Golfer Greg Norman Unveils Norman Estates, His First Real Estate Project In Mexico

At the recent opening of the model home at the new Norman Estates in Los Cabos, Mexico on the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, Greg Norman, the former top ranked golfer in the world, who is affectionately nicknamed “The Great White Shark”, sighed as he looked down on his canvas slip-on shoes. “I wish I could take these things off,” the golf legend exclaimed. “I normally don’t wear shoes at home.”

The globetrotting entrepreneur who is still referred to as “The Shark”, was surrounded by investors clamoring to buy or who have already bought one of the custom-designed homes at his namesake development—the first Greg Norman-branded real estate development in Mexico—that is part of an 834-acre master development on a 1.2-mile-long beach facing the Sea of Cortes. The development is located 15 minutes away from downtown Cabo San Lucas.

The Greg Norman Lifestyle

The private, gated enclave with 24-hour security will include 32 single level estate homes and 36 luxury residences set within a larger resort known as Rancho San Lucas. Norman Estates is situated on the beachfront portion of a signature 18-hole championship golf course that also bears his name.

The design and decor of the home reflects the personal lifestyle and taste of the 64-year old Australian and his wife of nine years, “Kiki” (née Kristen). The Norman’s own home will soon break ground on an adjacent lot and will have a similar layout and interior design.

An avid fisherman and scuba diver, Norman has been coming to Cabo for more than thirty years. “I love this country,” says Norman. “I’ve built golf courses all over Mexico, from the east to the west and have always been looking for an opportunity to do a branded real estate project in Cabo.”

This is also the first ever professional real estate collaboration between Greg and Kiki, who were intimately involved in the design of the model home from top to bottom. The Normans worked closely with the Mexican architect, Jesús Mario Maldonado Astorga, of Gran Vision Design.

Kiki, who arguably understands the Greg Norman lifestyle better than anyone else in the world, was a natural fit to oversee the interior design of the home, as she is a highly respected and established interior designer with a client list that includes several well-known five-star hotels around the world, including the Fairmont Cairo in Egypt.

The Normans, whose primary residence is located in Jupiter Island, Florida, enjoy nothing more than to entertain family and friends in a casual, yet elegant style, especially at their 11,600-acre ranch outside of Aspen in Colorado. And as such, the floor plan of the home features uninterrupted indoor and outdoor spaces that are perfect for barefoot entertaining. Limestone and wood floors are found throughout the home that was decorated with a lot of wood, texture, and a color palette of earth tones, including black, brown, grey and white. The décor is masculine to reflect Greg’s personal taste. There are heavy pieces of furniture, such as wicker cabana-style arm chairs by Ralph Lauren Home (providing more texture), surrounding the round wooden dining room table.

Coastal Hacienda Architecture

The architectural style of the Norman Estates homes is coastal-hacienda, reflecting authentic design elements from the local region—something the Normans felt was of great importance. “There is always that sense of place at each of our homes,” says Kiki. “That’s what makes this branded real estate so authentic. It is Greg, but it is also Mexico. You know you are in Mexico when you are here.”

Indeed. Unlike most of the other luxury developments in the Cabo area that tend to build very rigid, contemporary, homes that are horizontal with glass walls, open floor plans and intentional asymmetry, the residences at Norman Estates are traditional, while still offering large entertaining spaces, airy sunlit rooms and spectacular ocean views.

Estate homes, which are priced from $3.7 million to $7 million, range in size from 4,667 square feet (3 bedrooms plus den and 5.5 bathrooms) to 6,700 square foot homes (5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms). There will also be oceanfront high-rise residences that will range from in price from $1.5 million to $4.3 million. Forty percent of the homes that are part of Phase One of the development were already sold before the official launch.

The Greg Norman Touch

Norman has been very hands-on with the construction of the development. Last fall, he visited the site of the model home, just as the framing of the house was being installed and concrete was being poured, and noticed that the front door was designed to be off center. “I like symmetry,” Norman says. “So, when I saw where the front door was located, I was adamant they had to tear it down and restart the whole entrance. I asked the architect to move it to the center, so that when you enter the home, you look through it out toward the ocean.”

The great room of the stucco home is striking with a 14-foot-high ceiling with exposed wooden beams. The 940  square foot great room which includes an open kitchen (with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances), dining area and living room with fireplace, opens to a covered outdoor living space that overlooks an infinity swimming pool. Beyond the pool is a wide stretch of sand that separates it from the third hole of the golf course. The home enjoys a direct view of the beach and ocean. On this particular day, breaching whales could be spotted in the distance—they appeared to be performing for the “Shark” himself.

The outdoor space features a wet bar with a refrigerator and a barbecue grill and multiple covered seating areas with fireplaces. “We were able to add the outdoor fireplaces which are so us,” explains Kiki. “We also influenced the architect’s finishes, such as the flooring and the pool design.”

At the Norman’s suggestion, the seating area at the far end of the pool features permanently fixed sofas made of concrete (covered with cushions). The Normans cleverly thought of using a line of cactuses that appear to be climbing the exterior walls to camouflage the barrier that separates the home from the neighboring property.

The master bedroom, with a large dressing room and master bath, features large corner glass sliders so that the room opens up, barrier-free, to the outdoor terrace. A second master suite has a bathroom with a standalone hammered copper tub alongside an open shower, and an outdoor space with a water fountain. There are two additional bedrooms with one currently configured to be used as an office.

Amenities For Homeowners

Residents of Norman Estates will enjoy a private beach club that will feature dining facilities, fitness center, game room and infinity pool. In addition, they will receive legacy golf membership at the Greg Norman Golf Club and a special edition golf cart.

The Rancho San Lucas development has a tennis facility and a sports complex as well as 15 miles of jogging and mountain bike trails. A shopping, dining and entertainment complex, called Baja Village, is currently under construction. There will also be a 15-acre lake that will offer water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding.

The Greg Norman Signature Golf Club, which is currently under construction, will be a par 72, 7245-yard 18-hole championship golf course. It will feature grassed fairways to greens and seven holes on the beach. The course is dotted with magnificent 300-year old indigenous Cardon Cactus. A clubhouse, that will also be decorated by Kiki Norman, will offer a full-service restaurant and bar, while three comfort stations on the course will be catered by the resort’s restaurants. The course is expected to open in October of this year.

Solmar Group

A significant benefit of owning a home at the Norman Estates, is that it is part of the empire owned and operated by Francisco “Paco” Bulnes, president of Solmar Group, a highly-regarded local developer. The Solmar Group owns and operates seven all-suite resorts (which include time share units) in Los Cabos.

Solmar is extending special guest privileges for homeowners at each of the properties in its portfolio, including the award-winning Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort and Spa in the village of Cabo San Lucas. Homeowners will receive discounts for food and beverages that they can charge to their house accounts. They will also receive preferred guest status at the full-service Grand Solmar Rancho San Lucas luxury hotel, adjacent to the Norman Estates, which offers a private beach, full-service spa, multiple swimming pools, fitness facility and six bars and restaurants.

Strategic Location

Norman Estates is a 30-minute drive from Los Cabos International Airport (with direct flights to Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Newark, among other cities). The town of Cabo San Lucas is a classic resort town with many well-regarded restaurants and bars. At its marina, it is possible to arrange for a deep-sea fishing trip, a scuba diving or snorkeling excursion, or even a sunset sailing cruise in which you might spot a whale or two.

For more information, contact the Norman Estates sales office at this link.

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.