy of the game and the elements that provide beauty in a golf
course. It?s second nature for us. A property like Paraiso del Mar merely gives that philosophy a chance to really shine."
The La Paz area is renowned for its water-oriented activities. Several islands offshore of La Paz, such as Espiritu Santo Island, provide popular day
excursions that may include hiking, snorkeling, swimming with the sea lions, kayaking, fishing, sailing and whale watching.
"This is a big whale watching and sport-fishing area, so I put an enormous whale-shaped bunker on the 13th hole," says Yoder, who notes that this
demanding 545-yard par 5 also requires the circumnavigation of thick occotillo stands and randomly placed pot bunkers.
"Golfers probably won?t be able to appreciate the whale bunker fully; with all the hazards and a green sitting atop a primary dune in the distance,
there?s a lot to catch the eye. But flying over the course into La Paz, you?ll look down and see this huge, whale of sand that fits the hole
perfectly. Like most everything at Paraiso del Mar, it?s pretty darned cool."
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About Paraiso del Mar
Overlooking the Sea of Cortez with five miles of beach frontage, Paraiso del Mar is a 1,700-acre, members-only club and community situated on a
peninsula in the Bay of La Paz. Paraiso del Mar was designed as a collection of neighborhoods that simultaneously reflect the ideals of small-town USA
and celebrate the spirit of traditional Mexico. The project, which broke ground in June 2005, will be comprised of two-, three- and four-bedroom
oceanfront villas, and two- and three-bedroom casas with views of vast nature preserves and the area?s first golf course.comitan - 11-5-2005 at 12:53 PM
At the rate ther'e going they will be lucky to have the road in by next fall.bajajudy - 11-5-2005 at 01:02 PM
Comi
What do you mean?vandenberg - 11-5-2005 at 01:02 PM
When I was in La Paz last month ,I didn't see any sign of activity on that sandspit. Wouldn't want to be their during a hurricane, almost at
sealevelvandenberg - 11-5-2005 at 01:05 PM
Also heard that this was the site Loreto Bay planned on developing, but backed out after too many difficulties, the main one being lack of sufficient
water. So now they grace us with their presence.vandenberg - 11-5-2005 at 01:09 PM
Will be ,with my wife and a friend from Sacramento, in La Paz this coming week. We're staying at the El Moro and will try to get the latest true info
on the place.comitan - 11-5-2005 at 01:10 PM
They have to build a road to get the equipment and materials out there for all of the construction. The road is started about 3 miles towards San
Juan De La Costa, goes though a ranch area then into the dunes. I would say the road is a major project.comitan - 11-5-2005 at 02:32 PM
Just got back from an exploritory trip looking for the road, 6weeks ago they had an entrance and four lanes graded as far as you could see. Just
checked out where they would intersect the magote which would be 1 1/2 to 2 miles could not find any road or equipment. You will have to make your
own judgement from this. I might add that this section would be very easy.Anonymous - 11-6-2005 at 09:12 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Anonymous...La Paz...the small-town charm of a traditional Mexican fishing village...
Not to be too cynical or anything, but I love certain catch-all marketing phrases.
They forgot "sleepy", which is too bad seeing as how siesta is a part of life down there.MH_Stevens - 11-6-2005 at 09:32 AM
There biggest problem is that by the time they are half done they will need to substantially lower the house prices to follow a falling Alta
California market. Development may stop half way through and hang on for years as in past California real estate recessions. As in AC this is a time
to rent in Baja.comitan - 11-6-2005 at 09:33 AM
Anon.
I guess you haven't been to La Paz, its far from sleepy and I would say all business, closing in on So. Cal really fast. Construction all over and
not geared to gringo's but to Mexican's. my 2centsAnonymous - 11-7-2005 at 11:46 AM
Another anon's view of La Paz.
We have sailed to La Paz for many years and never once found it to have a small fishing village atmosphere. On the contrary, La Paz is much more
culturally rich and cosmopolitan than any other city in Baja Sur. Typically Mexican in culture and lifestyle, unlike Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del
Cabo, and their environs.bajajudy - 11-7-2005 at 11:54 AM
Anon
I agree with what you say about La Paz but I have to disagree with you about San Jose. We still have wonderful concerts, exhibitions, fairs, etc in
the town square and I am relieved that the businesses have, for the most part, chosen to stick with the colonial architecture. It is still a quaint
little village with a real sense of community. Have you seen the new fountains...
My dos centavos worthAnonymous - 11-7-2005 at 12:59 PM
bajajudy
Our recent trips to Cabo and San Jose were a little disappointing from our earlier times there. This whole part of Baja has changed so much! We
stayed at a too-expensive hotel, saw only other tourists (lots of them!), and unfortunately missed seeing the new fountains you mentioned..which
indeed would have been a welcome sight. We grew quite weary of the commercialism, but are willing to give San Jose del Cabo another chance on our
next visit to southern Baja from the mainland. (But definetely not Cabo!) Some years ago we berthed in SJC at a nice little hotel called the
Tropicana where we did enjoy some walks around the area, people watching at the sidewalk cafe and a mule-trip to the mountains with a friendly guide.
Perhaps next time...but we always enjoy La Paz far too much!bajajudy - 11-7-2005 at 01:14 PM
Well La Paz is definitely more boater friendly than San Jose although every now and then someone drops the hook in front of La Playita. Doesnt look
like a particularly good anchorage to me from shore nor after looking at the charts.
As for San Lucas.....well you said it all.
The Tropicana is a charming hotel. One of the owners is the reason we are here now. He hired a friend to open the restaurant way back when and she
was also our friend. She invited us down and the rest is certainly history...almost 20 years ago.
Are you cruising?comitan - 11-7-2005 at 01:22 PM
If you are moving from north of the border to Mexico and you choose La Paz,you would have less of an adjustment, and have enough of old time Mexico,
beautiful Beaches, many places to explore, evenings on the malecon with people everywhere, Bands, Dancing, and Concerts in the plaza. A city theatre
with a diversified featuring folkloric Dancers, to famous pianist.
