Palm Springs Teaser continued for 2024 Golf Vacations

[ZipinZ]

Happy Canada Day, July 01st & Happy July 4th to our American friends .... it's hot & windy in P.S. this week, can't imagine golfing in this heat. From some of the notices I get green fees are cheap.

 

Yesterday, we had a EF4 tornado = 275 km/h or 170 mph go through Central Alberta about 90 km's/55 miles from home, it was on the ground for about 30 minutes, lots of damage & missing livestock something we rarely see. Today a cold front moved in, it's only 57F with a stiff north wind, no comparison to P.S.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by ZipinZ

[tw422]

Would be curious to know how the courses in the area are holding up after the hurricane this weekend.  Have seen some pictures of flooding in Cathedral City.  I'm headed to La Quinta in 2 weeks and will be playing PGA West courses.  

[ZipinZ]

Aug 21 ... Cyclone Hilary sure hit Palm Springs hard with close to 4" rain, I imagine Cimarron & Tahquitz and any other course along the wash area have seen some damage.  Seen some video's the speed of the water & debris is something. I rent at the Desert Princess in Cat City, haven't seen many pic's from that community, except Vista Chino is wiped out going downtown.  They said the I10 is closed for at least 30 miles, unbelievable & slow going at the Airport, too.

 

A few pic's of interest ...

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunes Palm Road Bridge const in La Quinta is expected to be completed by 2025. 

 

 

 

 

I believe this is the Date Palm Course in Cat City.

 

 

Vista Chino going west to downtown.

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by ZipinZ

[Socrates]

Watched Youtube newscasts from PS last night.  There is a ton of damage from debris flows and mud flows.  Whole neighborhoods filled with mud and rocks.  Once that dries, it will be like concrete.  Not as bad as Maui, but it's going to take a long time to clean up.  Feel sorry for those golf courses that just got rebuilt after the last storm and back to square one in a few hours. 

 

Seems like every resort location got flooded or burned to the ground in the last week or so. 

[ZipinZ]

A few more pics of interest.

 

 

Vista Chino just past the Desert Princess headed west to downtown Palm Springs

 

 

 

Vista Chino & Date Palm Drive in Cat City

 

 

 

A few more of Gene Autry Trail going north to the i10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by ZipinZ

[vernon]

At least the last one was in February which I gotta think the temperatures were a little more conducive to the cleanup effort than in August.

 

I've been through a whole bunch of flood events in my seventy years living in the Midwest but experiencing a flood in the desert was a different kind of cat altogether.

 

That's gotta be some miserable work.

[tw422]

Wow, thanks for sharing.  Does anyone know if the PGA West courses were negatively impacted?  From the pictures it looks like most of the flooding/damage was in and around Palm Springs?

[ZipinZ]

4 hours ago, tw422 said:

Wow, thanks for sharing.  Does anyone know if the PGA West courses were negatively impacted?  From the pictures it looks like most of the flooding/damage was in and around Palm Springs?

 

I haven't seen any pic's or video of the PGA West area, most of the damage is around Cathedral City, I reached out to the Facebook Group who organize & volunteer at the AMEX PGA Tourney and asked anyone in the group to share any info & pic's, so far no one has responded. My guess is there was very little flood damage in that area, if I get some info I will advise accordingly. You can always call the Pro-Shop and I'm sure they will fill you in.

 

Cheers

 

David

[ZipinZ]

For all those SilverRock fans, unfortunately No Pic's .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pics look like the Cimarron golf course off Ramon Road in Cat City. This would be the second flood that damaged this course, previous was Valentines Day 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by ZipinZ

[tw422]

Just spoke to pro shop at PGA West and Pete Dye Dunes and Mountain courses are under water.  Will not be open for forseeable future.  Stadium and Norman courses are open though.  La Quinta area was hit pretty hard with flooding.

[ZipinZ]

31 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Just spoke to pro shop at PGA West and Pete Dye Dunes and Mountain courses are under water.  Will not be open for forseeable future.  Stadium and Norman courses are open though.  La Quinta area was hit pretty hard with flooding.

 

Was hoping you would provide an update, at least the Stadium course is open, it's my favorite, surprised the Nicklaus course isn't open yet.  I haven't got any responses from the AMEX PGA Volunteer F/B Group and no one has posted any pic's or video's of the La Quinta area including the Town Office.  They should have things cleaned up for your trip in the next couple of weeks. Found some info on PGA West website I posted below,  Pls post an update with a few pic's when you can.

 

Tks

 

D.

 

 

PGA West - Website Maintenance Info:

 

 

[ZipinZ]

Found a new video of Cimarron Golf Course taken from Ramon Road ....... that's bad.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/gtournai/videos/846451283354416

 

 

 

La Quinta Resort Course- Before & After pic's taken August 22nd.

 

 

 

 

[tw422]

3 hours ago, ZipinZ said:

 

Was hoping you would provide an update, at least the Stadium course is open, it's my favorite, surprised the Nicklaus course isn't open yet.  I haven't got any responses from the AMEX PGA Volunteer F/B Group and no one has posted any pic's or video's of the La Quinta area including the Town Office.  They should have things cleaned up for your trip in the next couple of weeks. Found some info on PGA West website I posted below,  Pls post an update with a few pic's when you can.

 

Tks

 

D.

 

 

PGA West - Website Maintenance Info:

 

 

No problem and the Nicklaus course from what I understand was already planned to be closed (this was not the case last year at this time - conditions were horrible).  Interesting that Stadium and Norman are open but are in a different part of La Quinta so it makes sense.  

[ZipinZ]

What a mess, no progress in over a year & it doesn't look positive for this resort to be completed anytime soon.  I don't know why anyone would recommend this course in the present construction disaster, when there are so many other quality courses in & around Palm Springs.

 

D.

 

Link .... https://kesq.com/news/2023/09/26/i-team-long-delayed-talus-la-quinta-luxury-resort-development-still-searching-for-financing-as-city-talks-litigation/ 

 

 

 

KESQ NEWS - September 26, 2023 

 

Long-delayed TALUS La Quinta luxury resort development still searching for financing as city talks litigation.

 

 

 

The City of La Quinta's long-delayed TALUS luxury resort development remains in limbo as money troubles continue to plague the Robert Green Company project.

 

Formerly known as SilverRock, TALUS missed the city’s latest 60-day mid-July deadline to secure its financing and present a plan to move forward with construction. Without a financing breakthrough, the project could be headed toward litigation. It's a topic local residents say city leaders have mentioned to them.

 

Nobody from the city has officially said TALUS is headed to court. The city’s official statement to News Channel 3's Jeff Stahl is there is no update.

 

But Jeff Stahl spoke to residents who met with the City Manager Jon McMillen and City Council member John Pena this month. Both men say their many questions about the luxury development were left unanswered because McMillen and Pena both cited concerns of possible litigation. McMillen did not deny that in an email statement to Jeff Stahl.

 

Construction on its core elements has been halted for over a year. In that time, there hasn't been any reportable progress in obtaining the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for the project's construction.

 

A La Quinta Resident and former mayoral candidate Robert Sylk and fellow resident Richard Gray say their recent meeting with the City Manager and Council member Pena was "non-informative."

 

Sylk said, said, “It's time to end it and start over. We can't keep continuing down the bad track. A bad road.”  "Because of the possibility of litigation, they couldn't tell us if the project was late," Gray said, "if there was a default letter going out again.”

 

”But we already could see what was happening," said Sylk. "Nothing was happening. What bothers me is that Mr. Green, who we met and is a very nice guy, and we like him, doesn't have the funds to proceed and never did.”

 

TALUS, under the most recently modified development agreement between the Green and the city, was supposed to open this fall. It's promoted as a crowned jewel development for the City of La Quinta, the Gem of the Desert. The two branded luxury hotels by the Pendry and Montage, a spa and conference center, and 84 turn-key single-family homes and condominiums are supposed to be a crowned jewel development for the city.

 

It was originally set to open four years ago in 2019, promoted as the Coachella Valley’s first five-star development, but has faced repeated financing delays that have led to repeated construction stoppages.

 "and the main point that I'm making all the time, and they were making, is that the citizens should be given the information about what's going on."  Richard Gray, La Quinta resident

"I've spoken at five of the past seven city council meetings," Gray said adding, "and the main point that I'm making all the time, and they were making, is that the citizens should be given the information about what's going on."

 

In May, Robert Green told News Channel 3 in a statement, “TALUS has successfully navigated the complex financial landscape to secure the essential funding needed to bring the project to completion.” It was a similar message from his prior update last winter.

 

In an email exchange, McMillen told Jeff Stahl, "The City Attorney and I have been working closely with (the) developer and their lenders as loan documents, a contract amendment, and due diligence near finalization. At this time the Senior lender is working with the S&P on the bond ratings required to close the financing. This is the critical path for full mobilization and getting the project completed."

 

It was three months ago in May when McMillen said, "The City fully expects Green to have closed the funding for the commercial components of the project within 60 days."

 

A representative for the Robert Green Company said, “We have been asked to direct any TALUS update inquiries to the La Quinta City manager.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR MAY 2023 I-TEAM INVESTIGATION ON TALUS 

 

Not so, says McMillen, who wrote, “We are not speaking for the Robert Green Company.” 

 

 

 

At the quiet construction site, the TALUS spa and conference center remain frozen in mid-construction. Some post-storm dust abatement was happening last week and a hammer or two could be heard at some wood-framed homes, which are a portion of the project. The homes are being financed through EB5 federal foreign direct investment financing where immigrants can pay money in exchange for helping regional economic development programs that create American jobs. In this case, the payments are for approximately $800,000 per visa approved.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR JANUARY 2023 I-TEAM INVESTIGATION ON TALUS 

 

 

The project's unfinished wood frames have been weathering under the heat of a blistering summer sun for at least 15 months since early last summer in 2022 and exposed to our historic winter rainfall and Tropical Storm Hilary. Past city council updates from the developer briefly detailed how inspections would be required to assess damage to the property and materials that would have to be rebuilt.

 

"How many times that somebody has to kick you before you realize what's wrong,” asked Sylk.

 

La Quinta's weekly e-newsletter mentions a lot of happenings and events but has been silent on the TALUS development for months now. City leaders are set to host La Quinta’s State of the City address on Thursday, Sept. 28. Sylk and Gray hope they’ll share some transparency on Talus– good or bad.  

 

 

If the mayor and other city leaders address TALUS at the State of the City address, you’ll have to pay up to hear their comments at the Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa. Tickets are $110 dollars for the public and $99 dollars for chamber members. 

 

 

Both McMillen and Green are also listed as featured speakers at an October 25 free public forum hosted by The Concerned Citizens of La Quinta at the La Quinta Resort. People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. 

 

Monday evening statement from the City of La Quinta:

 

The City of La Quinta and Montage International remain committed to the TALUS project and continue to stand by the project as developer Robert Green secures the financing needed to get the project completed. City Manager, Jon McMillen, and Montage International’s President and COO, Jason Herthel, said in a joint statement.

“Throughout the process, myself and City Attorney, Bill Ihrke, have been working closely with Green and his lenders as loan documents, a contract amendment with the City and due diligence near finalization,” McMillen said.

At this time, the Senior lender is working with Standard and Poor’s (S&P) on the bond ratings required to close the financing. “This is the critical path for full mobilization and getting the project completed,” McMillen said. City council members have also met individually with lenders and stand confidently behind the TALUS project and Green. “Securing and closing financing for a hospitality project of this type and magnitude is extremely complex and difficult. It is a statement to the quality of this project that financing is nearly closed,” McMillen said.

 

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for the latest TALUS updates.

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by ZipinZ

[tw422]

5 hours ago, ZipinZ said:

What a mess, no progress in over a year & it doesn't look positive for this resort to be completed anytime soon.  I don't know why anyone would recommend this course in the present construction disaster, when there are so many other quality courses in & around Palm Springs.

 

D.

 

Link .... https://kesq.com/news/2023/09/26/i-team-long-delayed-talus-la-quinta-luxury-resort-development-still-searching-for-financing-as-city-talks-litigation/ 

 

 

 

KESQ NEWS - September 26, 2023 

 

Long-delayed TALUS La Quinta luxury resort development still searching for financing as city talks litigation.

 

 

 

The City of La Quinta's long-delayed TALUS luxury resort development remains in limbo as money troubles continue to plague the Robert Green Company project.

 

Formerly known as SilverRock, TALUS missed the city’s latest 60-day mid-July deadline to secure its financing and present a plan to move forward with construction. Without a financing breakthrough, the project could be headed toward litigation. It's a topic local residents say city leaders have mentioned to them.

 

Nobody from the city has officially said TALUS is headed to court. The city’s official statement to News Channel 3's Jeff Stahl is there is no update.

 

But Jeff Stahl spoke to residents who met with the City Manager Jon McMillen and City Council member John Pena this month. Both men say their many questions about the luxury development were left unanswered because McMillen and Pena both cited concerns of possible litigation. McMillen did not deny that in an email statement to Jeff Stahl.

 

Construction on its core elements has been halted for over a year. In that time, there hasn't been any reportable progress in obtaining the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for the project's construction.

 

A La Quinta Resident and former mayoral candidate Robert Sylk and fellow resident Richard Gray say their recent meeting with the City Manager and Council member Pena was "non-informative."

 

Sylk said, said, “It's time to end it and start over. We can't keep continuing down the bad track. A bad road.”  "Because of the possibility of litigation, they couldn't tell us if the project was late," Gray said, "if there was a default letter going out again.”

 

”But we already could see what was happening," said Sylk. "Nothing was happening. What bothers me is that Mr. Green, who we met and is a very nice guy, and we like him, doesn't have the funds to proceed and never did.”

 

TALUS, under the most recently modified development agreement between the Green and the city, was supposed to open this fall. It's promoted as a crowned jewel development for the City of La Quinta, the Gem of the Desert. The two branded luxury hotels by the Pendry and Montage, a spa and conference center, and 84 turn-key single-family homes and condominiums are supposed to be a crowned jewel development for the city.

 

It was originally set to open four years ago in 2019, promoted as the Coachella Valley’s first five-star development, but has faced repeated financing delays that have led to repeated construction stoppages.

 "and the main point that I'm making all the time, and they were making, is that the citizens should be given the information about what's going on."  Richard Gray, La Quinta resident

"I've spoken at five of the past seven city council meetings," Gray said adding, "and the main point that I'm making all the time, and they were making, is that the citizens should be given the information about what's going on."

 

In May, Robert Green told News Channel 3 in a statement, “TALUS has successfully navigated the complex financial landscape to secure the essential funding needed to bring the project to completion.” It was a similar message from his prior update last winter.

 

In an email exchange, McMillen told Jeff Stahl, "The City Attorney and I have been working closely with (the) developer and their lenders as loan documents, a contract amendment, and due diligence near finalization. At this time the Senior lender is working with the S&P on the bond ratings required to close the financing. This is the critical path for full mobilization and getting the project completed."

 

It was three months ago in May when McMillen said, "The City fully expects Green to have closed the funding for the commercial components of the project within 60 days."

 

A representative for the Robert Green Company said, “We have been asked to direct any TALUS update inquiries to the La Quinta City manager.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR MAY 2023 I-TEAM INVESTIGATION ON TALUS 

 

Not so, says McMillen, who wrote, “We are not speaking for the Robert Green Company.” 

 

 

 

At the quiet construction site, the TALUS spa and conference center remain frozen in mid-construction. Some post-storm dust abatement was happening last week and a hammer or two could be heard at some wood-framed homes, which are a portion of the project. The homes are being financed through EB5 federal foreign direct investment financing where immigrants can pay money in exchange for helping regional economic development programs that create American jobs. In this case, the payments are for approximately $800,000 per visa approved.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR JANUARY 2023 I-TEAM INVESTIGATION ON TALUS 

 

 

The project's unfinished wood frames have been weathering under the heat of a blistering summer sun for at least 15 months since early last summer in 2022 and exposed to our historic winter rainfall and Tropical Storm Hilary. Past city council updates from the developer briefly detailed how inspections would be required to assess damage to the property and materials that would have to be rebuilt.

 

"How many times that somebody has to kick you before you realize what's wrong,” asked Sylk.

 

La Quinta's weekly e-newsletter mentions a lot of happenings and events but has been silent on the TALUS development for months now. City leaders are set to host La Quinta’s State of the City address on Thursday, Sept. 28. Sylk and Gray hope they’ll share some transparency on Talus– good or bad.  

 

 

If the mayor and other city leaders address TALUS at the State of the City address, you’ll have to pay up to hear their comments at the Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa. Tickets are $110 dollars for the public and $99 dollars for chamber members. 

 

 

Both McMillen and Green are also listed as featured speakers at an October 25 free public forum hosted by The Concerned Citizens of La Quinta at the La Quinta Resort. People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. 

 

Monday evening statement from the City of La Quinta:

 

The City of La Quinta and Montage International remain committed to the TALUS project and continue to stand by the project as developer Robert Green secures the financing needed to get the project completed. City Manager, Jon McMillen, and Montage International’s President and COO, Jason Herthel, said in a joint statement.

“Throughout the process, myself and City Attorney, Bill Ihrke, have been working closely with Green and his lenders as loan documents, a contract amendment with the City and due diligence near finalization,” McMillen said.

At this time, the Senior lender is working with Standard and Poor’s (S&P) on the bond ratings required to close the financing. “This is the critical path for full mobilization and getting the project completed,” McMillen said. City council members have also met individually with lenders and stand confidently behind the TALUS project and Green. “Securing and closing financing for a hospitality project of this type and magnitude is extremely complex and difficult. It is a statement to the quality of this project that financing is nearly closed,” McMillen said.

 

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for the latest TALUS updates.

 

 

 

Really interesting and thanks for sharing.  I stayed at PGA West in September and drove by this every morning to get coffee.  I was wondering what it was and when it would be completed.  Very strange for Silver Rock golf course to be right in the middle of it too.  Too bad because it could be a great property.  

[vernon]

And as I've said probably fifty times they completely ruined what was one of the absolute best public access golf courses in the process and in exchange created a complete eyesore.

[ZipinZ]

Getting excited ..... renewed my short stay membership at Escena & got the following update.

 

Be among the first to play on our lush green fairways fresh off overseeding!

 

Website  https://escenagolf.com/golf/

 

[Bonneville85308]

33 minutes ago, ZipinZ said:

Getting excited ..... renewed my short stay membership at Escena & got the following update.

 

 

Looking forward to your reports/commentary this winter. I have a tentative trip to the PS area scheduled for late November.

[ZipinZ]

1 hour ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

Looking forward to your reports/commentary this winter. I have a tentative trip to the PS area scheduled for late November.

 

Enjoy .... most all the courses will be ready to play after overseeding, should be a great time of year. 

 

We arrive just after New Years day, staying until mid-April, looking forward to the smell of fresh cut grass & golfing again, got blasted with 6-8" snow on Monday in central Alberta and now cold temps -7C/21F.

 

My home course across the fence .... see.

 

D.

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by ZipinZ

[remlap13]

When do tee times for 2024 become available? I'd like to start figuring out what courses are within budget for a trip in March 2024. 

[ThermalDan]

I head down the weekend before Thanksgiving with games lined up at Marriott Shadow Ridge (one of my favorites) and Stone Eagle (bucket list) along with a couple surprise rounds that my host won't reveal.  I've tried to do the deep dive on Stone Eagle for years, but there just doesn't seem to be a ton on-line about the course.  If anyone's played, would love to hear your thoughts.

[ZipinZ]

6 hours ago, ThermalDan said:

I head down the weekend before Thanksgiving with games lined up at Marriott Shadow Ridge (one of my favorites) and Stone Eagle (bucket list) along with a couple surprise rounds that my host won't reveal.  I've tried to do the deep dive on Stone Eagle for years, but there just doesn't seem to be a ton on-line about the course.  If anyone's played, would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Sorry .... can't help you out with any intel on Stone Eagle, perhaps others here maybe able to help you out.

 

Enjoy your golf vacation and if you can share some pic's and feedback/review on the courses you played, it would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

David

[ZipinZ]

Escena my home course posted this on F/B.  

 

Surprised to see this fella gets an ACE on #7 with Driver ... amazing, wonder which t-box, bet it wasn't from the forward T's.

 

Ya think he paid for a round of drinks?

 

Lucky day .... congrat's buddy buy a lotto ticket.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by ZipinZ

[ZipinZ]

PGA tour will be back in town ..... JANUARY 15-21, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2023 by ZipinZ

[JLew]

On 11/20/2023 at 10:06 PM, ZipinZ said:

PGA tour will be back in town ..... JANUARY 15-21, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've got our annual Palm Springs trip set up this year for Jan 20-25.

Any info on status of course recoveries from the storm?

As of now we have these lined up:

SilverRock
Classic Club
Both Courses at Desert Willow
Ram's Hill
Eagle Falls
Shadow Ridge

[ZipinZ]

2 hours ago, JLew said:

We've got our annual Palm Springs trip set up this year for Jan 20-25.

Any info on status of course recoveries from the storm?

As of now we have these lined up:

SilverRock
Classic Club
Both Courses at Desert Willow
Ram's Hill
Eagle Falls
Shadow Ridge

 

I don't see PGA West Stadium or Nicklaus, but all good choices. From what feedback from friends & what I've seen & read on various F/B groups it appears all courses are back to normal. Cimarron & Tahquitz were two tracks that suffered a lot of damage & it appears they have recovered, too. 

 

An update/review on SilverRock conditions would be appreciated, the place has been under construction and ran into financial problems, and the hotel & homes/condo units are incomplete & all sitting idle for past 2-3 years.

 

Escena, my home course keep posting pic's teasing me, I arrive in one month for 3.5 month stay, counting down the days.

 

Enjoy the golf vacation.

 

Cheers

 

David 

 

Escena #1 & #2.

 

[JLew]

2 hours ago, ZipinZ said:

 

I don't see PGA West Stadium or Nicklaus, but all good choices. From what feedback from friends & what I've seen & read on various F/B groups it appears all courses are back to normal. Cimarron & Tahquitz were two tracks that suffered a lot of damage & it appears they have recovered, too. 

 

An update/review on SilverRock conditions would be appreciated, the place has been under construction and ran into financial problems, and the hotel & homes/condo units are incomplete & all sitting idle for past 2-3 years.

 

Escena, my home course keep posting pic's teasing me, I arrive in one month for 3.5 month stay, counting down the days.

 

Enjoy the golf vacation.

 

Cheers

 

David 

 

Escena #1 & #2.

 

We rotate every year and try not to do anything 3 years in a row for sure. That’s why the PGA West Dunes and Mountain (former La Quinta Resort courses) dropped off this year.  As far as the other PGA West courses, we usually steer clear of those because we are there at the same time or right around the tournament. 
 

Two years ago was the last time we played SilverRock. I assume the construction situation is basically the same as it has been for the last several years?

 

Ram’s Hill has quickly become one of our favorites, if not the favorite by itself. 
 

Played Escena for the first time last year and we really liked it. I actually had it on the schedule this year for the day we flew in but our flights have changed so now it’s too late to play that day. Too bad. 

[Socrates]

7 hours ago, JLew said:

We've got our annual Palm Springs trip set up this year for Jan 20-25.

Any info on status of course recoveries from the storm?

As of now we have these lined up:

SilverRock
Classic Club
Both Courses at Desert Willow
Ram's Hill
Eagle Falls
Shadow Ridge

You include 4 of my favorites: CC, Ram's Hill, Eagle Falls and Shadow Ridge.  I used to really like SilverRock until they screw up the course and created a really bad Par 3 (#11?) and possibly the worst finishing hole in golf.

[ZipinZ]

2 hours ago, JLew said:

We rotate every year and try not to do anything 3 years in a row for sure. That’s why the PGA West Dunes and Mountain (former La Quinta Resort courses) dropped off this year.  As far as the other PGA West courses, we usually steer clear of those because we are there at the same time or right around the tournament. 
 

Two years ago was the last time we played SilverRock. I assume the construction situation is basically the same as it has been for the last several years?

 

Ram’s Hill has quickly become one of our favorites, if not the favorite by itself. 
 

Played Escena for the first time last year and we really liked it. I actually had it on the schedule this year for the day we flew in but our flights have changed so now it’s too late to play that day. Too bad. 

 

 

In regards to SilverRock..... scroll up to my Oct 11th post, you'll find a Sept 26th KESQ NEWS update.  My neighbour owns a very beautiful million dollar residence next to the course & he's not at all happy with the developer & 5 years of delays with no end in sight, what a disappointing mess.

 

The courses on your list are some of the best in the valley, enjoy the vacation & some feedback when your done would help others and be appreciated.

 

D.

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by ZipinZ

[Bonneville85308]

Here's Part 1 of my report from a solo 4-day weekend trip in the area. I decided to play all courses that I haven't played yet. I'll get to Part 2 sometime tomorrow. Home base for the trip was the Comfort Suites at I-10 & Washington Street which came out to $400 total with tax for 3 nights, it was good enough for me and I am pretty sure it was considerably less than I paid to stay here per night last winter.

 

Friday late morning - Palm Desert CC: 1970s style course through a housing development, some of which looks pretty ratty, course looks kinda tired in general. Fairway overseed was on the thin side with numerous bare/dormant spots showing through. Course played dry and the ball rolled out on tee shots. Greens were decent condition, average speed, some small bare spots here and there. Bunkers were garbage, worst I've played in the area.  Booked a mid-morning tee time that looked like it had a hour + open gap in front of it. Didn't rush and didn't really run into anyone until the back nine, finished in a little over 3 hours. $117 was overpriced for this course, should be under $100. Won't return to this one. One or two interesting holes but the rest is forgettable. Lots of road crossings and zig-zagging through the housing development. It's a very easy course and I shot my lowest score of the trip here.  Nearby Palm Desert Resort CC was in a lot better condition than Palm Desert CC when I played it last winter, I'd do that one again instead.

 

 

Saturday early morning - SilverRock.

 

Wow, now that's better. Really had fun on this one. Great scenery with the mountains, good variety of holes, plenty of which will make you think that next time you'll play them differently now that you've had some experience. White tees at 5,669 (68.0/121) looked short on the card (mainly because of the back nine - #13 is an 87 yard par 3, #18 is a 254 yard par 4, and both par 5's on the back are 460-ish) but set up perfectly for my game and was still plenty challenging. Conditions were great all around, not really anything to complain about. Course was somewhat dry for an early AM round and the ball was rolling out.  #18 fairway had some bare spots but that was about it. Was in probably the third group off paired with some great randoms that made the round even more enjoyable. I forget the exact pace but it was quick and probably somewhere around 3:40-3:45. Paid $133 for a golfnow hotdeal time with a promo code. Will definitely play this one again. I was a bit concerned it would be a logistical cluster*uck with the dormant construction project but it wasn't a big deal. The clubhouse is a temporary trailer with a parking lot next to it, but there is good signage to find everything. Just get there a little earlier than you usually would, because the trailer/cart staging area, the driving range, and the first tee are all long cart rides from each other. They do have a speaker on the range so the starter can let you know when it's time to drive over to the first tee. Sure, the dormant project is a visual detraction on a bunch of holes, but doesn't affect the actual play. One of my playing partners mentioned that they re-did some of the holes, particularly on the back nine to accommodate the development and the new holes are not as good as the ones they replaced, which seems to jive with previous commentary on golfwrx. I would agree that 18 is now sort of a letdown finishing hole, a really easy short par 4 so long as your tee shot doesn't land in a bunker.

 

 

 

Saturday early afternoon - Shadow Mountain:

 

Gave this short (5375 from the tips), tight, Gene Sarazen layout just a stone's throw away from downtown Palm Desert a try and was glad I did. Did I say it was tight? There are probably laws about building fairways and greens this close to houses, roads, and parking lots these days, lol. At least it's an upscale setting, and I didn't break any windows.  Not the most interesting course (two tier green on #11 is pretty cool though) but has some challenge to it due to the precise shots required on many holes and the very small greens. Excellent, first class plush overseed job all around. Bunker sand was a bit inconsistent but nothing horrible. Greens were in excellent condition but very slow though. Quick thinking starter gets an A+ in my book for sending me off #10 instead of #1, didn't run into anyone until #14, then they all finished their rounds after #18 and I had the front to myself. $90 seemed kinda steep going into this, but I enjoyed the round and would play it again. Made for a nice second round on a 36 hole day. Easy course to walk and I saw a bunch of walkers out there. There is a large putting course called the "Flamingo" that is included in the greens fee for the main course; looks like it used to be a driving range. After the round I stopped at a great little gelato shop about 3 minutes away called La Dolce Piccola Gelateria.

 

 

 

 

More to follow...

Edited December 12, 2023 by Bonneville85308