Palmilla Golf, Reimagined: What the One&Only Course Renovation Means for Palmilla
A landmark transformation is underway. With a complete championship course renovation, a new Par 3, and a reimagined practice range, Palmilla is entering a new chapter—one with meaningful implications for the lifestyle, prestige, and long-term appeal of its residential community.
AT A GLANCE
- What: a complete renovation of all 18 championship holes at One&Only Palmilla, plus a new Par 3, a rebuilt practice range and a putting course.
- Who: Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, with HKS and Kerzner International.
- When: construction began on 28 September 2026. Mountain nine expected Q4 2027; full 18 expected Q4 2028.
- During construction: nine holes stay open for members and resort guests, and the Palmilla Social Club remains open.
Golf is woven into Palmilla. For more than three decades, the course that carries Jack Nicklaus’s legacy has shaped the views, the streets and many of the homes that make this community what it is.
This autumn, that landscape begins its next chapter.
A full renovation, not a refresh.
One&Only Palmilla Golf Club has begun a complete transformation of its championship golf, supported by a multi-million-dollar investment from Kerzner International, the company behind One&Only Resorts. The course design is led by Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, with HKS and Kerzner completing the design and delivery team.
The work touches every part of the course:
- All 18 championship holes across the Mountain and Arroyo nines, renovated
- Every green rebuilt to modern USGA championship specifications
- New premium turfgrass across tees, fairways and approaches
- Bunkers reshaped and repositioned for strategy and playability, with new sand
- Hole corridors reshaped, sightlines improved and cart paths reconstructed
- New irrigation and drainage, with native and adapted Baja planting throughout
The stated aim is not to change what makes Palmilla special, but to preserve its character while raising conditioning, playability and presentation.
More ways to play.
A new practice campus
The practice range is being fully rebuilt: a full-length, 330-yard range with target greens, dedicated short-game and wedge areas, expanded putting areas and a teaching environment with modern technology.
A Par 3 for every generation
A new short course will be laid out across what are today Ocean holes 5, 6 and 7. It is designed as much more than a short course: a place for sunset rounds, junior golf, family play and member matches.
A putting course
A 3,800-square-metre putting course (roughly 40,900 square feet) completes the new offering.
What is the renovation timeline?
The renovation is delivered in phases, so that nine championship holes remain open throughout:
- Autumn 2026. Construction began on 28 September. The Arroyo nine stays in play, with a temporary practice area.
- Q4 2027 (expected). The Mountain nine reopens, together with the new practice range and Par 3. Arroyo then closes for its own renovation.
- Q4 2028 (expected). Arroyo reopens and the full 18 holes return.
During construction, the course is reserved for members and One&Only Palmilla guests, and the Palmilla Social Club remains open as usual. The Club has been clear that these dates are expected and will depend on construction, weather and grow-in; it will confirm opening windows as the work progresses.
A practical note for this season: with nine holes in play, I would reserve tee times early.
What does it mean for homeowners and buyers?
When an operator of One&Only’s standing reinvests in the landscape at the centre of a community, it says something about where that community is heading. I see four implications:
- The view improves. Many Palmilla homes look across these fairways. New turf, native planting and reshaped corridors will refine the landscape owners see every day.
- Golf becomes a family amenity. The Par 3 and the putting course broaden who plays, and how often.
- The investment is built to last. Irrigation and drainage are not cosmetic. They protect the course, and the setting around it, for decades.
- The construction period is real. Homes near holes under renovation will see activity through 2028. Sellers should plan presentation and timing accordingly, and buyers should understand which phase affects which street. We are glad to advise on specific homes.
Together with the planned Club Ninety Six and Club Espiritu campus, this is part of a broader reinvestment across Palmilla, at a moment when the average selling price in Villas del Mar and Espíritu del Mar reached a record US$1,841 per square foot this season.
Palmilla was built around golf. Its next chapter is being built the same way.
If you are considering buying or selling in Palmilla, and would like to understand how the renovation affects a particular home or street, Olivia and I would be glad to share our perspective personally.
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Frequently asked questions
What is being renovated at One&Only Palmilla Golf Club?
All 18 championship holes on the Mountain and Arroyo nines are being renovated. The work includes greens rebuilt to modern USGA specifications, new premium turfgrass, reshaped bunkers, and new irrigation and drainage. The club is also adding a rebuilt 330-yard practice range, a new Par 3 course on what are now Ocean holes 5, 6 and 7, and a 3,800-square-metre putting course.
Who is the golf course architect?
Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design leads the course design, with HKS and Kerzner International completing the design and delivery team.
Can members still play during construction?
Yes. Nine championship holes remain open throughout: the Arroyo nine during the first phase, then the Mountain nine once it reopens, expected in Q4 2027. During construction, the course is open only to members and One&Only Palmilla guests.
When will the full 18 holes reopen?
The full 18 holes are expected to reopen in Q4 2028. The club notes that timing depends on construction, weather and turf grow-in.
Will the Palmilla Social Club stay open?
Yes. The Palmilla Social Club remains open and operates as normal throughout the construction period.
About the author. Michael Baldwin is the founder and principal advisor of Michael Baldwin Properties and has advised buyers and sellers in Villas del Mar, inside the gates of Palmilla, for sixteen years. In the 2025–26 season he represented US$79.3 million in combined listing and selling volume in Villas del Mar and Espíritu del Mar, according to the Michael Baldwin Properties Market Study.
Timelines are expected and subject to change, as stated by One&Only Palmilla Golf Club. Renderings are for illustrative purposes only; final design, materials and finishes may vary.
Market figures: Michael Baldwin Properties Market Study, 1 November 2025 – 30 September 2026. Price per square foot refers to Villas del Mar and Espíritu del Mar. Not investment advice.
Sources
One&Only Palmilla Golf Club, “Palmilla, Reimagined: A New Era of Championship Golf” member presentation, September 2026.
One&Only Palmilla Golf Club, “Golf Transformation: Member Frequently Asked Questions,” 26 September 2026.
Michael Baldwin Properties Market Study, Villas del Mar, Espíritu del Mar and Palmilla Cove, 1 November 2025 – 30 September 2026.
One&Only Palmilla: oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla · Fry/Straka: frystraka.com