Nicklaus Oceanside Masterpiece, Wolf Creek 👎, and Hogan’s Wisdom

Hey everyone, I’m Kevin, and the first club I ever held came from my dad when I was 13. I didn’t know it then, but that moment kicked off a 30-year obsession. Over the years, it’s been a love-hate relationship, the kind only golfers truly understand. But the truth is, I’m happiest when I’m around the game.

Being based in Phoenix, I get to play some incredible desert tracks right in my backyard, and I’ve also traveled across the country and around the world chasing memorable rounds, from hidden gems to bucket-list icons.

That’s exactly why I started Out of Bounds. This is where I share the stories, the destinations, and the practical golf advice I’ve picked up along the way. If you’re planning your next golf trip, hunting for your new favorite course, or just grinding at the range trying to break 80, you’re in the right spot.

Let’s tee it up, discover epic courses, and play better golf!

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Desert soul meets ocean breeze in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico

⛳ Vidanta Mayan Palace Golf Club

🏌️Par 72 | 7,200+ yards | $50–$125 green fees

📍 Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico

I’m seriously pumped to share this course with you. I’ve been playing Mayan Palace for over 15 years, and it never gets old. I tell my buddies all the time that it might be the best golf course in Arizona. And yeah, I know it’s technically in Mexico. But when it’s only 3.5 hours from my front door to the first tee, it counts in my book.

This place flies under the radar. About 30 minutes from the main resort strip near Sandy Beach, it sees maybe 30 rounds a day. When you’re out there, it feels like you have the course to yourself - no waiting, no crowds, just you and the breeze off the Sea of Cortés.

Perched on a two-mile peninsula where desert meets sea, this Nicklaus design is golf escapism at its best. With the Sea of Cortés on one side and an estuary on the other, every hole feels like its own little adventure. The routing flows beautifully, from tight, windswept seaside holes to more demanding inland stretches that reward precision over power. The greens are huge but don’t miss on the wrong side or tier (the greens roll the best from October through May), and nine holes run right along the ocean. When the tide’s up, the views are unreal.

In my opinion, it rivals Torrey Pines South. Torrey’s got the cliffs and the U.S. Open history, but Mayan Palace holds its own in beauty, playability, and pure bang-for-your-buck golf. It’s peaceful, dramatic, and completely free of distractions - no homes, no noise, just desert dunes, crashing waves, and warm sun.

Highlight Hole – No. 6 (Par 3, 190 yards):
When the tide’s up, waves from the Sea of Cortez crash so close they spray the green. Four bunkers stand between you and the pin, and if you go long, you could take two steps and cannonball straight into the ocean

What makes it special:

Playing Mayan Palace

Estimated Cost:
Green fees range from $50–$125, depending on the season and time of day. Even at the higher end, you’re getting oceanfront golf on a Nicklaus layout for less than most weekday rates in the U.S.

Best Way to Book:

Pro Tip:
The pro shop is not at the first tee. It’s located at the Vidanta Mayan Palace resort, a short 3-minute drive away. Plan to check in early, then head over to the course with time to hit balls. Don’t forget sunscreen, water, and a couple extra sleeves - the sun is strong and the breeze can be spicy!

And play the middle/front tees on really windy days. You don’t need to shoot a million out there.

Where to Stay:
Stay at Encantame Towers (book here), just 30 minutes from the course and right on Playa Encanto. Here’s why it’s the perfect basecamp:

Golf Digest just released their Top 100 public courses to play in 2025, and I can’t believe Wolf Creek makes this list every year, let alone at spot number 59. This course is not worth your money, and let me tell you why.

Last February, the boys and I did a Vegas golf trip, and like any Vegas trip, it was a blast. Day one, we played Cascata, which had great views, but it's another “Top 100” that doesn’t deserve the hype. Day two was the Wolf and Snow Mountain at Paiute Golf Resort, pure golf heaven. No houses, just desert, fun holes, perfect conditions. Paiute over-delivered, and we’re going back.

Then came Wolf Creek. The drive in is odd, weaving through homes and commercial buildings until the course suddenly appears, the first thing you see is a massive dumpster next to the range. Look a little further, and you realize that’s also their maintenance yard. Weird. Range balls were trash, the hitting areas were uneven, and the grass was patchy.

Inside, the clubhouse ceiling was collapsing, exposing the pipes. The pro shop was a mess, so crammed with merch you could barely walk through without knocking hats over. Breakfast was eggs and bacon that tasted like a late-night diner special made from whatever was left over from the previous day.

Maybe they cut corners everywhere else and pour it into the course? Not a chance. The greens were bumpy, slow, and sandy, the tee boxes were chewed up, and several of the back and middle tees were roped off. This was late February, right near peak season, so there’s no excuse. Paiute and Cascata were in perfect shape.

The halfway house? I’m not exaggerating, a Love’s gas station bathroom would be an upgrade. Random lumber and pipes are lying around like a construction site abandoned years ago.

Sure, the views are dramatic, but it’s a desert course without soul or character, a photo-op more than a golf experience. Honestly, it was so bizarre I left thinking Wolf Creek might be a drug front, because there’s no sign they reinvest a penny of that $350 green fee back into the place.

For me, Wolf Creek is a “bucket list” course only if your bucket list is “see pretty views, play mediocre golf, and feel robbed when you leave.”

There’s no magic move or training aid that’s going to fix everything overnight. Ben Hogan knew that. He said, “There are no shortcuts in the quest for perfection.” And he meant it.

Instead of searching YouTube for the next quick fix, do what Hogan did: grind on the basics. Grip. Alignment. Ball position.

Hit half-swings and focus on pure contact. Build the feeling. Then ramp up to full swings when you can repeat it with confidence.

It’s boring. It’s not flashy. But it works.

That’s a wrap on the first issue! I’d love to hear about the hidden gems you’ve played - hit reply and tell me where I should tee it up next. If you like the concept of what I’m building, or there’s something you’d love to see added, let me know. I’d really appreciate any feedback to help make this your favorite read on Sundays.

Next week, I’m covering a course on the Oregon coast (not Bandon Dunes) and sharing a short game drill that will turn you into an up-and-down machine.