REAL DEL MAR
Imagine a breathtaking view with the Los Coronados mountains perfectly framing lush green fairways and rugged canyon walls. Real del Mar is just 20 minutes north of New Port Beach Hotel.

Opened in 1992, this course was carved out of three canyons along the Pacific. Twelve of the holes have ocean views to the Coronado Islands. Bermuda greens, rarely seen in the San Diego area, are used on the short layout, which measures less than 6,000 yards from the white tees. The narrow front nine circles a mountain, with water on the short par-4 second, the par-3 third and to the right of the green on the fifth, a par-4 that doglegs left. The sixth through ninth holes head down the mountain but normally play into stiff ocean breezes. The back nine is a bit longer as it heads out through a canyon, then makes a 180-degree turn back toward the clubhouse.

Signature hole: A double-dogleg to an island green means double trouble at the 17th hole. Don't even think about getting home in two. The green is 526 yards from the blue tees and 504 from the whites, with a bend to the right off the tee and another to the green, which is tucked left along a hillside. The wind usually is in your face, so make sure you have enough club on your third shot to reach the long, diagonal green, which is surrounded by a lake. A bunker in the front right and an expanded fringe to the rear allow for a slim margin of error.

Abridged from: SignOnSanDiego

Click on our links page for Real Del Mar's web site.

BAJAMAR
Bajamar's 27 holes offer some of the most spectacular golfing in North America and is roughly 20 minutes south of New Port Beach Hotel.

The three nine are quite distinct from each other. Lagos (Spanish for "Lakes") is fairly flat, with a lot of water, a sort of Florida meets Mexico. Vista ("View") is a bit more up and down, desert golf, say Scottsdale meets Mexico.

While Lagos and Vista are very nice, Bajamar is all about the Oceano ("Ocean") holes. The first few holes of Oceano are nice par 4s, leading in a roundabout way down to the ocean itself. No. 4 forces you to lay up with your drive before clearing a deep canyon with a wedge on your second shot. This is a taste of what's to come. Hole #5 is the focus of the entire Bajamar experience, the signature hole of the signature nine. A spectacular par 3, the hole is a forced carry over a cove, with surf crashing onto lava rocks just beneath the tee box.

Bajamar's layout would make for a lovely golf experience in just about any location. On the chunk of earth they are fortunate enough to lay claim to, it's pretty tough to fail.

abridged from: Andrew Resnik, Correspondent, Golf Publisher Syndications

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BAJA COUNTRY CLUB
Baja Country Club is very much in a state of transition. In the 15 years since it was built, the course has seen some good times, and is currently emerging from more challenging times. Currently, a team of three developers from Rosarito Beach own the club and hired Antonio Candela to be golf course manager. Candela is leading a major series of improvements. "We want to make it a great course," Candela said. "The layout is wonderful, the raw ingredients are there, it just needs more attention."

The setting is peaceful and pretty: A valley surrounded by canyon walls draped in oak and manzanita, sort of a wine-country-meets-Mexico just a few miles in from the ocean. One could hardly complain about the traditional, country club-style layout, which flows nicely from hole to hole (easily allowing for walking) and has some creative architectural features.

Despite the imperfections, playing Baja Country Club is really pretty fun. Consider the 6th hole: a shortish, very fun par 4 with an island green. The next hole is a longer par 4 with a forced carry to what might as well be another island green. No. 8 is a delightful par 3 with a water carry all the way. The back nine is the tougher of the two. Thirteen is a long, into-the-wind par 5 with a landing area pinched by clusters of palms trees on both side of the fairway. Two holes later you'll find another fun par 3 with water on the right. The 17th hole is your last chance to swing the driver hard, as you're given an unusually wide fairway.

abridged from: Andrew Resnik, Correspondent, Golf Publisher Syndications

Click on our links page for Baja Country Club's web site.