Palm Springs Super Bowl 2020

Hello team!!

This forum has been great info in the past for me so I figured I’d let you all help me plan this go around. I am vacationing in SoCal (San Diego) for two weeks from Vancouver, Canada and then heading over to meet three friends, also from Vancouver, in Palm Springs for Super Bowl weekend. We are all early 30s and looking for a break from the regular guys trip where golf takes a back seat to the partying. Flights and accommodations are still moving parts but here’s what our itinerary looks like so far.

THURSDAY I drive from San Diego, pickup 1-3 of the guys at airport, flight arriving at 1230pm. Straight to a course to try and jam in a twilight round. I understand it’s probably dark by 5pm?? Thinking Escena has had decent reviews and close to airport? Head to AirBNB.

FRIDAY. Golf. Once or twice if possible. My thought is to play somewhere with more than one course on property to allow for 36. I have been told to prepare for frost delays and early darkness so this could be tough.

SATURDAY. Morning-mid morning golf. Saturday night decent dinner out and maybe a stint at a local watering hole for the single guys in our group.

SUNDAY I won’t pledge my allegiance to my team just yet in fear of bad guidance but if they are playing in the big game it will be an early or non existent round before settling in. Plan is to have an AirBNB suitable to watch the game in. 4 guys and any leftover guests from Saturday night. Order/make food and enjoy.

MONDAY. Flight home is at 4pm meaning airport about 2pm to allow car drop off. Would think that a 930am tee time should be doable depending on distance from airport.

Personally I played 3 rounds in Palm Springs in January of this year. Classic Club, PGA West Stadium(during set up for tourney) and SilverRock. Loved C.C., it poured rain at SilverRock but really like the course and PGA west was a must play because of the tourney setting but it was underwhelming especially for the price tag.

This time around I’m open to all options but really would like to play Firecliff. Maybe Desert Willow is the way to go for the 36 hole day? Wouldn’t hate doing SilverRock and C.C. again.

Of course I would love to get onto BigHorn or The Quarry and if there is any possibility of that I am all ears. Will have my local course pro send an email on my behalf but if there is any WRX expert insight into this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Criticism?

Your Northern Brethren

I just got back from a week out there, check out Indian Wells for a double also, players course is awesome. We played Shadow Ridge last day, nice course, good set up. I am planning to go back in early March

Just for your information and I don’t think it will effect your plans, but for the past few years a business booked the whole Desert Willow resort for Saturday and Sunday of Super Bowl weekend.

Classic Club usually hosts a 8:30am shotgun on Super Bowl Sunday that I have played in several times. It is a very well run event and pace of play is very good.

Figured I’d revisit this to see if anyone can add.

itinerary sofar

Thursday IW players in afternoon when the first of the group lands. Others get in late

friday FireCliff am.... maybe Lights at Indio in PM? Worth playing?

saturday PGAWest Nicklaus (stadium just too damn expensive)

sunday. Having problems with this round. Needs to be early enough so we can get home for the game. Thinking 8-9am tee time. Missed the boat on classic club and not a lot of options.

looking at maybe Mission Hills? Worth it? Gary player course on a golf site. Anyone played here?

monday we fly out at 4 so thinking a 830/9am round at Classic Club or Escena.

thoughts? Suggestions?

Slim pickings Sunday make Mission Hills Gary Player is a good choice. Some people knock the course because it runs through housing but I enjoyed it. Escena is a Nicklaus design course right next to the airport. No range though. Great conditions. Should be inexpensive. Classic Club is Troon management tip top from arrival to finishing your round you are catered to. Your highest end option but also highly expensive $150+. I played all the courses mentioned here in the past during the cheaper summer months for $30 (Escena) to $100 (Classic Club) and all the PGA ones for around $40 each using Golfnow Hot Deal times (sometimes with coupon codes/rewards discounts).

I'd skip Lights at Indio. It's pitch and putt.

Thanks for the replies guys.

played IW Players, FireCliff and Nicklaus so far. Pete Dye at the Westin tomorrow and classic club early Monday to round out the trip. So far it’s been awesome! Played Rams Hill on the way in. Incredible. Will do a full review when I’m home and sober.

Nice. I think you'll enjoy the Pete Dye track too. And you already hit some top courses. IW is amazing.