I made my debut last week at Cabo San Lucas and can only add to the chorus of praise that the best courses get. Diamante is really a spectacularly beautiful course that can easily stand alongside other beauties,, like Cape Kidnappers, but it is not just about the setting - also many wonderful holes. I read Jay Flemma write elsewhere that his big critique of the course concerned inability to play the ground game. I suspect the conditioning has evolved quite a bit since then because although it would be wrong to say the course plays like an out and out links, it is certainly closer to that than to a simply aerial style course.
I suppose the holes that stood out most for me were the stunning selection of short holes, especially 2 and 11, but also 5 and 16 which play towards the sea; 14-18 is a fantastic finish. Hard to think of a better 45 minutes on a golf course than the journey from the green on 14 with its view through to the 17th tee. Not sure about the criticism of 18 - i think it is a bit of brute coming at number 18, but definitely a hole that requires very good golf to finish. 15 is maybe the pick of the par fours, but holes like 3 and 4 are also excellent. Only downside of a magical experience ( i played twice thanks to hooking up with a member) was the sales pitch which was pretty bare-knuckled. As MWP says, when 12 are 13 are replaced the course which will reach even greater heights. Will be fascinating to see how the "Tiger" course emerges when it opens. If you believe the sales guys there will be a third course (also "Tiger"), the "Jungle" (!!) course, styled on Shadow Creek. It will take a lot of economic growth to reach that point. On the other hand, i have never seen as many expensive private jets as at the Cabo airport - comfortably 40 i would guess, so there is already lots of money.
The course that came to mind when playing was Barnbougle Dunes (new world links) which gets a lot of justified love from GCA. I can't remember the course well enough to go through hole by hole, but i am inclined to put Diamante above it. It is certainly a more compelling site - you can probably argue about the golf. Incidentally, i walked/carried my bag for 90 per cent of Diamante. It is true that i was able to hitch a ride to 10 on a buggy and that 10 itself is an uphill slog, but i would say the course is broadly walkable for most people in reasonable shape. I am not sure anyway that it is an option for visitors to just walk without a caddie or buggy, so you may as well just accept the buggy/caddie and walk at the same time.
As for the Cabo de Sol courses, i really enjoyed them both. Seems that part of the secret to a good round is teeing off later - we did not see anyone else when we teed off at 12 midday on the Ocean Course. Desert course also pretty quiet played from mid am start. But the practice ground, which has taken a lot of traffic, suggests that quite a lot of golf is getting played.
Ocean Course i thought 2-8 is a great section, and so too 15-18, and nothing too much wrong with the rest. 5 and 16 are great links-style two shotters into the wind; some very good par 5's like 4 and 15; 6 and 17 are the rewarding seaside holes. I don't remember the Desert Course quite as well, save to say - contrary to Jay Flemma - that it is the first nine which lingered longer in the memory. I thought the short par fours ( 4 and 7) were really excellent, and i take my hat off to anyone who builds a blind 245 yard par 4 in the midst of a 6,700 yard course. Incidentally, setting up two driveable two shotters for average woman golfers within four holes (respectively 191 yards and 177 yards) is completely unique and does wonders for the morale of the golfer.
I endorse the views about the fine food at Cabo clubhouse, especially the natchos!