Buddies Trip in Palm Springs ...Course Suggestions

[DukeOfChinoHills]

I'm in charge of booking the course for our annual buddies trip in mid-May. We play 36 holes a day for three days straight. I need some suggestions for our final day (which is a Saturday). This is what is already on tap:

 

THURSDAY

Gary Player Signature Course then Escena

 

FRIDAY

Indian Wells Celebrity then Indian Wells Players

 

SATURDAY

?????? then ??????

 

 

Classic Club, Shadow Ridge, Indian Canyons, and Eagle Falls are all in the mix. We haven't played CC or SR in probably four /five years, and we've never played IC or EF. What do you all think?

[mikedejong]

My favourites are IW Celebrity and Players and you are playing those, which is great. I really like Eagle Falls. It's a fun course and the greens are usually awesome. There is nothing super close to it worth playing for a 36 hole day (as far as I know). You could race back up the highway and play Classic Club. Or 36 at PGA West, Nicklaus and Stadium, or Norman are all good.

[PepsiDuck]

I'd schedule Classic Club in the morning followed by Shadow Ridge in the afternoon. Classic tends to get unreasonably windy in the afternoon, so it's a lot more fun to play in the morning. Then grab lunch and drive about 10 minutes over to Shadow. They are probably the two courses that are the closest together, so you won't waste a lot of time driving between them. The distances between some of the courses in the Palm Springs/La Quinta area are deceptively long... And around this time of year, they are usually in excellent condition.

 

Otherwise, I'd recommend a twofer at PGA West (Nick tournament and stadium).

[twofour]

Doing a similar trip in April. My itinerary so far looks like this:

 

Wednesday 19th

Stadium Course then Indian Wells Celebrity

 

Thursday 20th

Classic Course then potentially Marriott Shadow or Desert Willow

 

Friday 21st

Escena

 

If anybody has an feedback on my trip or ideas on deals for these courses, let me know.

[Upper Michigan]

I've payed dessert willows and shadow ridge plenty of times. I'm making my annual trip in May. If I had to choose I would probably pick dessert willows. Shadow ridge is a good course too but dessert willows in my opinion is a little more fun and better for scoring. dessert willows also has the better bar/restaurant.

 

Classic club is my favorite course in the area. I love the layout. Fun, pretty holes, challenging, nice range, it covers all the bases. I always recommend classic club. There's only one hole that I don't like (no. 10). The second shot can be challenging, water right and back with a hill on the left side. Need to be precise with the second shot. But play it in the morning, the wind can blow pretty strong in the afternoon.

[North Texas]

Have never played the Classic Club but from what I read on here it's definitely a course you would want to try and fit in the schedule somehow.

 

Here are some quick thoughts on the courses I have played in Palm Springs.

Missions Hills Tournament Course - My favorite course in Palm Springs. I have never played better greens anywhere.

Desert Willow Firecliff - A really good course. Was not as penal as what I had expected.

Eagle Falls - Just a really fun course to play. It is a little bit of drive to get there.

Silver Rock - Another fun course along the mountain side with a few quirky holes I thought.

PGA West Norman - A good, fun course. Don't know how it compares to the other PGA West courses but you probably wouldn't go wrong with any of them. Would be the most convenient as far as playing 36 in one day for sure.

[TravelingGolfSticks]

Just played there last week (Sunday and Monday). Played mission hills Tournament and Palmer courses and PGA West Stadium. Loved the MH Tournament course and PGA West Stadium. And North Texas is right about the greens, never played any better in my life. Still trying to get the speed back at my home course after those speedy greens.

[bradski]

I like the idea of Classic and then shadow Ridge or firecliff course, these are all really close and as mentioned above try Classic early to avoid wind.

 

Indian canyons is in great shape and the south course reviews really well, but, it is super easy. I wouldn't recommend it if you are under a 20 handicap.

 

Other possible

Silver rock then pga west stadium or nicklaus or norman

 

lunch in the area near desert willow Grill-a- burger.

[DukeOfChinoHills]

SilverRock's back-9 is closed for major renovations. Playing the front-9 twice didn't appeal to our group.

[Schley]

When I lived in So Cal, would always do the stay and plays in the summer either the Westin Mission Hills or the La Quinta Resort for the PGA West courses.

 

I love PGA West Stadium/Nicklaus Tournament courses as they are next to each other and in some years we paid $99 for 2 days of unlimited golf and a night in the La Quinta Resort! Awesome deal.