On this most recent visit, I decided to visit the “lesser lights” in the area in addition to two "mandatory" rounds at Cabo del Sol. I was surprised at the variety and quality of the courses and thought it would be useful to give my impressions from one round at each.
Questro Golf
There are five public “lesser lights” in the area. Three are currently managed by Questro Golf which seems to be an outfit focused on time-share sales. One representative emphasized that they did not sell time shares but rather residence clubs. When I asked the difference I was advised the differences are “subtle.”
The courses are nicely conditioned with paspalum greens and gorgeous views. The company runs a package promotion for three rounds at the courses – less if you are willing to sit through a time-share presentation.
My favorite of the group was Club Campestre, which is a Nicklaus Design course built by Kurt Bowman. The course features wide fairways, centerline bunkers and greens with huge undulations that border on whacky at times. The setting is less severe than at many of the other courses and a few of the holes seem squeezed on the far side of the tollway to the airport. Nonetheless, I would happily return.
I would also gladly return to Cabo Real – an RTJ Jr. course. The front nine is primarily an effort to get down to the ocean. Its oceanside par three was sacrificed to condominiums but the course nonetheless delivers a solid test of golf with some memorable vistas. I will need to do some research to identify these holes.
The final Questro Couse, Puerto Los Cabos, offers spectacular vistas as these pictures show:
The views of the first and ninth holes of both the Nicklaus and Norman nines, however, is less compelling. On both sides the holes run straight up and down a mountain. Go to this course for the views and tolerate the golf.