Course Designer: Greg Norman

One of the most recognizable figures in the world of golf, Greg Norman is passionate about the fields of play that bear his signature. Handed a spectacular parcel on the Pacific with a mandate to create a sporting centerpiece for the 834-acre Rancho San Lucas resort community, Norman has crafted a low-profile, links-style course that harmonizes with the desert-on-ocean setting.

Known for employing a ‘least-disturbance’ design approach, Norman has created an intricate routing at Rancho San Lucas that spans three different ecosystems and takes full advantage of the site’s natural contours and topography.

Because earthmoving was kept to a minimum, the golf course looks like it was extruded by the landscape, not built on top of it. Each hole on the course, stretching to 7,210 yards (par 72), serves up a stirring ocean view.

With more than 100 courses opened across 34 countries and six continents, Norman, whose international designs have won many prestigious awards, drew on his dual experience as a designer and a world-class player to coax a subtle, strategic layout from the rugged terrain. From the beginning, his involvement at Rancho San Lucas has been total, from walking the virgin site to creating multiple strategies at each hole and applying final touches.

Course enhancements at Rancho San Lucas take their cue from nature. “We look at integrating indigenous landscapes and grass varietals that use the least amount of water,” said Norman, whose design company is a paragon of environmental stewardship. “Our goal was to build a sustainable course that is playable from all perspectives, including the forward tees. We’re committed to making a global impact by creating courses that withstand the test of time.”