December 2009
Summer dreaming
Lisa Longball leads you on a mid-winter sunny golf fantasy
Enjoying the sun: Get rid of the winter blues and take a golf holiday.—photo courtesy Lisa Longball
When you are a golfer and you are stuck dead in the middle of a Canadian winter, your mind wanders to sunnier locations. You haven’t hit balls in what seems an eternity and there may actually be dust accumulating on your sticks.
You asked Santa for Pro V1s and a subscription to Golf Digest. It is obvious you are in desperate need of a golf fix and the re-runs of Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf on the Golf Channel aren’t doing it for you.
The only cure…a golf holiday. One of the top destinations picked by western Canadians is Palm Springs. There are direct daily flights from most major cities and it is a golf mecca.
Palm Springs, California, lies on the western edge of the Coachella Valley, within the Colorado Desert. It has more than 350 days of sunshine and less than 5.2 inches of rain, winter temperatures average in the 20’s with nights that do not lead to frost delays. The dry desert heat of summer pushes daytime temperatures into the unfathomable mid 30’s which is often a great time to find golf bargains. It’s a dry heat and if you tee off first thing you beat the mid-day sun.
Hit the dunes: Approaching the first hole of the La Quinta Resort Dunes Course. —photo courtesy Lisa Longball
There are more than 100 lodging properties in Palm Springs, ranging from boutique hotels, historic bed and breakfasts, private villas and full-service hotels, to vacation home and condo rentals.
Famous for being the past destination of the stars, many celebrities had holiday homes there—including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and former Mayor Sonny Bono. It was also the honey moon destination of Elvis and Pricilla Presley. A PGA Tour stop, the Bob Hope Classic continues to bring celebrities to town and will be played in late January, 2010, if you want to plan your golf holiday in conjunction with watching tour golf.
But what Palm Springs is truly known for, is its fabulous golf courses and resorts. There are more than 125 courses in the Palm Springs and Palm Desert areas in an array of price ranges.
A favourite amongst players is the picturesque Indian Wells Golf Resort. It holds the distinction of being the only 36-hole public golf facility on Golfweek’s Top 20 "Best Courses You Can Play" in California. The 7,050-yard Celebrity Course was home to the LG Skins Game for many years. There are spectacular mountain views, contoured fairways and greens, elevation changes, scenic water features and breathtaking flora and fauna. You will be pulling out your camera on every hole. The Players course is equally popular but doesn’t have the glitz of the celebrity course. It is merely straight-up unabashed good golf. It has wide inviting fairways but the deep undulations make you think your way around the course offering many risk reward opportunities. It is a course for the discerning golfer and stretches out to 7,376 yards.
The club house and putting green are not to be missed. A fun 18-hole mini putt course it set up to test your skills and warm up your flat stick before the round. After your game, stop by and have a seat on the patio and enjoy the mountain and golf course views that will beckon you back for more.
A classy place to play: The clubhouse lobby at PGA West.—photo courtesy Lisa Longball
The Indian Wells golf resort also offers four stunning properties including Hyatt Grand Champions Resort Villas & Spa, Indian Wells Resort Hotel, Miramonte Resort & Spa and Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa. All properties focusing on customer service, delectable food and a relaxing atmosphere.
Another famed course and resort that is a must-see is the La Quinta Resort and Club. It boasts five championship-length courses—all unique and spectacular in their own right.
The Mountain Course is well known for its creative design and playability. It was ranked as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play. Also a very enjoyable and well designed track is Pete Dye’s Dunes Course.
If you really want to challenge your game, take a drive to sister property PGA West and tee it up at the two courses bearing the namesake of two legendary players and course designers; the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course and the Greg Norman Course. Both offer dramatic and spectacular backdrops and darn right challenging golf.
End your trip at the famed Stadium course at PGA West. Also a Pete Dye design, it has held high profile events such as the Bob Hope Classic, the Skins Game and the PGA Tour final qualifying school. It was named by Golf Traveler magazine as the second most challenging course in America. You will want to take in the stunning views and use the first 16 holes to prepare for the famous 17th hole also nicknamed Alcatraz as it is a par 3 green surrounded by water. Hit the green or take a penalty. An outstanding hole and must play course.
Alcatraz: The 17th hole presents a challenging set-up.—photo courtesy Lisa Longball
The La Quinta resort also offers luxurious accommodation. It boasts 800 guest rooms and suites in Spanish style casitas with either garden or mountain views. A plethora of pools and whirlpools are on site along with a state of the art spa and savoury restaurants.
Palm Springs has a laid back atmosphere perfect for the vacation golfer or even for the snowbird. It’s never too early to think about retirement…especially when you are scraping off your windows with your credit card on a brisk minus 20 degree morning.
Go Long!
Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk is the reigning six-time Canadian Long Drive Champion for Women and can be reached through her website at www.lisalongball.com