Life's a beach on the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol in Mexico
LOS CABOS, Mexico -- Hurricane Odile took a swipe at the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol last September. Thankfully, the club's seven magical beachfront holes emerged virtually unscathed.
The beachfront tees of the par-3 seventh hole were swept away with the rest of the sand, but work restored them quickly. The eighth fairway that climbs inland had to be shifted, although the changes are hardly noticeable.
This Jack Nicklaus top 100 course remains the best option to the general public in Cabo. Other top-tier courses such as Quivira and the Dunes and El Cardonal at the private Diamante development require stay and plays to gain access.
It's tough to beat the Ocean Course's mix of scenery and strategic fun, too. Every par 4 on the back nine, except for the daunting 18th hole along the water, serves up an interesting target test of less than 353 yards from the 6,340-yard blue tees. The stunning 16th hole drops to an infinity green. The heroic 178-yard 17th hole might be the best par 3 on the course, high praise considering the sixth and seventh holes roam the beach. Misses swatted down by the wind onto the beach leave an impossible recovery shot to the 17th green perched high above a rocky shelf.
The fresh fish tacos, free of charge at the turn, are just another reason to love the whole experience.