Mexico's Affordable Gem -- Bajamar Oceanfront Resort !

[Matt_Ward]

I'm often amused when I see ratings for golf layouts in Mexico because invariably you get the inclusion of places along the southern tip of Baja.

In many cases you'll need a king's ransome to play just about any of them.

About twenty years ago a good friend of mine recommended to me a visit to Bajamar Ocean Front Resort -- about 50 miles south of the San Ysidro border crossing. Candidly, the roads then were not as smooth as they are now.

The course originally opened in 1976 by Percy Clifford with some slight modifications carried out in 1991 by David Fleming. In 1994 Robert von Hagge created the Oceano nine and it features several holes parallel to the Pacific Ocean. The original 18 was named the Vista & Lagos Nines.

Total length of the features Vista & Oceano nines comes out to 7,151 yards / par-72.

74.7 CR / 138 slope, Vista & Oceano Nines.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that not all of the holes are stellar but when you combine the fees, proximity to SoCal and the general hospitality of the place it makes for a fine option.

A couple of my friends were there recently and said some additional improvements are being planned when the financial climate improves.

Be curious to know if others have been there and what they feelings were.

[John Kavanaugh]

Matt,

Can you get an all inclusive where food, drink and golf are unlimited all for one price?

[Stan Dodd]

Ive been to Bajamar  a number of times.  It is a fun getaway.
There were options were lodging and some meals were included.  We had the most fun when we rented a villa and went to the Ensenada fish market and cooked our own dinners.  Breakfast at the course was decent. 
The golf was good fun, conditioning was iffy.
I would go again but the prices have jumped quite a bit.

[Tom Huckaby]

I've been there once; my feelings would echo Stan's.

TH

[Tom Naccarato]

Matt, I have a friend that played there as recently as three weeks ago and the conditions were abysmal. (I'm told) The service at the hotel, even worse.

I've played there a few times and enjoyed the original 18 holes, with nine of those holes by Percy Clifford. I felt that the much publicized Von Hagge Oceano was over-rated and repetitious when it came to the ocean side holes. I think they are just so-so golf holes and a missed opportunity. Whats even more amazing is that they could have got more holes down there which I think could have really pushed the course over the edge in popularity. It's a pretty neat place. Homesites got to those good areas, and I'm told there hasn't been a home built down there yet--which is amazing.

There is something to be said about getting sprayed by the Pacific Ocean while standing on those three tees down on that beach. That is the best part of that experience.

[Tim Leahy]

When I lived in SD, Bajamar used to advertise a package with Real Del Mar golf course that was a pretty good deal and I believe was all inclusive.  I haven't seen the ads recently but maybe some of the SD GCA residents can chime in.

[Tom Huckaby]

The time I was down there I played Real del Mar also... in fact it must have been on a package like you describe, Tim.  As I recall that was a pretty decent course as well.  Nothing great, nothing awful, good enough fun.

No clue how things stand now.

TH

[Tom Naccarato]

I've played Real Del Mar also, and its about just as you described. Some good land for golf though.

[Carl Nichols]

I haven't been there in about 15 years, but I always wondered why someone hadn't built a good course in San Felipe. 

[Aidan Bradley]

[Tom Naccarato]

Aiden,
I'm convinced you could make me look like Brad Pitt. I'm ready for my close-up!

[Aidan Bradley]

......... but how could you deal with being the sexiest man alive?

[Tim Book]

Matt,

I played Bajamar probably 12 years ago, and would agree with the sentiments of the group.  However I was reminded recently that Tijuana and the roads to Bajamar have more murders per day than Bagdad.  It should be interesting to see how Tiger's new development deals with that 'little' hurdle.

[Tom Huckaby]

TMIMITW, on rollerblading:

No.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

 

[Greg Tallman]

I haven't been there in about 15 years, but I always wondered why someone hadn't built a good course in San Felipe. 

They have... been there a few years now...

Las Caras de Mexico

http://www.lascarasdemexico.com/Course_Designer.html

[Tom Huckaby]

TMIMITW

I have no idea what that means, but I do know that it disqualifies you as even the second most interesting... 

Jeez man for one of golf's greatest minds you really can be dense at times....

The
Most
Interesting
Man
In
The
World

And you know also he doesn't always drink beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis.

In Arizona earlier this year I ordered a beer using those terms and the waitress nearly keeled over laughing.

TH

[Greg Tallman]

I'm often amused when I see ratings for golf layouts in Mexico because invariably you get the inclusion of places along the southern tip of Baja.

In many cases you'll need a king's ransome to play just about any of them.

Nah... we take US Dollars, Pesos, AMEX, Visa, MasterCard...

Goats, Cows, Gold... all nice but not accepted as forms of payment.

By the way are you saying that a relatively high price lessens the architectural merits of a particular golf course? If not your above statement is misleading at best.

As noted above the Northern Baja is experiencing some major problems as it is ground zero for President Calderon's war on the drug cartels.

What is the feeling of safety worth?  Piece of mind? Not that those bolster or detract from the architectural merits of a golf facility.

Sorry, but certain things in this world are not for everyone. Plenty I cannot afford that I would enjoy... but I do not take potshots at private jet travel when relating the relative value of commercial carriers. Just food for thought.

[Tom Naccarato]

Just put my picture in there. That's all you need.

Stay inbounds my friend.....

Greg,
A lot of stuff has been said of the drug cartels of Tijuana. Is this something to fear when simply going to play TJCC? I hope not.

[Tim Leahy]

Just remember Tommy if they pull you over, don't ask for badges!

[Greg Tallman]

Just put my picture in there. That's all you need.

Stay inbounds my friend.....

Greg,
A lot of stuff has been said of the drug cartels of Tijuana. Is this something to fear when simply going to play TJCC? I hope not.

Tommy, It is getting pretty serious as the cartels step up their violence in reaction to policy, seizures, arrests... et al.

As someone who has witnessed this on the mainland it is not pretty... In Mazatlan...

was maybe 30 cars behind some cartel hoods as they trap two cars of federal agents in a turn lane and unload what had to be hundreds of rounds into the cars killing all occupants.

had the feds engage in a shootout in the main tourist area a few blocks from our downtown office... you may have read about this as it was one of the famed Arellano brothers from Tijuana they killed as he came out of a local pharmacy in a movie like both guns drawn stance.

had a federal judge, his wife and ttwo friends murdered in a nice development in Mazatlan as they returned from dinner one evening.

Point is... not sure I would put anything past these guys... they had operated above the real law for so long that they cannot take the new regime coming after them with guns drawn and North Baja(TJ) is the front line.

Mazatlan and Sinaloa state in general are renowned for the drug crowd.

Los Cabos is not part of that scene thankfully.

[Patrick Kiser]

Matt,

TN is 100% correct.  DO NOT GO to Bajamar.  A disaster now.

Look up my recent posts and you'll see why.

Real is still ok, but it too has gone down somewhat resort wise.  Not as good as before in my opinion.  Course is still in good shape.  Be prepared for some pretty tight fairways.

Anyway, if you do decide to go ... just bring lots of $$$ and do not use your cards ANYWHERE at Bajamar.

Say hi to Jorge the Federale at the border for me as well.  He's still laughing at our fleecing...

[Patrick Kiser]

Tim,

That's funny. 

All I said was "what can we do?".  To which the oh so kind Federale said "you can empty your wallets and roll the cash into a nice wad and place it under your driver's license and hand the license to me".

Just remember Tommy if they pull you over, don't ask for badges!

[Matt_Ward]

Patrick K:

Thanks ...

However --

I get a laugh when people harp on conditioning concerning Bajamar and I don't doubt their accuracy / credibility pertaining to that layout but then you get others who would give a free pass to Apache Stronghold which has had no less the same issues but is viewed as a completely different pedigree and no doubt the name of the architect tied to that layout does matter to some no matter how bad the turf quality is there.

Bajamar is not "Pebble Beach of Mexico" as the folks who run the show ignorantly believe and tout on their Website. But when I was there the two nines I mentioned -- Oceano and Vista -- were quite good and certainly entertaining in a number of spots.

Glad to have updated info to tell me where things stand now.

[Patrick Kiser]

I know what you're saying as I've played both as well (AP and Bajamar).

The layout at Bajamar isn't too bad, but I would not rank it up there with AP as far as the interest and challenge.  It was sad to see the state of the bunkers at AP when I was there in '05.  The Monsoon's just take a beating on the place.

That said, the landscape at Bajamar is now a big issue in my mind.  They've marred the lanscape there.  Just killed it in my opinion.  A bunch of unfinished projects just litter the place.  Really sad because they do have a faux diamond in the rough.

If on top of that you're dropping well over $100 AND getting card fraud ... well ... nuff said I'm afraid.

Patrick K:

Thanks ...

However --

I get a laugh when people harp on conditioning concerning Bajamar and I don't doubt their accuracy / credibility pertaining to that layout but then you get others who would give a free pass to Apache Stronghold which has had no less the same issues but is viewed as a completely different pedigree and no doubt the name of the architect tied to that layout does matter to some no matter how bad the turf quality is there.

Bajamar is not "Pebble Beach of Mexico" as the folks who run the show ignorantly believe and tout on their Website. But when I was there the two nines I mentioned -- Oceano and Vista -- were quite good and certainly entertaining in a number of spots.

Glad to have updated info to tell me where things stand now.

[Mike_Cirba]

I just want to know who is going to be kind to me and send me the avatar of this guy that'll fit in the box on the left.  This blows away Jack Nicholson and even the lipstick lesbian incestuous pipe dream.

Dave,

I agree with the former but would vigorously dispute the latter assertion.