Palm Springs Question

[vernon]

For locals or veteran visitors

Earlier this year, my wife and I spent the week of President's day in Palm Desert for the first time and, thanks in large part to feedback from several on this site had an absolute blast. Heading back the same week this year and taking my brother and his wife this time for their 25th wedding aniversary. My question has to do with that specific week of the year. Last time several buddies of mine told me not to make advanced tee times but to wait until I got there in order to get the best deals. They said that the day before was by far the best way to go. Well, when we got out there, dang near every course that we wanted to play was booked for almost the entire week. Ended up hanging around pro shops waiting for a cancellation or no show every day but one. Even bought a red dot discount book before leaving home and didn't get to use it once (gave it to a local guy that we were paired with the last day).

I guess my question is whether or not that's normal for a "holiday" week in February? The guys that told me to wait had been there two weeks prior and said they could walk up pretty much anywhere they wanted and play for a deal. Was my week just an anomaly or do I need to expect more of the same and book well in advance this trip? Thanks much for any recommedations from "experienced" individuals. For what it's worth will likely be looking to play some combination of Silver Rock, Desert Willow, Escena, Eagle Falls and PGA West. Classic Club and La Quinta Mountain are possibilities as well.

[scratchswinger]

From my experience in PS the answer is yes. Holiday weekends are normally busy and unless you know someone in the pro shop, walking on for more than 1 player is luck of the draw. I can totally relate to your concern of saving money.... When I go on vacation and I want to golf a particular course, I just pay retail and confirm the time that I want to play. All the courses that you mentioned are very popular, so I am sure they will be difficult to walk on for more than a single.

One option is to book a round at the TPC for example on Sunday and try to walk on for a discount on Saturday. If you get on, then cancel your Sunday time. Good luck and have fun....

[Hambone1]

I go to PS about twice a year, and my parents have a winter home down there. The best way is to use golfnow,and book about 48 hours in advance. As an aside, Escena has probably the worst customer service of any course I have ever been to. FWIW.

[vernon]

Thanks guys. Actually, we're arriving Saturday afternoon so Sunday and Monday are the only "holiday weekend" days involved. In fact, believe it or not last February Monday (the actual federal holiday) was the only day that we could get a tee time the day before (La Quinta Dunes). Tried golfnow.com and Standby Golf daily but there was nothing but either way too late to have any chance to finish times or the much lesser desireable courses. Will pay more if necessary to avoid what happened last year but didn't want to just throw cash away either. Especially with four of us this year, it'd be quite a bit more difficult to slide into a spot. Since this is a kind of special trip for my brother and his wife, I don't want to feel responsible for messing up the golf!

[turtlehead]

curious, what did you think of La Quinta Dunes? Played there a few weeks back and didn't find it worth the price, kinda boring...?

[jdhallissey]

PGA west- silverrock-- are great tracks, Jump on classic club, Firecliff is the better course at that complex. Also don't miss out on playing Marriott Shadow ridge! Do there hour and half jumbo mumbo and get two free rounds of golf. ( I own two timeshares) So I always do this even tho I own lol. I will be down there over xmas and I always play 4-5 courses. La Quinta is a so-so course. Think it is over rated and over priced. What you need to do is do the golfnow a day or two before they always have openings.

[macglock]

This always works for me when I'm down there over the holidays

http://www.standbygolf.com/index.aspx

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='vernon' timestamp='1322583067' post='3866305']
Earlier this year, my wife and I spent the week of President's day in Palm Desert for the first time and, thanks in large part to feedback from several on this site had an absolute blast. Heading back the same week this year and taking my brother and his wife this time for their 25th wedding aniversary. My question has to do with that specific week of the year. Last time several buddies of mine told me not to make advanced tee times but to wait until I got there in order to get the best deals. They said that the day before was by far the best way to go. Well, when we got out there, dang near every course that we wanted to play was booked for almost the entire week. Ended up hanging around pro shops waiting for a cancellation or no show every day but one. Even bought a red dot discount book before leaving home and didn't get to use it once (gave it to a local guy that we were paired with the last day).

I guess my question is whether or not that's normal for a "holiday" week in February? The guys that told me to wait had been there two weeks prior and said they could walk up pretty much anywhere they wanted and play for a deal. Was my week just an anomaly or do I need to expect more of the same and book well in advance this trip? Thanks much for any recommedations from "experienced" individuals. For what it's worth will likely be looking to play some combination of Silver Rock, Desert Willow, Escena, Eagle Falls and PGA West. Classic Club and La Quinta Mountain are possibilities as well.
[/quote]

I visit Rancho Mirage / LaQuinta rather often...friends live there. And, "yes" normal, from Nov - Apr; prime time in the desert. Lots of snowbirds are in town too... We're heading back soon. I always set TT's up before arrival and don't concern myself with discounted TT's, as they are typically connected to undesirable times; I want to play early. Discounted TT's can be had through services though. Caution... when sourcing on Golfwrx, be reminded, there are many people that only play using discounted greens fees, and willing to do whats necessary to get them, even if it means hanging out in hopes, and maybe not playing. If you want to benfit from discounts, go during the summer when the desert is, for all intents and purposes, empty. I've played all the courses above, enjoyable tracks, except if the wind comes up in the PM. The further south you play, the less likely wind will be a factor. Enjoy.

[jdhallissey]

^ this man knows his golf in the desert! PGA west tho is almost never booked (stadium) maybe on a sat never tried to get out there then but during the week nobody is ever out.

[Hambone1]

A fun one that you have to experience is Desert Dunes. Out in North Palm Springs, there is a sign in the shop that says "No Wind Checks." It's downwind from the windmill farms. Consider yourself warned but it is a hilariously good time

[jdhallissey]

LOL I played Desert dunes once in a tourney... When the balls on the greens are rolling around without you touching them and they tell you to play on lol. IT was a fun time.

[Hambone1]

Oh I know, we had our cart flip over, I managed to hit a SW backwards into the teeth of the gale to impress the now wife, it is one of those things that you have to do just for grins

[ALPINE240]

[quote name='Hambone1' timestamp='1322673412' post='3871409']
Oh I know, we had our cart flip over, I managed to hit a SW backwards into the teeth of the gale to impress the now wife, it is one of those things that you have to do just for grins
[/quote]


ya..its unfortuante...that is one heck of a track too..but havent played in years due the winds.

[cardoustie]

Stayed at Shadow Ridge twice and loved the course all four times I played. Lots of good tee shots and great green complexes

Big fan of SilverRock as well. Escena = Snore Fest

If you want the crap kicked right out of you play these two courses at Mission Hills, Dinah Shore Course & Pete Dye Challenge

[jdhallissey]

We always stay at shadow ridge. I love that course. It has a great setup to it. There range is also one of the best in the desert. I think I am going back down and playing silver rock to see if they finished the rest of there range yet too. You guys know Arnie has already got his course designed for another 28 out there. Going to be a great complex.

[vernon]

Actually, we stayed at Shadow Ridge last year on our first ever trip to the desert. I agree the accomodations were outstanding and the golf course is really, really good. Rented a house this year though as it was quite a bit cheaper since there are four of us going this time. In fact, it was only about $200 more for the whole week for a three bedroom home than just my wife and I paid last year at Shadow. The place is adjacent to Heritage Palms golf course so we also like the proximity to the courses and restaurants that we enjoyed the most.

As for the tee time deal, think I might give Standby golf a call and see what they have to say or offer even though it's still quite a ways out time wise. Was pretty impressed with their customer service and willingness to answer any and all questions last year. Thanks for all of the great input.

[jdhallissey]

Yea I would agree on the house but when ya own at marriott is defeats the purpose of owning lololololol. Right now I am at 1 month a year of timeshares I get to use anywhere in the world.

[vernon]

Now that sounds like the deal! Wanna trade a week in my house for your month anywhere in the world?!? Oh well, if you ever change your mind, let me know! Still hope to play Shadow Ridge while we're there as we really did enjoy it. Sounds like I might scratch Escena off of the list though. Anyone know anything about Heritage Palms since that's where we're staying? Their fees are certainly reasonable but I hadn't heard of it before we rented the house.

[jdhallissey]

LOL actually I have a timeshare in orlando too. The grand vista property. It is awesome when/if I want to take a golf trip since I have 4 queen beds, kitchen, laundry. 3 tv's and 2 bathrooms lol. Anybody up for a guys trip?

[RainShadow]

I played Indian Wells Players course last week and had a blast. One of the best courses I've ever played.
Give it a shot if you can.

[jdhallissey]

^ thanks for the info. I am needing to add one more course to the playing schedule from the 17th - 24th.

[Hambone1]

[quote name='jdhallissey' timestamp='1323151996' post='3898455']
^ thanks for the info. I am needing to add one more course to the playing schedule from the 17th - 24th.
[/quote]

If you're a member at a club that is pretty good at hooking up reciprocals, I highly recommend Thunderbird. It's old school Palm Springs golf, short and very much the classic desert course. But service wise and maintenance, second to none down there

[jdhallissey]

I am not a member anywhere. I can try and call in a few favors. If I call in the favors-- I am going back to bighorn. Hopefully my buddy is in the desert for the winter.

[vernon]

I would love to play a couple of the private courses out there sometime. Not sure if my club has the necessary clout to get that done though. Bighorn would definitely be very high on my wish list though. Might see if I can get our pro to at least make a couple of phone calls just to see. I do know that a neighbor and fellow member bought a house on some private course this past summer. I don't think it was one of the "big name" clubs but everything out there seems to be pretty dang good. He left for the winter in early October so didn't have a change to talk too much about it. I'll have to get his email address and check in with him before we go just to see what he has to say.

[TMBob]

[quote name='RainShadow' timestamp='1323151902' post='3898449']
I played Indian Wells Players course last week and had a blast. One of the best courses I've ever played.
Give it a shot if you can.
[/quote]


I was there also last week, but I played the Cove Course.

Vernon,

Heritage is a nice course to play with usually super fast greens. If u can get on there, for sure play it. Also near by is Indian Springs which looks to be nice also. I attempted to play there a few years ago but the rain got us. The practice putter green was the best looking green I saw all week long down that way. Sign up for there email list and maybe a special or two will come your way.

I would call Eagle Falls and fnd out just how far in advance one can call for a tee time (I think one week) and be on that phone making a time at first chance.

As for Golf Now, once your on the email list put PS as your main local for Hot Pricing and one can book a time thru them 1 week out. Heritage Palms is on there at times. Also Desert Falls is now on GN, nothing really special but worth giving it a shot and you make judgement from there.

I wish I could do what PepperTurbo does and just book a time when u want at any price range, but I cannot pay those prices just so I can play at a certain time frame. IMHO, majority of the courses down there are sooooo overpriced even at discounted fees.

Tera Laggo North is also near Eagle Falls and worth playing, so check them out also.

[vernon]

TMBob

Thanks for the input. The house we've rented is in the Heritage Palms development so I thought that might be pretty convenient if it was a good choice. I'm with you on the price points though. Don't mind spending extra since it's a once a year deal and want to show my brother a good time but certainly can't afford to spend $800 per round for four people every day either! Eagle Falls was definitely on my list as we were unable to get on there last year. Indian Wells Players also sounds good but, again, a little pricey depending on times.

I greatly appreciate everyone's input. Thanks to you guys, I don't have to feel like I'm going in as the typical dumb tourist and can choose venues much more wisely. Any other advice is certainly welcome!

[jdhallissey]

You guys like fish? I know of a great place for lunch/dinner.

[TMBob]

[quote name='jdhallissey' timestamp='1323227441' post='3903005']
You guys like fish? I know of a great place for lunch/dinner.
[/quote]

Interested for next trip, please do tell.

[Hambone1]

Check out Babe's too at I believe it's called the Riverside Mall (or something like that) awesome BBQ

[vernon]

Went to a fish market type restaurant last year that was superb but can't remember the name. I know how to get back there this year though! Thought the Beer Hunter was an excellent sportsbar with really good food as well and only a couple of blocks from where we're staying this year. Liked the restaurant at Mariott Shadow Ridge too.