handymn

Last year I did the Solmar option. It was a very nice course with a great layout and really good course conditions. Nice touch is that it's all-inclusive including tacos and beers at the half-way house. We played on a weekday and felt like we mostly had the course to ourselves. And as far as I could tell from the access options as you mentioned, this seemed to be the best choice. Glad I did it.

About a year ago, I got an afternoon rate on GolfNow.com to Vista Vallarta for around $155. Played the Nicklaus course where the PGA played the World Cup in 2002 (Phil Mickelson was on the US team as I recall). Anyway, layout was interesting and pretty challenging. The property is away from the ocean, on the hills outside the city. Condition was ok but not immaculate. Maybe I would have paid the $250 for a prime tee time if I had no choice. But felt $150-$175 would be a deal in a vacation spot in prime season. If I had more time, I probably would have figured out how to get on the Four Seasons Punta Mita without having to stay there. That course I hear is bucket list for the ocean holes.

You would enjoy the experience of taking the ferry across the Sound and playing Gold Mountain. Same thing with Port Ludlow, White Horse and McCormick Woods. Out of those, I think White Horse is the most challenging but Port Ludlow is the most interesting. Golf Mountain is the most noteworthy for its national ranking and tournament history (Jordan Spieth won the 2011 US Junior Am there and the course also hosted the 2006 US Public Links Championship).