Arroyo - Mountain at One&Only Palmilla Golf Club

Arroyo, the Mountain Course at One&Only Palmilla Golf Club, owes its rugged character to the dramatic Baja desert landscape, a stark contrast to its sister course along the Sea of Cortez. Designed by Jack Nicklaus during his celebrated second act, it's less a product of the Golden Bear's earlier power game inclinations and more a strategic examination of shot placement.

Carved into the foothills overlooking San Jose del Cabo, Arroyo presents demanding elevation changes and challenging sightlines. Playing longer than its yardage suggests, the course favors those who can shape the ball both ways, navigating arroyos, strategically placed bunkers, and the region's distinctive cardón cacti. While not a regular stop for major professional tournaments, Arroyo provides a stern test to amateurs, and is a favorite among resort guests and local members alike.

The Mountain Course is celebrated locally as a respite from the more exposed Ocean course with its own unique playing characteristics. One element celebrated by local members is the practice facility, and some members enjoy hitting balls down the range at dusk, watching the desert night come to life, and listening to the sounds of the Sea of Cortez, before heading to their Casitas, or up the hill into the community of Palmilla, or back into San Jose for the evening.