Active Pursuits

Once the favorite of golfing celebrities and socialites who stayed at the now-defunct Agua Caliente Resort, the Club Campestre de Tijuana (Tijuana Country Club), Bulevar Agua Caliente at Avenida Gustavo Salinas (tel. 888/217-1165 from the U.S., or 664/104-7545; www.tijuanacountryclub.com or www.campestretij.com), is near the Caliente Racetrack and behind the Grand Hotel Tijuana. It's about a 10-minute drive from downtown. The course attracts mostly business travelers staying at nearby hotels, many of which offer golf packages (see Grand Hotel Tijuana in "Where to Stay"). This course has quite a pedigree: It was designed by Alister MacKenzie, who along with Bobby Jones was the creator of the course at the Augusta National Golf Club. Greens fees are $53 to $64, including cart, and caddies are available. Stop by the pro shop for balls, tees, and a limited number of other accessories; the clubhouse also has two restaurants with cocktail lounges.

Along the toll road to Rosarito, at Km 19.5, is the golf community of Real Del Mar (tel. 800/662-6180 from the U.S., or 664/631-3406; www.realdelmar.com.mx). Open to the public, this course has incredible ocean vistas, as well as plenty of wildlife playing through; stiff breezes, as well as rattlesnakes in the summer, make for some interesting challenges here. Rates are $45 Sunday through Thursday, $55 Friday and Saturday; twilight rates are available. After your game you can repair to the wonderful on-site restaurant Rincón San Román.