Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells

[carry85roll300]

Where to Play in January

Hey Folks! I'm looking for some suggestions of places to play while out in the Palm Springs area in January. There are four of us going, each scratch players. We initially looked into do a complete package at La Quinta but didn't want to be restricted to one set of golf courses.

Friday, we were thinking of playing 18
Saturday, wanting to play 36 so we've thought of playing both course at Indian Wells but are open to going to two separate places.

What suggestions do people have...
Classic Club, The Golf Club at La Quinta, Cimarron, Cathedral Canyon?

Thank you very much for your suggestions
-Dan

[Hambone1]

Cathedral Canyon is a pretty nice track now that Billy Casper Co took it over. Much better condition, and they did away with their third nine which was kind of the red headed stepchild. I would play Tahquitz Creek over Cimarron, same area and about the same rates, but better track. Any intention of trying to play Silver Rock?

[jnelson]

I was just there last week and played Cathedral Canyon. Not a bad course for the price, played on turkey day for $25 including a cart. Front 9 was pretty bad I thought, fairways were rock hard and greens weren't kept up well. Back 9 was better but your playing through a bunch of houses so be careful there. Lots of water too, I think they said there were something like 18 or 20 lakes/ponds on the course. Not bad for the price but I think there is better in the area. The first course I played there was Escena and I would ABSOLUTELY recommend that course. It was $75 for the round and worth every penny. New management has done some great work there and the entire course is thick, lush, green grass. Definitely a top notch track. Enjoy your trip, its a golfers paradise out there.

Also, we stayed at the Club Intrawest on Desert Willow and that course looked gorgeous too, I think Firecliff should be open by then as well, I heard good things about both of those courses.

[carry85roll300]

[quote name='Hambone1' timestamp='1323276915' post='3905387']
Cathedral Canyon is a pretty nice track now that Billy Casper Co took it over. Much better condition, and they did away with their third nine which was kind of the red headed stepchild. I would play Tahquitz Creek over Cimarron, same area and about the same rates, but better track. Any intention of trying to play Silver Rock?
[/quote]
Actually very interested in playing Silver Rock...any details worth shooting my way?

[slpgolf08]

My college team and I were in that area spring break last year and we played in a tournament at the Classic Club. It was incredible, everything was top notch and I had never played greens that rolled that true. I'm sure it costs a pretty penny for a tee time but if you can get on it, the Classic Club is a beautiful track.

[Simp]

The Indian Wells courses are beautiful. The Players Course is a test. I played Escena a couple of months after it opened and was blown away at how well conditioned it was for being so young. I'm sure it's even better now. Tahquitz was an ok course. Silver Rock is a must play. Palm Springs is so full of good courses. I love that place.

[reywalwen]

[quote name='Simp' timestamp='1323306748' post='3907931']
The Indian Wells courses are beautiful. The Players Course is a test. I played Escena a couple of months after it opened and was blown away at how well conditioned it was for being so young. I'm sure it's even better now. Tahquitz was an ok course. Silver Rock is a must play. Palm Springs is so full of good courses. I love that place.
[/quote]

Escena is fabulous - nice people, decent food and Midcentury modern theme is sweet! In January it will be top notch!

[Big Hitter. Long]

Both Indian Wells Resort Courses are beautiful, immaculate conditioning, perfect greens and a very good test of golf. La Quinta resort is very good, but overpriced and not the best conditioning. Trilogy in LaQuinta is also very good and hosted the Skins Game for a few years. The Palm Springs municipal course isn't bad for a cheap round as well. Enjoy.

[Simp]

[quote name='reywalwen' timestamp='1324105921' post='3951771']
[quote name='Simp' timestamp='1323306748' post='3907931']
The Indian Wells courses are beautiful. The Players Course is a test. I played Escena a couple of months after it opened and was blown away at how well conditioned it was for being so young. I'm sure it's even better now. Tahquitz was an ok course. Silver Rock is a must play. Palm Springs is so full of good courses. I love that place.
[/quote]

Escena is fabulous - nice people, decent food and Midcentury modern theme is sweet! In January it will be top notch!
[/quote]

I had heard that it went under not too long after it opened? Glad to see that it's in good hands now.

[URStillAway]

We go to the area twice a year and the following are must plays for us:

Indian Wells Golf Resort - both Players and Celebrity courses

Desert Willow - again both the Firecliff and Mountain courses

Silverrock

Shadow Ridge

Classic Club

Terra Lago North

All of the above courses are usually in great shape, you do not play through housing developments, have awesome views and are great designs.

Others we play occasionally that are also very good:

Mission Hills - Player and Dye courses - good courses but you play [u]some [/u]holes around houses

Eagle Falls - good holes but they are too close to each other. Errant shots from other holes end up in your fairway.

La Quinta Dunes - you play through a canal and housing development on a lot of holes

Terra Lago South - not quite as good as the North.

We book most of our games through StandBy Golf.

[whysguy]

Heading there on Tues morning. Spend 2nd half of Dec there every year. A day or 2 over to San Diego and 1 in LA as well.
In Laws have home in Rancho Mirage and member at Mission Hills. Really like the Dinah Shore course at Mission. Last year on Christmas day, the clubhouse was closed, but courses open to play? Free is kinda nice.
But do love all the others the above poster commented on.
Firecliff, Silverrock, Trilogy, Terra Lago (prefer north, but will play either), Classic Club (if the wind is down).
Will play them all, at least once.
We also go hiking up in the Jossua Tree park, Atv in the desert, and this year boarding up at Big Bear mountain.
LOve to ski and golf on the same day. Gotta love the area.
Just jazzed to get there. Its 18 degrees in Mn this morning.
Side note:
I check the local paper, My Desert Sun, to look for printed specials, otherwise, Stand BY and Golfnow too.

[jdhallissey]

hey i have nothing for weds right now. I am still trying to find a place tm. then tuesday it is looking like Citrus Club.

[hbear]

Silver Rock is a MUST play.
As mentioned the Indian Wells courses are great.

I happen to like the mission hills courses....player course is a bit removed from the property, the dye course is typical dye.

Escena is a good "affordable play" but to be honest a pretty boring course......HUGE fairways, not a tonne of character.

Never played, but hear desert willow is fun...

Lots of great options to play.

[jdhallissey]

Desert willow is amazing, i have unly played mountain view due to the time of year they over seed. They will be open again the 26th (firecliff) I am going to get PGA WEST Nicklaus and Stadium course in. Most likely citrus course too.

[canucks1970]

I would play Classic Club on the Friday, challenging layout and always in perfect shape. Also, get there early, nice clubhouse with great proshop and dining options and a great practice facility.

For Saturday, I would play Silver Rock for the first 18, and then play the Mountain Course at La Quinta. They are very close to each other, so no worries there. Both are outstanding tracks.

If you are looking for a place to eat, go to Arnold Palmer Restaurant. Great food, great bar, outdoor putting green, and I heard from one of the waitresses that he frequents the place in January.

[agadawg17171]

Playing this week in the Springs. Silver Rock, Indian Wells, PGA West Stadium and Nicklaus! Any other that are better than these picks?

[jdhallissey]

Not played stadium course today. It was in very good shape but the greens were slow. The guy will tell you they are running at 12-12.5 and they are a solid 10. They are very smooth right now. Yes they have been beatin up a little by ball marks. I am playing indian wells thursday so I can give you a idea on what those greens are like there. Playing Citrus club tomorrow WAHOOO.

[jdhallissey]

SilverRock is in PERFECT shape right now too. Everything is top notch there.

[agadawg17171]

Assuming you have a connection at Citrus??

[grantr]

Silver Rock, Classic Club, Indian Wells are all top notch. I'd put Desert Willow there too. You can't go wrong with any of these.

And I second the rec for Arnold Palmer's restaurant. Really cool place with great food and they have rooms for each major with all of his memorabilia, except no PGA room because he never won it!

[bpgolf85]

I am headed down to the area in February and cannot wait to get out of the Midwest. Thanks for the recommendations.

[Pingman222]

anyone ever play eagle falls? seems to be a pretty good value from most places i've read...

i'm headed down in feb from the 20-22. only have time for a couple rounds and am thinking probably eagle falls, escena,silver rock or similar.

As a walk-on single, is it better for me to book ahead, or wait til last minute and call all the courses and get on that way? i'm aware of golfnow and standbygolf as well.

excited to go!