Troon Golf & Travel - November/December 2010

NoVeMber/deCeMber 2010 n trooNgoLfaNdtraVeL.CoM 11

ew areas are as closely associated with
golf as what we locals know as "the val-
ley" and everyone else in the world calls
palm Springs. funny thing, for a place
thick with golf and golf lore—two ryder
Indian wells golf resort, for example, is a 36-
hole study in all that is right about “resort golf.” this
muni—yep, muni—underwent a total re-do just a
few years back. out went an underwhelming club-
house and the sporty play of hit, giggle and smile
under the ever-perfect sky; in came the bold.
englishman Clive Clark was given the former
west Course as his charge. Vets might recall the
orientation of holes 10, 11 and 18 and the mature
landscaping of old. familiarity ends there. Now
called the Celebrity Course, the numbers are de-
ceiving—par 72 and a maxed-out yardage barely
past 7,000—given the anti-cookie cutter mix of
holes Clark left in his wake and a rating and slope
of 74.2 and 138 respectively.
out there, within the canopy of eucalyptus trees,
arboretum-grade flower beds, confectioners’ sugar
bunkers and flowing waters, players find but two
par-3s, a couple of reachable par-5s, several invit-
ing short 4s, one par- 4 that should be a 3 and two
4s that might as well be 5s for most of us. for all
those numbers, there’s nothing formulaic.
john fought drew the more difficult task of
transforming the former east Course into the play-
ers Course. the effort was equally successful and
the name change apt. the hallmark of players
is movement, lateral and vertical, be it subtle for
visual texture or acutely hazardous if not route-

The courses are anchored by the Taj of public clubhouses, IW Club, an enticing double-decker cone of stacked stone, steel, glass and tumbling water.

shortening. a shining example of this is the long par- 4 No. 5, which kinks slightly rightward with just enough of a fairway hump to make the drive blind. an encroaching arroyo forces understandable bailouts to the left, often through the fairway, while also inviting players to take forced-carry bites suited to their particular appetite for thrills and potentially shorter clubs home. for good measure the massive, rumbling green is pushed up like a starlet on awards night.

the courses are anchored by the taj of public clubhouses, Iw Club, an enticing double-decker cone of stacked stone, steel, glass and tumbling water. two levels of dining and drinking venues share nearly wraparound views taking in the perfect garden that is the courses and the moving calico of colors of the sun igniting the valley-ringing mountains. the club partners with four comely resorts: Indian wells resort Hotel, Miramonte resort and Spa, Hyatt grand Champions resort, Villas and Spa and renaissance esmeralda resort and Spa, with the latter two on site. and for the getaway golfer who’s also a gearhead, it’s all capped off by a branch of Callaway’s renowned performance Center.

f additional rounds of golf are in the cards, there is no shortage of excellent choices. one cannot go wrong at westin Mission Hills resort & Spa,

where the gary player Signature Course and the pete dye resort Course await. both are 18-hole beauts in rancho Mirage, adjoined on 360 acres by a 512-room hotel, popular spa, several resort pools (one with a 60-foot water slide for the kids) and several dining options. Consistently voted as