Advice for an east coaster on where to play in Palm Springs, CA

[putterboy75]

Hi everyone. I need some travel advice so I can experience Palm Springs CA golf to it's fullest. For context and to set some parameters on the recommendations, I grew up playing in the Pinehurst area and now live in the northeast. I've mostly played courses considered "classic" for most of my golfing life, with many from the Golden Age era of design, but I can't help but love the genius of some of Mike Stranz's modern designs. No one else would take the bold risks he did and his courses are unique and memorable.

 

Next week, I'm told we are to stay in a house Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs. I've played desert golf in Arizona at the Biltmore, TPC Scottsdale, a few others, but not in the past several years. I didn't particularly like it but could have been youthful ignorance and also that I didn't play well.

 

I'd greatly appreciate your advice, suggestions, or local knowledge on which courses are must plays and which I should skip. Courses you'd suggest for a golfer who walks almost without exception, has a preference for no homes in sight, and courses that I'll remember most of the holes rather than just one "signature." Generally, I'd really like a place that keeps the traditions of the game as a high priority.  I thought about driving up to LA to play some of George Thomas' designs, but that's a little too far for others in the family who aren't as tuned into these things.

 

Please help, and thank you!

 

 

[tw422]

If you are looking for non desert golf I would look at places like the Classic Club, Indian Wells Golf Resort or Mission Hills Golf Resort. 

 

Also, driving up to LA from Palm Springs is a 3-4 hour trip minimum (traffic is not minimal). 

 

In terms of you thinking of driving to LA to play a George Thomas designs - assuming you mean Riviera, LACC or Bel-Air?  If you have connections and ability to play any of those clubs I would recommend cancelling your Palm Springs trip and getting a hotel in the Centry City or Santa Monica area and playing them.  They are once in a lifetime courses which are incredibly hard to get on.  

[putterboy75]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll have to stay down in the Palm Springs area, I didn't do the planning. I hear good things all around about the Classic Club, so made a time there this week. I also haven't played PGA West Stadium and think I should, even though the difficulty might make me want to quit the game. 

 

The one course around the area that looks very cool is Thunderbird CC. Seems like a lot of history from there, if you have any suggestions on this course or others, I'd be very appreciative! Also, If you're in the area and want to get in a round somewhere that works for me. I'll probably head back to LA from Palm Springs early Sunday (Nov 28th) to leave Monday morning.