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The
Golf Club at Escena Palm
Coachella Valley golf: Springs is the city’s first new golf
property in 20 years.
still booming
The Classic Club heads the list of golf
courses making their debuts this year in T he flood tide that has seen the number of golf cours-
es in the Palm Springs and Coachella Valleys swell
to more than 120 continues to rise with several new
the Southern California desert entries to this golf mecca making their debuts this year.
Heading the list is THE CLASSIC CLUB, located north
of I-10 between Cook and Washington Sts., which will be
unveiled this month as the permanent home of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope
By Katie Denbo Chrysler Classic, thanks to an unprecedented donation from the H.N. & Francis
C. Berger Foundation. It’s the first time a PGA Tour event has owned its own
course. After the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic finishes (it runs January 18-22), the
Classic Course, designed by Arnold Palmer, will open to public play on Jan. 26.
COURSE INFORMATION: More than three million cubic yards of dirt were moved to sculpt the 220-
THE CLASSIC CLUB acre layout, which contains lots of spazce for the thousands of spectators that will
City: Palm Desert; Green Fees: $250 peak
season (January 26-April 9), $225 (April 10- attend the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic each year. Despite its desert location, palm
April 30); summer prices TBD trees are absent; instead, nearly 4,800 pine, olive and California pepper trees pro-
Web: www.bhcc.com vide shade (and obstacles). The design also features nearly 30 acres of water haz-
Telephone: (760) 345-5009 ards, in play on 13 of the 18 holes of the course, and 14 stone bridges through-
THE GOLF CLUB AT ESCENA out the property. A 66,000-square-foot clubhouse is scheduled to open this fall.
City: Palm Springs; Green Fees: $45-105 High-caliber golfers are tested by the 7,305 yard championship tees, while
Web: www.escenapalmsprings.com
Telephone: (760) 778-2737 regular and senior tees are set at 6,947 and 6,467, respectively. Among the many
THE GOLF RESORT AT INDIAN WELLS
memorable holes, most people will probably remember the par-three 12th hole
City: Indian Wells; Green Fees: $40-135 (this issue’s front cover image).
Web: www.golfresortatindianwells.com Although The Classic Club will have some residences, the entire north side
Telephone: (760) 346-4653 is bounded by a preserve, providing unobstructed views of the San Jacinto
DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT Mountains.
City: Palm Desert; Green Fees: $45-165
Web: www.desertwillow.com
Telephone: (800) 320-3323
M any of the Coachella Valley’s courses are centerpieces of larger residential
communities. Incorporating an old-world feel into modern-day styling,
THE GOLF CLUB AT ESCENA PALM SPRINGS is one of the latest in that trend. The
SILVERROCK RESORT course, which opened for play two months ago, is the first new public golf prop-
City: La Quinta; Green Fees: $30-160
Web: www.silverrock.org erty in Palm Springs in 20 years. A Nicklaus Design, Escena is inspired by clas-
Telephone: (760) 777-8884 sic early 20th-century golf courses, adorned with Mexican fan palms, pepper trees
SHADOW HILLS GOLF CLUB: and other native species.
City: Indio; Green Fees: $44-109 The par-72 course’s back tees boast 7,173 yards of wide fairways for those
Web: www.shadowhillsgolfclub.com seeking to test their abilities, while forward tees set at just over 6,000 yards pro-
Telephone: (760) 200-3375 vide enjoyable play for others. Sparse landscaping means errant tee shots are eas-
36 FORE Magazine • January/February 2006
ily found if they didn’t land on one of
the small 2-to-1 greens (greens that are
twice as wide as they are long or vice-
versa) or in one of the small bunkers.
Lakes and streams are abundant on the
172-acre parcel, and the property is Marriott’s
framed by the dominant vistas of the Shadow Ridge Resort is
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. the Valley’s most prominent
“Everything about Escena Golf Club was designed to complement, not com- time-share property.
pete with, the natural scenic beauty of this dramatic terrain,” says Joseph L.
Fairchild, vice president of Empire Companies. “The color scheme, architectur-
al palette and native vegetation were all selected to create a look and feel that is
both tranquil and inviting.”
Later in the year, a modern, Jetson’s-style clubhouse, including a
restaurant and dining room, large terrace lounge, locker rooms and golf
shop, will open as well.
W hile new courses continue to spring up, many well-known cours-
es are undergoing regeneration. Among those is THE GOLF
RESORT AT INDIAN WELLS, in the city of Indian Wells, which
embarked on a $45 million renovation project in 2005. Even before
the overhaul, the facility has long been a favorite place for golfers of
many skill levels and backgrounds throughout its 20-year history.
Proclaimed one of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play, 2004-2005,” the
two Ted Robinson-designed par-72 courses, East and West, sport
mature trees, lakes and island greens. Enter golf course architects Clive
Clark (The Hideaway) and John Fought (The Farms) who are in
charge of the redesigns of the West and East Courses, respectively.
Already underway, the West Course’s revamp is scheduled to be
completed in November 2006. At 6,500 yards, the new design antici- Shadow
pates several lakes, creeks and waterfalls, and Clark’s rework includes elongated Hills Golf Club features
fairways and the re-routing of 15 of the holes. Remodeling of the 6,631-yard East
Course will begin upon completion of its sister course. Fought plans to widen a new back nine and unique
fairways for ease but add interest to approach shots with undulating topography. bunker design.
The entire facility, including a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and an improved
practice area, is slated to reopen in December of 2007.
A lso acknowledged as one of the top public facilities in the country,
DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT in Palm Desert boasts two championship
golf courses. Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Golf World magazine’s 1997 Architect of the
HOTEL CONTACTS:
INDIAN PALMS COUNTRY CLUB & RESORT
Year, and Dana Fry (with consulting from PGA Tour player John Cook) designed City: Indio; Green Fees: $25-80
Web: www.indianpalms.com
Desert Willow with a one-two punch of technical and artistic qualities. The Telephone: (760) 775-4444
7,056-yard-long Firecliff course maneuvers players through more than 100
LA QUINTA RESORT
bunkers and waste areas, numerous water features and natural landscaping. City: La Quinta; Green Fees:
Mountain View, Desert Willow’s other layout, measures 6,913 yards from the tips Dunes/Mountains courses $40-235
with half as many bunkers. Web: www.laquintaresort.com
Telephone: (800) 598-3828
L a Quinta introduced SILVERROCK RESORT, another Palmer-designed course,
in early 2005. After some significant irrigation reconstruction due to last win-
ter’s heavy rains, SilverRock is slated to become one of the regular courses in the
MARRIOTT’S SHADOW RIDGE GOLF CLUB
City: Palm Desert; Green Fees: $145
Web: www.marriottsshadowridge.com
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic rotation next year. Telephone: (866) 742-3696
SilverRock measures 7,553 yards from the back tees, but with six sets of tee
WESTIN MISSION HILLS RESORT
boxes, it’s also accommodating for higher-handicap players. The length is only City: Rancho Mirage; Green Fees: $70-145
one challenge golfers will encounter; false green fronts, heavily-guarded fairways Web: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/resorts
and hazards require accuracy on virtually every shot. Telephone: (760) 328-5955
FORE Magazine • January/February 2006 37
A cross I-10 in Indio, a new back nine added in the fall of 2005 completes
SHADOW HILLS GOLF CLUB. Combined with the front nine (complet-
ed in November of 2004) Shadow Hills now totals 6,800 yards from the
tournament tees. The design team of Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley (who
have designed dozens of Southern California courses) made effective use of
the desert terrain, and the course offers commanding views of the Coachella
The Valley. The new nine introduced the “Whale Tail” bunker design at the par-
City of Indian 71 course, which offers a unique look from the tee and approach shot to the
Wells started a $45 mil- green. Approach shots at Shadow Hills are aimed at medium-sized greens, demand-
lion renovation, including ing accuracy due to their undulations.
work on The Golf Resort
at Indian Wells.
A nother La Quinta club is ANDALUSIA COUNTRY CLUB, set in the middle of the
Andalusia at Coral Mountain project. The 7,460-yard, par 72 East Course (and
soon-to-be-completed West Course) feature 700 transplanted palm trees and
The Classic Course (right) will sparkling water features, including one on the East’s 200-yard, par-3 seventh hole.
be the new home of the The courses mark the Valley’s debut of architect Rees Jones (Santaluz), who oversaw
Bob Hope Chrysler the redesign of Torrey Pines GC’s South Course. “If I had to wait so long to develop
Classic. a course in the Coachella Valley,” Jones said, “I waited for the right one.”
FORE’s Coachella Valley Great Golf Destinations
INDIO INDIO
18 Holes
Always
Available
An Palms Country Cluban Resortfilled withunique golf experience.
unexpected find in oasis
& offers a
golf destinations, Indian
• 27 holes of championship golf
• Onsite restaurant
• 59-room boutique hotel
• Fitness center
• Special event/banquet facilities
Two night stay and play packages starting I NDIAN PALMS
at $186 per person. Special discounts C OUNTRY C LUB
for group and tournament play; & R ESORT
call for more information. 800-778-5288
48-630 Monroe Street; Indio, CA 92201 www.IndianPalms.com
38 FORE Magazine • January/February 2006
A bove them all (at least in an elevation
sense) is the STONE EAGLE CLUB, at an
elevation of 1,000 feet in the Santa Rosa
Mountains. No homes obstruct the pano-
ramic views of the Coachella Valley, just one
of course’s many unique features.
Stone Eagle marks the California debut
of Tom Doak, a golf writer-turned-designer
whose designs include Pacific Dunes GC at
Bandon Dunes Resort. Lowe Destination
Development, which was also responsible
for The Reserve in Indian Wells, used a min-
imalistic approach to preserve and integrate
the desert surroundings. Doak added
rough-edged bunkers and used natural
rolling hills to provide unique viewing and
playing experiences. Trees are scarce, at best,
but native low-lying brush and plants dot SilverRock
the landscape and cart paths are hidden. Resort will also be a
In an unusual, yet enjoyable twist, Doak added a 19th hole to the course, a 167-yard par- regular stop for the Bob
3 hole nestled beneath the first tee and 18th green. It serves as the perfect place to warm up Hope Chrysler Classic.
before a round, settle tied matches or play off for drinks on the way back to the clubhouse.
Although the par-71 course is set at 6,976 from the back tees, players who prefer to play a
shorter game are accommodated by forwards set down to 5,145 yards.
With several new projects on the horizon, the Coachella Valley golf tide will continue to
rise. And the best thing for SCGA members is that it’s just a short drive away.
— Katie Denbo is a USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern working with FORE Magazine
S P E C I A L A DV E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N • DIRECT LINKS FROM OUR WEBSITE: w w w. s c g a . o rg / g r e a t g o l f
INDIAN WELLS L A Q U I N TA
The Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock Resort measures 7553
yards and is the longest layout in the Palm Springs area. In addition, it
is a future home of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic begin-
ning as early as 2007. Opened in early 2005, this layout is situated
right at the base of Santa Rosa and Coral Mountains, resulting in
postcard-quality photos, with gorgeous backdrops and surrounding
vistas. Combined with outstanding conditioning from tee to green and
wonderful service, SilverRock provides
one of the most memorable golfing
experiences in La Quinta – or anywhere!
79-179 Ahmanson Lane
La Quinta, CA 92253
1-888-600-7272
1-760-777-8884
www.silverrock.org
FORE Magazine • January/February 2006 39
Stay. Play. Get away.
W hether it’s a luxury vacation or a quaint week of golf and relaxation, the
Coachella Valley also offers an assortment of options for every lifestyle
and budget.
Consider, for example, INDIAN PALMS COUNTRY CLUB AND RESORT in
Indio. “Our resort is for people who appreciate the value we offer with our
lodging, golf and the fitness center,” says Mark Scheibach, general manager
of Indian Palms. “We work constantly to be the best value in the desert.”
Rich in Valley history, Indian Palms dates back to 1935, when aviatrix Jackie
The Cochran and businessman husband Floyd Odlum bought the land and built
a ranch house and their residence, both still in use today. Nine holes of golf
Dunes Course were built as well (the second-oldest course in the Palm Springs Valley) to
(top) is available to entertain friends such as Marilyn Monroe, President John F. Kennedy, and
guests at La Quinta Resort. Cochran’s close friend, Amelia Earhart.
Indian Palms Country Club With a bar, restaurant, golf and fitness center on site, no car is necessary while at the resort, and
and Resort offers top value 27 holes of golf are mere steps from the European boutique-style hotel. The course, which Schei-
bach redesigned in a project completed last fall, offers up to 6,630 yards from the back tees and fea-
and rich history. tures new greens, new bunkers and new hazards. “The condition of the greens are really good, very
fair and puttable,” Scheibach says. “It’s a thinking golf course.
It’s not gonna beat you up, but it’s a fair challenge.”
FORE’s Great Golf Destinations
PA L M D E S E R T
Packages start at as low as $186, and are tailor-made to the
guest’s wants and needs. The resort hopes to embark on a $65
million renovation project in the fall, which would include
construction of a new hotel, new condominiums and the
realignment of five of the course’s holes.
Only miles down the road but worlds apart, LA QUINTA
RESORT AND CLUB has long been a favorite destination for
not only many of Hollywood’s famous faces but those with
discerning tastes in both golf and relaxation.
Built in 1926 and celebrating its 80th anniversary this
year, guests have their choices of many amenities and accom-
modations, including casitas, suites or spa villas. Among the
resort’s many packages are the Best in the West option for the
passionate golfer, which offers unlimited golf on five champi-
onship courses, including La Quinta Resort’s Mountain and
Dunes Courses and PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course.
Players receive unlimited use of practice facilities on game
day, shared cart and club storage, resort casita accommoda-
esert Willow has become the crown jewel of desert golf with
D two phenomenally manicured championship courses, on site
teaching facilities for individuals, couples, or groups, plus a
tions and breakfast for two.
Among the hundreds of hotels in the Coachella Valley,
several, including the stylish WESTIN MISSION HILLS RESORT,
dramatic clubhouse with all the amenities and service of an
have golf courses on property (the Westin’s courses are
exclusive private club. Yet this award-winning facility is a
public access club, and all are designed by Pete Dye and Gary Player). Others make arrange-
welcome. ments with many of the public access courses in the Valley.
One unique property is MARRIOTT’S SHADOW RIDGE
38-995 Desert Willow Drive RESORT, one of three J.W. Marriott properties in the Valley.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
With the area’s only Nick Faldo-designed golf course as its
760/346-7060 centerpiece, Shadow Ridge is a time-share development.- KD
www.desertwillow.com
40 FORE Magazine • January/February 2006
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