Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
 |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Courses
|
||||
 Built by the Berger Foundation and gifted to the tournament as a means to streamline charitable contributions, the course is first rate in every aspect. FEEL LIKE A PRO Since we played a few weeks after the Hope, everything from the practice facility through the 18th hole was beautiful and in PGA Tour condition. Colorful desert flowers, native vegetation and detailed landscaping are noticeable everywhere, as are the cascading waterfalls that turn into lakes and streams throughout the layout. Water comes into play on 14 holes, but it doesn't feel excessive and almost seems natural in this desert oasis. STRAIGHT SHOOTER The black tees measure 7,305 yards on the scorecard, but when we played the course it wasn't tipped out - the starter told us the layout was stretched to just over 6,600 yards. It made for an interesting combination of hole lengths. The course is straightforward, so what you see is what you get. The complimentary yardage book was extremely useful in navigating the many bunkers and water hazards. Just make certain you're judging the distances from the correct tee box. While the greens don't have severe undulations, pin locations make players think about their approach shots. A good example is the 180-yard, par-3 second hole, where the back portion of the putting surface is sloped in a way that makes any putt not coming from below the hole extremely difficult. One of the more strategic holes on the course is the 581-yard, par-5 ninth. The fairway bends hard to the right, and a lake protects the left side of the fairway near the green, which makes players think about their second shots. The 162-yard 12th hole is a stunner that gives any par-3 hole in the desert a run for its money in the beauty department. This postcard of a hole plays entirely over water, with a waterfall decorating the right side of the green and a large bunker guarding the left. The toughest test for our group was the 398-yard, par-4 16th hole. By early afternoon, strong wind gusts had arrived, making even solid drives hit in certain directions travel only 200 yards. With the fairway curling to the right around a large lake and the wind blowing across it, our approach strategy was an exercise in seeing how far left of the hole we could start our shots without having them end up in the water. It's a hole that summarizes the entire experience at The Classic Club - beautiful and brutally challenging. RATES AND MORE INFORMATION Rates at The Classic Club top out at $175 during the week and $195 on weekends through the prime season. Greens fees dip down a sliding scale in April and drop each month until the summer rate of $75 during the week and $85 on weekends and holidays begins on June 9. Practice balls on the all-grass range are complimentary, and forecaddies are available to all rack-rate-paying customers between November and April. SG For more information or to book a tee time, call (760) 601-3601 or visit classicclubgolf.com. |
||||
RSS Subscribe