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Last November, the Indian Wells Golf Resort burst back onto the golf scene with the revamped Celebrity Course. But that was only the beginning. In November of this year, the resort will unveil the Player’s Course — another redesigned 18-hole track — and the IW Club, which will be one of the most luxurious clubhouses in the region. Designed by Clive Clark, the Celebrity Course is a scenic venue that is playable for golfers of all skills. When the Player’s track opens, the John Fought design should set up as a difficult test for those seeking a challenge in terms of strategy and shotmaking. OB Sports, the management company overseeing Indian Wells, has been pleased with the initial responses at the Celebrity Course. “The players have given us a lot of oohs and aahs,” said Orrin Vincent, CEO and founder of OB Sports. “The exclamation point is the visual impact of Clark’s design.” While the Player’s Course will likely generate buzz when it opens, Vincent expects a similar reaction when patrons enter the new clubhouse at Indian Wells. Covering about 59,000 square feet, the IW Club will have a cafe, wine-tasting room, sports bar and private meeting rooms. “This will be the most spectacular club facility I’ve seen at any course or resort that’s open for public play,” Vincent said. The Celebrity Course also will be the site of the 2007 Skins Game in November. (760) 346-4653 or indianwellsgolfresort.com. Tahquitz Creek’s two courses are an enticing combination Tahquitz Creek Golf Club offers an enticing mixture of old and new in its two 18-hole tracks. The par-71 Legend course, open since the late 1950s, is a traditional, tree-lined layout that requires straight driving and patience on the greens. While there are no water hazards on the William F. Bell design, there are out-of-bounds areas on every hole and plenty of bunkers. The par-72 Resort course, which opened in 1995, incorporates elements of links golf with mountain views and the familiar water features associated with a Ted Robinson Sr. design. Despite the age discrepancy of the Palm Springs courses, both layouts are in prime condition heading into the summer. “I think that our golf course is always in really good shape,” said general manager Brian Stewart. “It’s a nice value for what you’re getting.” One of the most intriguing promotions is the all-inclusive golf package, which allows players access to complimentary breakfast before the round and lunch after the round. This is a seasonal promotion that usually runs during the early and late summer. (760) 328-1005 or tahquitzcreek.com. Indian Springs features a pretty,player-friendly track in Indio Since Indian Springs Golf and Country Club in Indio reopened in 2000, it has gained positive attention for its value and course conditions. “The course is very player-friendly and not real tight, but we have some small greens that run around 10 or 11 on the Stimpmeter,” said general manager and director of golf Neil Finch. For most of April and May, green fees don’t exceed $89, and when the summer months arrive, Indian Springs drops its rates to as low as $40. “It’s built for the masses,” Finch said. “We view ourselves as a daily-fee golf course, and a very nice one at that.” Indian Springs, which also has a modern clubhouse and Robbie T’s restaurant, periodically runs Internet specials and other promotions for guests and golfers. (760) 200-8988 or indianspringsgc.com. Palm Desert Golf Academy opens at Desert Willow The Firecliff and Mountain View courses at Desert Willow Golf Resort are two of the most heralded tracks in the Coachella Valley. The recent development of the Palm Desert Golf Academy only enhances that reputation. In addition to providing lessons and clinics, the academy has club-fitting and fitness programs, and the Titleist Performance Institute allows players to improve their games through superior physical conditioning. “Fitness has greatly improved our instruction. If there’s a swing fault, you can really find it in the player’s fitness evaluation,” said director of instruction Paul Bucy. Swing analysis tools and club-fitting options from major manufacturers also help golfers get the most out of their equipment. “We’re able to get properly fit equipment into our students’ hands and show them the benefits,” Bucy said. Palm Desert also offers a simmering summer deal where golfers who visit between June 1 and September 15 can play unlimited golf in a day (first round is guaranteed, all rounds thereafter are on standby) and get a $10 food voucher, a $10 merchandise voucher and a Desert Willow 10-year anniversary commemorative piece — all for $75. (760) 346-7060 or desertwillow.com. Golfers’ tall tales are rewarded at Shadow Hills Golf Club Indio’s Shadow Hills Golf Club booked more than 4,000 rounds in February, making it one of the busiest venues in the Coachella Valley. “This is one of the best courses in the area,” said general manager and head professional Eric Fisher. “Our friendly customer service also sets us apart.” The par-71 layout has its share of challenges and rewards quality shotmaking. The greens also are difficult, sporting plenty of speed and undulations. The bunkers at Shadow Hills appear to be shaped like whale tails when looking down the fairway from the tee box. While the views are interesting, balls that land in the bunkers can lead to precarious lies and stances. Despite these tests, the course is still very accessible. “It’s good for beginning players of all ages,” Fisher said. The sand traps have fostered a unique Internet promotion, where players can submit “Whale Tales” about their golfing experiences. If a player’s tale makes it online, he or she earns a free round at Shadow Hills. (760) 200-3375 or shadowhillsgolfclub.com. La Quinta Resort & Club continues to improve and impress After celebrating its 80th anniversary last year, the La Quinta Resort & Club remains one of the most renowned destinations in the country. Patrons have the opportunity to enjoy one of the most diverse golfing havens in the Coachella Valley, as five high-profile courses are available to the public. One of those tracks, the Mountain Course, recently underwent a significant renovation to enhance its playability and make it more sustainable. Among the improvements are renovations on all 18 tee boxes, greens resurfaced with Tif Dwarf Bermuda grass, and new cart paths. Three of the greens — those on the second, fifth, and sixth holes — were reshaped to provide more options for hole locations. “The main attraction to our guests and members is the reopening of the 16th championship tee, which has an incredible view of the valley,” said Brad Benkey, the general manager and PGA head professional. While each of the five tracks at La Quinta can play quite difficult from the tips, there are also more accessible tee options for beginners and higher-handicap players. The restructuring of the Mountain Course accompanies changes at the resort itself. Each of the 796 rooms will soon feature a 37-inch flat-screen television, new carpet and new furnishings by the end of 2007. (800) 598-3828 or laquintaresort.com. Desert Springs Marriott unveils major improvements One of the most famous destinations in the Coachella Valley, the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa recently unveiled a significant renovation to the facility’s main public areas. While the signature boat rides around the property have been preserved, water features were added around the porte-cochere to offer a more stunning appearance. Once guests and visitors enter the resort, they’ll find a renovated lobby with a 60-foot bar and a spacious Starbucks. The more modern appearance will be complemented by the opening of The Spa at Desert Springs this summer. The 38,000-square-foot facility will provide lush amenities including private suites, courtyards and a relaxation lounge. There will even be a health-conscious Spa Bistro. “What JW Marriott really stands for is approachable luxury in a progressive and hip environment,” said Matt Stewart, director of sales and marketing. While much of the resort property has changed, the 36 holes of golf remain unaltered. The Valley and Palms courses offer impressive scenery and an array of challenging tests. There is also The Greens, a fun 18-hole putting course. (760) 341-2211 or desertspringsresort.com. New ownership has Desert Dunes in quality condition The links-style layout of the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Desert Dunes Golf Club is one of the toughest tests in the Coachella Valley. Sloping, narrow fairways and undulating greens require accuracy off the tee and a deft putting stroke. The quality of the course has been restored thanks to a new ownership group that took over the course in late 2004. “We’re going back to the basics. This is where we’re supposed to be going,” said director of golf Olen Bartley. “We’re still paying very close attention to the greens.” Located in Desert Hot Springs, there are no residential developments or other busy centers next to Desert Dunes, maximizing the ability to concentrate and enjoy the experience. The course offers memberships for $179, which allows players to get 50 percent off green fees and discounts for guests. (760) 251-5370 or desertdunesgolf.com. Renovations ramping up at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa There are a lot of changes going on at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, but guests and locals won’t need hard hats to enjoy the facility’s amenities while the transition is in progress. “By the end of this fall, every part of the resort will have had some sort of restoration or renovation,” said vice president and general manager Victor Woo. “It always has been a popular resort, but it needed a facelift.” Thanks to a substantial injection of funds from new owner KSL Resorts, Rancho Las Palmas will have revised guest rooms, a revamped pool area, redesigned restaurants, state-of-the-art conference and meeting areas, and a new fitness center. The 27-hole facility has been rejuvenated thanks to a new irrigation system. With about 1,500 palm trees lining the holes, golfers can expect some difficult shots but also should find chances to post low scores. “I’ve got some members here that are 3 and 4 handicaps and some that are 36s and they all seem to enjoy the challenge [Rancho Las Palmas] offers,” said PGA director of golf Gary Lynk. Coinciding with the changes, Rancho Las Palmas has attractive specials. The Fore! For Four! package, accommodating a family of up to five, offers lodging, a one-hour golf clinic, unlimited golf, and free meals for up to three kids — all for $399 per night. There is also a Tee For Two package that offers one night accommodations and unlimited golf for two people at $349 per night ($399 on Friday and Saturday). (760) 568-2727 or rancholaspalmas.com. Hope Chrysler Classic steers toward SilverRock SilverRock Resort in La Quinta notched a major victory when it was named one of the venues in the rotation for the 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. “It’s nice to finally get the approval. It definitely validates our course,” said general manager and director of golf Randy Duncan. Even before SilverRock opened to the public in 2005, there was the intention of making it a PGA Tour-caliber course. When stretched to the tips, the par-72 track plays nearly 7,600 yards. Yet not every hole is designed for long hitters — the par-3 14th calls for a precise short iron off the tee, while par 4s such as the fifth and 10th holes don’t require length off the tee for birdie opportunities. “On almost every hole here you feel like you can reach out and touch the mountains,” Duncan said. A national audience will be able to catch a glimpse of the course early next year, although what they see will still be a work in progress. Another 18-hole layout is slated to open at SilverRock in the coming years. (760) 777-8884 or silverrock.org. Club Achilles offers golfers an indoor playground Imagine having a business lunch, hitting a bucket of balls and playing a top-notch course — all under one roof. It’s possible at La Quinta’s Club Achilles, where amazing amenities and a cozy environment have created a playground for golfers. “This is something no one else in the desert offers. It’s an opportunity to expand your golfing experience,” said president Craig Geraci. Seven simulator stations give golfers a detailed analysis of their swing while allowing them to “play” a world-famous course. Bays have four hitting surfaces — regular turf, simulated rough, simulated fringe and a simulated bunker, and there is a 1,200-square-foot putting green, where speed and breaks are varied to enhance the practice experience. There also are leagues for golfers who want to compete on the simulators. “It’s kind of like a bowling league, but it’s just done with golf,” Geraci said. Club Achilles also has a gym, conference room and grill, with membership opportunities ranging from one-day passes to annual agreements. The facility opens daily at 9 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. (760) 564-9112 or clubachilles.com. Golfers get great views, value at Escena Golf Club Escena Golf Club, which opened in late 2005, is one of the top new courses in the Coachella Valley. Rated as the best value in Palm Springs by the February 2007 issue of Golf Magazine, Escena is a Nicklaus Design layout constructed in a magnificent setting. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains provide some of the most striking views, while the quality of the course also produces excellent scenery. There are four sets of tees at the par-72 track, with the tournament set stretching nearly 7,200 yards and the forward tees playing about 5,500 yards. Perhaps the most daunting test is the first hole, a lengthy par-5 that even the most powerful hitters will have difficulty reaching in two. While the course is maturing nicely, the property at Escena is also filling out. A clubhouse is slated to open this summer. Also, up to 1,450 residences are planned, and the style of the homes will conjure images of classic Spanish and more recent architecture of historic Palm Springs. “Now, with home sales under way, it is becoming the desert oasis it was envisioned to be,” said Dan Cady, director of marketing for Lennar Communities, master developer of Escena Palm Springs in partnership with the Empire Companies. (760) 778-2737 or escenagolf.com. Terra Lago is home to two legendary tracks The Golf Club at Terra Lago has some of the most famous holes in the Coachella Valley, and its recent name change has allowed it to assume a fresh and momentous identity. Formerly Landmark Golf Club, Terra Lago has two 18-hole tracks — the North and South. The old course was the site of the Skins Game from 1999-2002, and the holes from that event have been divided among each of the layouts. The North has two of the most memorable tests from the event. One is the par-3 15th, which calls for a precise iron to an island green. The other is the par-4 18th, with water hugging almost the entire left side of the fairway and green. With a few more bunkers, the South plays slightly more difficult than the North. Challenges aside, both courses have been reinvigorated with improved drainage under the guidance of superintendent Tom Russell. “He’s really done a fantastic job and gotten the courses in great shape,” said general manager Josh Smith. Russell and his staff did an especially solid job preparing Terra Lago for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America National Championship, which was held in February. “[The superintendents] were very impressed, we really had nothing but compliments,” Smith said. (760) 775-2000 or golfclub-terralago.com. Skins tees put golfers to the test at Trilogy As the home to the Skins Game each of the past four years, Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta has established itself as one of the most high-profile venues in the Coachella Valley. In May, Trilogy will host some of the top players in Southern California when the Golden State Tour stops for a three-day tournament. “There’s a lot of good players out there, so hopefully the course offers a good challenge,” said director of sales and marketing Bob Veroulis. Trilogy can be a test for skilled players, but it’s also accessible to beginners. The par-72 track plays nearly 7,200 yards from the “Skins” tees and slightly less than 5,000 yards from the forward tee. Bunkers and water hazards dot the landscape, but they’re not too penal to make a round unenjoyable. “It’s not overwhelming. You don’t have to fly it to the green all of the time,” Veroulis said. “There are spots where you can roll the ball up and there are also bail-out areas.” The scenery of the Santa Rose Mountains is complemented by pristine course conditions, making Trilogy one of the more rewarding experiences in the area. (760) 771-0707 or trilogygolfclub.com/laquinta. |
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