Bob:
I found all three nines at Palmilla to be pretty equal, all three very dramatic desert/ocean golf. One gets you down to the water better than others, but to no extent close to the drama of your home courses.
So no difference there.
As for the two courses at Cabo del Sol, one is Nicklaus (the Ocean), the other is Weiskopf (the Desert).
Ocean gets you more down by the water, hence the name. it is also more famous and higher rated by those magazine fools.
Desert seemed to me to be quirkier and offer more strategic choices on shots, in general (though there are a lot on Ocean as well).
Bottom line is you can't go wrong with either - both are great. Ocean does however have a golf hole (#17) quite similar to #14 MPCC Dunes, with a very dramatic back tee perched in the rocks, with the shot over the ocean and rocks to the green in the distance - in fact it's eeriely similar to your home hole in that respect. And just like that hole, it is a very thrilling shot. #16 is also a great hole, longish par 4 going down toward the ocean with a very neat skyline green... and #18 is like an inverse #18 Pebble as a par 4. That is the ocean is on your right and you play alongside - it's a great hole as well. Desert doesn't have a 3 hole stretch like the finish at Ocean. But still Desert is a damn fine course. I guess favor Ocean a little, but don't feel disappointed if the only one you get to play is Desert.
Note Querencia is the one private club - check out the link Jimmy posted. I haven't played that one - it looks VERY dramatic.
TH