Pristine sands and a beach made for swimming and relaxing. A spectacular links course by a world-famous golf designer. The chance to own a beachfront or ocean-view home in an exclusive private community. These would be winning attributes anywhere, but when they apply to an opportunity in the elementally beautiful East Cape of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, they are worthy of special attention.
This is the promise of the new Baja Bay Club, a luxurious residential community on 2,400 acres bordering the Sea of Cortez and backed by the rugged landscape of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. With less than 500 homes and homesites available, coveted memberships here will include an array of elevated amenities, from an innovative Beach Club and a boating village to an adventure outpost, an organic farm, miles of hiking and biking trails, spa and fitness facilities, and easy access to Cabo Pulmo, a hard-coral reef that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Let’s begin with the beach: a tranquil, sheltered crescent with 3.2 miles of soft white sand that invites swimming and myriad water sports. It is a rarity in this part of Baja, an idyllic spot where children can play in the sea and more adventurous ocean lovers can snorkel, dive, kayak, and wake surf, among other activities.
The Beach Club will encompass a “village” complex of interesting architecture that reflects the area and incorporates authentic regional touches into the lounge areas, pools, kids’ areas, spa and fitness facilities, and venues for beachside dining.
For golf, the 18-hole, links-style course will be designed by David McLay Kidd, whose creations—like his masterpiece at Bandon Dunes—are legendary for the way in which the natural landscape blends into a layout that is ideal for the novice and aficionado alike. The Baja Bay Club course will be artfully carved into the desertscape, with holes 9, 10, and 11 touching the beach sands. Players will also be able to hone their game at a delightful short course and a practice facility.
Kidd says, “Once in a lifetime, a golf designer might get a site on sand, next to an ocean, and in the perfect climate and with an owner that understands how to respect such precious land. At Baja Bay Club, we hit the jackpot. We intend to celebrate not only the rumbled dunes but the gorgeous native trees and shrubs that cover these precious sand dunes. If we do our job, we will take these perfect ingredients and create a course full of mystery and adventure, fun and challenge. We believe Baja Bay Club can redefine golf in Baja.”
The expansive club property allows for incredible privacy and security for each of its projected 500 residences, which will blend a contemporary aesthetic with traditional accents. The color palette and open-plan layouts are meant to enhance enjoyment of the desert-and-sea panoramas and encourage the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that Baja is known for. “We aim to create one of the finest collections of residential and cultural architecture to be found in all of Baja,” says John Sather, AIA, AICP, of SWABACK Architects + Planners.
Moreover, 30 founding owners will be able to purchase a beachfront homesite for the home of their dreams. The fortunate residents will be on hand as Baja Bay Club sets a new standard for luxury living on the East Cape.