Palm Springs Teaser continued for 2024 Golf Vacations

[Socrates]

7 hours ago, ZipinZ said:

March 21 .... another rain/wind day in the desert, I imagine the roads in/out Palm Springs will be closed again if we get the 1/2"-3/4" forecast.

 

You should contact the local Chamber of Commerce and ask for a partial refund on your vacation. 🙄  They certainly haven't been able to provide the usual "Chamber of Commerce" weather this year.

[ZipinZ]

1 hour ago, Socrates said:

You should contact the local Chamber of Commerce and ask for a partial refund on your vacation. 🙄  They certainly haven't been able to provide the usual "Chamber of Commerce" weather this year.

 

This was the local NEWS headline .... "California is facing its 12th atmospheric river this winter following a historic drought". It sure rained hard this morning, not many CDN's out golfing, the locals all stayed home.

 

Could be worst, sure am happy we don't rent out in Desert Hot Springs, those residents are hit hard with road closures in/out of Palm Springs area.

 

Weather is improving, I'm hoping to use my 50% off cert to play PGA West - Stadium next week most likely for the last time, decided I'm not volunteering at the AMEX tourney & can't justify paying $300.00 for green fees. 

 

I see it's starting to warm up back home, driving ranges should be opening soon in Calgary, I'm sure some will be following in WPG.

 

Cheers

 

D.

 

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by ZipinZ

[ZipinZ]

Desert Willow .... March/April -10% off Discount Code # DGDMA23

 

 

[Lukin1977]

Have been following this topic for a bit, great info and pics guys.

 

My trip is getting closer, April 29. Playing the following...

 

PGA West - Mountain, Stadium, Nicklaus, Norman

Desert Willow - Firecliff

Indian Wells - Players and Celebrity 

Classic Club

Shadow Ridge

 

Will add a couple more, DW Mountain and maybe SilverRock. Is it still worth playing even with construction issues going on? Can't think of anything else I want to play. Maybe Indian Canyons South?

 

Waiting to see via a contact if I can get on Tradition. 

 

Also JFYI some of the PGA West courses are shutting from May 1 for some restoration work I believe.

[ZipinZ]

1 hour ago, Lukin1977 said:

Have been following this topic for a bit, great info and pics guys.

 

My trip is getting closer, April 29. Playing the following...

 

PGA West - Mountain, Stadium, Nicklaus, Norman

Desert Willow - Firecliff

Indian Wells - Players and Celebrity 

Classic Club

Shadow Ridge

 

Will add a couple more, DW Mountain and maybe SilverRock. Is it still worth playing even with construction issues going on? Can't think of anything else I want to play. Maybe Indian Canyons South?

 

Waiting to see via a contact if I can get on Tradition. 

 

Also JFYI some of the PGA West courses are shutting from May 1 for some restoration work I believe.

 

That's some list all excellent choices, you must be staying for a couple of weeks. From what I've seen & read, I would leave SilverRock until your next trip when the major construction is completed. 

 

Others I really enjoy & worth considering are Escena, Indian Canyons South Fantasy Springs/Eagle Falls and of course if your prepared to drive 1.5 hrs look at Rams Hill out in Borrego Springs.  Page 22 has "Index" with reviews & pic's.

 

Were expecting another big blow & more rain & temps in mid-60's on March 29/30th, hopefully the storm systems will be over & the wind/rain will stop for your trip to the desert.

 

Cheers

 

David

[Lukin1977]

1 hour ago, ZipinZ said:

 

That's some list all excellent choices, you must be staying for a couple of weeks. From what I've seen & read, I would leave SilverRock until your next trip when the major construction is completed. 

 

Others I really enjoy & worth considering are Escena, Indian Canyons South Fantasy Springs/Eagle Falls and of course if your prepared to drive 1.5 hrs look at Rams Hill out in Borrego Springs.  Page 22 has "Index" with reviews & pic's.

 

Were expecting another big blow & more rain & temps in mid-60's on March 29/30th, hopefully the storm systems will be over & the wind/rain will stop for your trip to the desert.

 

Cheers

 

David

 

Thanks... yes will be there a few weeks. Coming from overseas so who knows if we will be back so that's why I thought might be worth playing Silver Rock, especially for the mountain side holes. 

Will be late April so I'm expecting nothing but sun and warm weather!

[ZipinZ]

8 hours ago, Lukin1977 said:

 

Thanks... yes will be there a few weeks. Coming from overseas so who knows if we will be back so that's why I thought might be worth playing Silver Rock, especially for the mountain side holes. 

Will be late April so I'm expecting nothing but sun and warm weather!

 

I still plan to play PGA West Stadium before we depart on April 15th, I'll try to get over to SilverRock and see the const progress & take a few pic's & update.

[ZipinZ]

March 26 - Played vacation tourist this afternoon & attended music in the park at Sunnylands & listened to a performance by the local  .... Greg Jones Band who did a Tribute to "The Music of Ray Charles".  The place was full to capacity, excellent music .... now you'll be singin Georgia on my Mind in your head the remainder of the evening.

 

Beautiful property just off Bob Hope ... link.  https://sunnylands.org/

 

A few pic's ... Cheers  D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[So_Cal]

On 3/22/2023 at 2:19 PM, ZipinZ said:

Desert Willow .... March/April -10% off Discount Code # DGDMA23

 

 

Saw they’re asking $228 rack?  Wow. Played there a couple years ago for about $80.  Nice track but are things really that nuts in the desert?

[ZipinZ]

14 hours ago, So_Cal said:

Saw they’re asking $228 rack?  Wow. Played there a couple years ago for about $80.  Nice track but are things really that nuts in the desert?

 

Yes .... this year every course I play at increased the green fees significantly, it's getting very expensive for hotels, condo/house/car rentals, meals & golf. There aren't all that many good deals on GolfNow or other discount forums. It's hitting us Cdn's even harder, our dollar is only $0.73, we pay a 30% premium compared to the Greenback. Don't see it getting any cheaper next year. I'm enjoying it while I can, because you can't take it with you.

 

Cheers

 

D. 

[ZipinZ]

On 3/25/2023 at 11:41 PM, Lukin1977 said:

 

Thanks... yes will be there a few weeks. Coming from overseas so who knows if we will be back so that's why I thought might be worth playing Silver Rock, especially for the mountain side holes. 

Will be late April so I'm expecting nothing but sun and warm weather!

 

I was out at PGA West today, stopped at SilverRock.  It's a major construction site, that will most likely take another 2 or more years to complete. I was there around 11:30, the parking lot was packed, very few parking spots left, either they're all La Quinta residents or tourists playing here. The ProShop is a couple of ATCO Const Trailers & the restaurant is still were it was but limited parking. It looks like they relocated the driving/practice range to the far east side of the property .... the place is a mess, I wouldn't pay $215.00 to play here next week.

 

Took a bunch of pic's .... enjoy.

 

Cheers

 

David.

 

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's the Pro-Shop ....

 

 

 

This is their Restaurant -Lounge area ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2023 by ZipinZ

[So_Cal]

28 minutes ago, ZipinZ said:

 

Yes .... this year every course I play at increased the green fees significantly, it's getting very expensive for hotels, condo/house/car rentals, meals & golf. There aren't all that many good deals on GolfNow or other discount forums. It's hitting us Cdn's even harder, our dollar is only $0.73, we pay a 30% premium compared to the Greenback. Don't see it getting any cheaper next year. I'm enjoying it while I can, because you can't take it with you.

 

Cheers

 

D. 

Sounds like they’ve priced the normal guy out.  That’s fine as long as they can fill the tee times.  I don’t see this lasting forever.  Have fun down there.  

[ZipinZ]

1 hour ago, So_Cal said:

Sounds like they’ve priced the normal guy out.  That’s fine as long as they can fill the tee times.  I don’t see this lasting forever.  Have fun down there.  

 

Tks .... I've started to notice that there are a number of vacant T-times during peak hours, however, after 1:00 the green fee's are reduced and there isn't many available unless your a single. I'm starting to see more & more people booking at 3:00 pm and hoping to get as many holes in as possible before dark which is just after 7:00 pm these days.

 

Today I played PGA West - Stadium, had a great round broke 80. The starter said it was a slow morning not many playing until the afternoon it was very busy.

 

Stadium green fee's for this Thursday .... a bit unaffordable for most, including me.

 

Cheers

 

D.

 

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by ZipinZ

[vernon]

The pro shop was in that trailer when we stopped by there three years ago last month.  The place was an absolute disaster then and doesn't really look much different in your photos then it did in 2020.

 

Really a shame as we absolutely loved that place pre-construction.

 

As for the "new" pricing I'm afraid we might have seen the last of the desert on that 2020 trip.

 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saving it up for the funeral as nobody enjoys spending money more than me but it's on the verge of being a waste of money to travel out there to play golf.

 

If we could do it the way you and Patricia do and spend several months it would be a little different story but trying to squeeze in seven or eight rounds of golf in eight days is just stupid expensive. And then if you get hit with bad weather which used to never happen but certainly would have been the case this year then a guy would really feel stupid.

 

When we were tentatively planning our trip back out there this year it was going to be over 7K per couple for eight days and golf and that's not counting the inevitable spending sprees in the pro shop.  In the past we were well under 5K so that's a pretty significant jump and one that my Social Security and 401K ain't exactly matching up to performance wise these days.

 

Granted there are ways to do it cheaper but that's not really the point of a trip to Palm Springs in our minds.

 

I'm not looking for sympathy here either as our twelve trips out there were an absolute blast and something a lot of people never get the chance to do.

 

And good for them that there's still obviously a robust enough market of folks that are able to power through this lousy economy.

 

Enjoy your last couple of weeks David!

[vernon]

Oh and by the way - Nice shootin' at Stadium!

 

Breaking 80 over there had to be pretty fun!

[Socrates]

It sucks to see places with such high prices.  I never expect it to be cheap and when I go, I don't play the cheap places.  Given the current state of affairs, I would be inclined to play where it is around $165 and there are good courses in that range.  If I were there for several months, that wouldn't be sustainable either.  Stadium at over $400 is a joke, IMO.  I'd be hiking in one of the many canyons more often.

[ZipinZ]

2 hours ago, Socrates said:

It sucks to see places with such high prices.  I never expect it to be cheap and when I go, I don't play the cheap places.  Given the current state of affairs, I would be inclined to play where it is around $165 and there are good courses in that range.  If I were there for several months, that wouldn't be sustainable either.  Stadium at over $400 is a joke, IMO.  I'd be hiking in one of the many canyons more often.

 

 

Hiking is fun too, or playing later in the day when your on a limited budget and end up buying new irons.

 

D.

[ZipinZ]

March 29th .... it was a BTY day yesterday, 78F with little to no wind and the course wasn't all that busy. Played my 2nd round with my new G430's at PGA West - Stadium. Paid $118.00, got out at 12:54 finished just after 5:00, used my 50% off certificate they gave me for volunteering at the American Express tourney in mid-January.

 

I had an amazing fun round, broke 80 from the Blue's, lost 1 ball in water on #6 the Par 3 called Amen, playing 210 yds into a light breeze, hit 4i came up about 1 ft short, fished it out. Eagle'd #8 Par 5 called the Links, playing 520 yds, hit driver, 3 wood, P/W surprised when it dropped.  Birdie'd #7 Par 4 called Black Hole, greens were fast, missed a number of other Birdie opportunities on the back 9.  My new G430's & 2023 Anser was worth the investment.

 

The G430's with the Recoil ES 780 F4's are the best set of irons I ever owned, nice high trajectory I get more distance without swinging out of my shoes, very forgiving on miss hits and the ball hits & holds the greens.

 

Ping also sent me a new G430 hat at N/C for a customer service issue on the s/w of a couple of irons they made right.

 

A few pic's .... enjoy.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Stadium - Hole 17 - Alcatraz

 

 

 

 

 

Playing 149 yds into slight breeze, hit 9i.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro-V1 hits & holds the green, my 718 AP2's didn't do this, missed my Birdie putt.

 

 

#18 - Coliseum - 173 yds to pin

 

 

 

Missed a 10 ft for Birdie

 

 

 

My best round this winter playing in the Palm Springs area.

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the pic's, it was an amazing round.

 

 

 

 

.

[sharkiesj]

Just wanted to chime in here and add some fun.  For those of you wanting to play in the desert, the last 3 weeks of April at Indian Wells Golf Resort, use code April@IWGR20

for 20% off green fees. Book online at troon.com. 

[ZipinZ]

14 hours ago, vernon said:

The pro shop was in that trailer when we stopped by there three years ago last month.  The place was an absolute disaster then and doesn't really look much different in your photos then it did in 2020.

 

Really a shame as we absolutely loved that place pre-construction.

 

As for the "new" pricing I'm afraid we might have seen the last of the desert on that 2020 trip.

 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saving it up for the funeral as nobody enjoys spending money more than me but it's on the verge of being a waste of money to travel out there to play golf.

 

If we could do it the way you and Patricia do and spend several months it would be a little different story but trying to squeeze in seven or eight rounds of golf in eight days is just stupid expensive. And then if you get hit with bad weather which used to never happen but certainly would have been the case this year then a guy would really feel stupid.

 

When we were tentatively planning our trip back out there this year it was going to be over 7K per couple for eight days and golf and that's not counting the inevitable spending sprees in the pro shop.  In the past we were well under 5K so that's a pretty significant jump and one that my Social Security and 401K ain't exactly matching up to performance wise these days.

 

Granted there are ways to do it cheaper but that's not really the point of a trip to Palm Springs in our minds.

 

I'm not looking for sympathy here either as our twelve trips out there were an absolute blast and something a lot of people never get the chance to do.

 

And good for them that there's still obviously a robust enough market of folks that are able to power through this lousy economy.

 

Enjoy your last couple of weeks David!

Paul ... tks for the input, seeing the major construction and reading some of the Google reviews about SilverRock would turn most people away, but the parking lot was full, that was surprising.

 

I know you really enjoyed staying/playing desert golf & I missed you & Cathy, too. I normally get close to 20-25 rounds in out here, this winter it's only 12, my best year was around 31 back in 2016.  I'm hoping to play at least 2-3 more times, but they will be late afternoon TT.

 

Yesterday I was paired up with two other singles a business man from Osaka, Japan who stopped in to play before heading off to L.A. he was gaming some interesting high end clubs & a fella from Wisconsin who was renting a 3 b-room home/condo on #17 - Alcatraz.  Were paying $3500./month for a 2 b-room condo in Cat City, signed a rental contract for 2024 were returning next year. I had to ask him what the place rents for was shocked when he said he's here for Feb/March and it's too much at $17K month, his whole families here & the kids have kids all staying with them at different times. He said he fishes out a lot of golf balls every second evening & is looking for someplace else next year.

 

Edit: He also told me the Proshop charge $75.00/day for renters or non-residents to use the Stadium practice range, that's expensive.

 

Playing as a single, you meet a lot of interesting people.

 

D.

 

Beautiful home with a million $ view on #17 Alcatraz, someplace I couldn't afford to stay at.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2023 by ZipinZ

[RSinSG]

I made the pilgrimage back to Palm Springs last week to visit family and play golf with my son and grandson. We got an early tee time at Desert Dunes and thankfully there wasn't any wind. I've always liked the course but it's definitely not playable when its windy.  My son is friends with the owner of the course so the round was comp'd but I think they charge around $60-$70 for early times which is still a fair deal. 

 

As far as the round, my son who is a fair player wanted to play two man scramble with his son against me and my long time golfing partner who still lives in PS. We're both retired geezers who now have to play smart rather than strong and long. My grandson is a high school freshman who is on the golf team so he is getting pretty cocky about his ability to hit the long ball. He did in fact hit 3+ drives that I measured via my GPS watch over 300 with 315 the longest. My buddy and I were constantly 50 - 70 yards behind them but this race went to the smart as we closed them out 5 and 3. It was a good lesson for the young man and hopefully he'll spend more time on his 50 yards and in game as he has a lot of potential.

 

I do miss playing SoCal courses, but I don't miss living there. Getting around was a nightmare with Indian being closed and then accidents severely backing up Hwy 111 and I-10. 

[ZipinZ]

19 minutes ago, RSinSG said:

I made the pilgrimage back to Palm Springs last week to visit family and play golf with my son and grandson. We got an early tee time at Desert Dunes and thankfully there wasn't any wind. I've always liked the course but it's definitely not playable when its windy.  My son is friends with the owner of the course so the round was comp'd but I think they charge around $60-$70 for early times which is still a fair deal. 

 

As far as the round, my son who is a fair player wanted to play two man scramble with his son against me and my long time golfing partner who still lives in PS. We're both retired geezers who now have to play smart rather than strong and long. My grandson is a high school freshman who is on the golf team so he is getting pretty cocky about his ability to hit the long ball. He did in fact hit 3+ drives that I measured via my GPS watch over 300 with 315 the longest. My buddy and I were constantly 50 - 70 yards behind them but this race went to the smart as we closed them out 5 and 3. It was a good lesson for the young man and hopefully he'll spend more time on his 50 yards and in game as he has a lot of potential.

 

I do miss playing SoCal courses, but I don't miss living there. Getting around was a nightmare with Indian being closed and then accidents severely backing up Hwy 111 and I-10. 

 

 

Tks for sharing, course management is something I learned when I started to get grey hair, you loose distance but your short game improves especially those pitch or bump & run shots with one putts. Pleased to read the good old boys played well.

 

Yesterday was a BTY day, it may have hit  80 out in La Quinta with very little to no breeze. This afternoon it's only 68F with big wind and something I've not seen it looks like fog rather than dust.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

Out our back patio ....

 

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by ZipinZ

[RSinSG]

1 hour ago, ZipinZ said:

 

 

Tks for sharing, course management is something I learned when I started to get grey hair, you loose distance but your short game improves especially those pitch or bump & run shots with one putts. Pleased to read the good old boys played well.

 

Yesterday was a BTY day, it may have hit  80 out in La Quinta with very little to no breeze. This afternoon it's only 68F with big wind and something I've not seen it looks like fog rather than dust.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

Out our back patio ....

 

 

We used to call that haze in the old days - before there was any smog anywhere the valley.

[Lukin1977]

Those rates for Stadium are pretty outrageous. I've got it at $182 for the end of April before it shuts. Most of the other top public places are around the $150 mark for end of April / start of May. Golf has boomed, worldwide it's getting crazy what a top course costs compared to before Covid.

 

You can stick that rain!!  

[ZipinZ]

This morning out my back patio, this guy must be from Winnipeg, he loves fishin as much as golf. Notice his playing partner is getting annoyed looking at the group on the T-box most likely yelling " Hey Mr. - Catch Any" .... funny, you're not Married to that ball .... drop/hit another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2023 by ZipinZ

[ZipinZ]

 

For those who plan to be in the P.S. area in late May .... read the fine print, you or your partner need a residents card to qualify.

 

 

 

Are you ready to be crowned golf champion of Palm Desert? The City of Palm Desert and Desert Willow Golf Resort are pleased to announce the 2023 City of Palm Desert Championship. This Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th, partner up in a two-person team event and compete in two rounds of golf to prove you’re the best golfers in Palm Desert!

 

Link .... https://www.desertwillow.com/citychampionship

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ZipinZ]

April 03rd .... another windy-dusty day in the desert, they closed Ind. Canyons, Gene Autry, it better die down, I have a TT tomorrow.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally going to warm up after the big blow, haven't had any days in the 90's yet ....

 

 

Edited April 3, 2023 by ZipinZ

[Socrates]

17 hours ago, ZipinZ said:

April 03rd .... another windy-dusty day in the desert, they closed Ind. Canyons, Gene Autry, it better die down, I have a TT tomorrow.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally going to warm up after the big blow, haven't had any days in the 90's yet ....

Guys selling sand for the bunkers have got to be happy.

Edited April 4, 2023 by Socrates

[ZipinZ]

Played Escena yesterday, today we went back to Shields Date Garden on Hwy 111 in Indio. They have a nice out door patio for breakfast/lunch and their $7.95 Date Shake was delicious ... a must visit while in Palm Springs.

 

A few pic's ..... enjoy.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These looked interesting ... but they didn't follow me home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by ZipinZ

[tips09]

Currently down in the area for our trip and I’d love to hear some thoughts on the Dye mountain course. Played it yesterday and will do a little trip review once I get home next week with the few courses we play and all that jazz. I’ve found the photos and reviews very helpful in trip planning so here’s a thank you to everyone that’s added to the thread with course information.