Mazatlan - anyone ever play here?

so the in-laws go down here for 3 months every year during our winters. my father-in-law is a very casual golfer but has never felt the need to play there over the last 3 years, so he doesn't know anything about the courses.

It's far far away from being a golf destination, but i'll be spending a week in socal first, then flying there after for the next week. From an area flooded with golf to a place with maybe 3 courses lol. Yes i could not golf, but i'll already have my bag with me and have paid the stupid baggage fees, so i might as well play something while i'm there whether it be 1 or 2 rounds.

From what i can gather, theres a couple options:

1) El CID - 27 hole facility

2) Marina Mazatlan - newer 2009 opening

3) Estrella Del Mar - A little farther away but "ocean-front"

Websites for all these courses are super lacking, its tough to find info on how the rates/caddies etc work but i'm interested to see if anyone has played any of these and can comment on how golf works over in MZT?

the only place i was able to find half-decent information regarding rates for was El Cid, and even then it was the rates up until oct.2014.

Obviously these courses are open, so someone must be playing them right? anyone on here? lol

Went on a trip a few years ago to play golf there.... It was not the best of vacations, the El Cid hotel sucked and the condition of the course was right behind it. There was some claim that the Canadian Tour played an event there, boy oh boy I'm sure there were excited to see the place. The caddies were awesome and that was the best part, 18 holes of laughs!! Play there but know the conditions may not be the best.

Don't know about the Marina course as it wasn't open yet, just finishing it up.

Estrella Del Mar is a beautiful course and a challenge..... at least on the holes we played. By the 6th hole were 2 1/2 hours into the round, and we cried uncle!! Went back to the pro shop and said thanks but no thanks. It seems that when the cruise ships come into town one of the adventures is golf and they never know how many people are coming until that day??? I'm sure your asking did you have a tee time?? Well, yes we did but that doesn't matter the cruise passengers go out as a group one foursome after another. The pro was very nice and gave us our money back. It's too bad, what a beautiful place and the hotel and restaurant is supposed to be great. I would go there for sure just make sure you have the schedule for the cruise ships, or a guarantee about a tee time!!

[quote name='divebreck' timestamp='1420936723' post='10724113']
Went on a trip a few years ago to play golf there.... It was not the best of vacations, the El Cid hotel sucked and the condition of the course was right behind it. There was some claim that the Canadian Tour played an event there, boy oh boy I'm sure there were excited to see the place. The caddies were awesome and that was the best part, 18 holes of laughs!! Play there but know the conditions may not be the best.

Don't know about the Marina course as it wasn't open yet, just finishing it up.

Estrella Del Mar is a beautiful course and a challenge..... at least on the holes we played. By the 6th hole were 2 1/2 hours into the round, and we cried uncle!! Went back to the pro shop and said thanks but no thanks. It seems that when the cruise ships come into town one of the adventures is golf and they never know how many people are coming until that day??? I'm sure your asking did you have a tee time?? Well, yes we did but that doesn't matter the cruise passengers go out as a group one foursome after another. The pro was very nice and gave us our money back. It's too bad, what a beautiful place and the hotel and restaurant is supposed to be great. I would go there for sure just make sure you have the schedule for the cruise ships, or a guarantee about a tee time!!
[/quote]

thanks for this. I don't really have to worry about the hotel stuff as our in-laws always rent a condo for their time down there and will house us free. They obviously know the ins and outs of the city/food/culture so we're in good hands....except for when it comes to golf lol. Which is why i'm coming here to try and find some info.

Its good to hear that at least estrella del mar is a nice course. I'm not certain that any cruise ships port in mazatlan anymore, so i may not have that issue fighting for tee times should i be able to get out there. Of course, Estrella is the farthest course away so that would probably require a somewhat hefty cab fare as well but i guess could be worth it.

El cid and the marina course are much closer but i guess we'll have to see. I guess i'll try and get my fix for top notch courses and conditions in my week in california, and just enjoy the rounds in mexico should i be able to play. I of course wasn't expecting much and wouldn't choose it as a golf destination for sure, but the sticks will already be in tow so i might as well play. The courses are in better shape than here i'm sure anyways, ours have a few feet of snow on em

[quote name='aznives3' timestamp='1421083764' post='10732563']
[quote name='divebreck' timestamp='1420936723' post='10724113']
Went on a trip a few years ago to play golf there.... It was not the best of vacations, the El Cid hotel sucked and the condition of the course was right behind it. There was some claim that the Canadian Tour played an event there, boy oh boy I'm sure there were excited to see the place. The caddies were awesome and that was the best part, 18 holes of laughs!! Play there but know the conditions may not be the best.

Don't know about the Marina course as it wasn't open yet, just finishing it up.

Estrella Del Mar is a beautiful course and a challenge..... at least on the holes we played. By the 6th hole were 2 1/2 hours into the round, and we cried uncle!! Went back to the pro shop and said thanks but no thanks. It seems that when the cruise ships come into town one of the adventures is golf and they never know how many people are coming until that day??? I'm sure your asking did you have a tee time?? Well, yes we did but that doesn't matter the cruise passengers go out as a group one foursome after another. The pro was very nice and gave us our money back. It's too bad, what a beautiful place and the hotel and restaurant is supposed to be great. I would go there for sure just make sure you have the schedule for the cruise ships, or a guarantee about a tee time!!
[/quote]

thanks for this. I don't really have to worry about the hotel stuff as our in-laws always rent a condo for their time down there and will house us free. They obviously know the ins and outs of the city/food/culture so we're in good hands....except for when it comes to golf lol. Which is why i'm coming here to try and find some info.

Its good to hear that at least estrella del mar is a nice course. I'm not certain that any cruise ships port in mazatlan anymore, so i may not have that issue fighting for tee times should i be able to get out there. Of course, Estrella is the farthest course away so that would probably require a somewhat hefty cab fare as well but i guess could be worth it.

El cid and the marina course are much closer but i guess we'll have to see. I guess i'll try and get my fix for top notch courses and conditions in my week in california, and just enjoy the rounds in mexico should i be able to play. I of course wasn't expecting much and wouldn't choose it as a golf destination for sure, but the sticks will already be in tow so i might as well play. The courses are in better shape than here i'm sure anyways, ours have a few feet of snow on em
[/quote]
Your going to have a great time! If conditions at EL cid are even close to good it will be great. Forgot that the restaurant at the club house was really good! Letme know how it goes.

thanks for the info, I decided to play Estrella Del Mar tomorrow instead of the other two.