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THE PALMS GOLF COURSE Desert Springs Resort & Spa74855 Country Club DrivePalm Desert, CA 92260Phone: (760) 341-2211CLASSIFICATION: Resort GUEST POLICY: Open DRESS CODE: No tank tops or cutoffs. SEASON: Open all year TEE TIMES: Accepted 3 days in advance. PRO SHOP PHONE: (760)341-1756 PRO SHOP OPENS: 6:30 AM EARLIEST TIME TO CALL: 7:00 AM ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This resort features two regulation eighteen hole courses. These courses, site of the Frank Sinatra Tournament, are beautifully maintained and feature wide fairways. The Palms Course was "Golf Digest's" runner-up for Best New Resort in 1987. Hole #7, onthe Palms Course, features a waterfall and a large rock formation. The Valley Course, loaded withboth water hazards and sand bunkers, was "Golf Digest's" runner up for the Best New Course in l988. The other tees shown are additional men's tees. The resort also features a unique, 350 yard,eighteen hole putting course, complete with water hazards, sand bunkers and rough." The above is in quotes, because it was written by the course as their description. Actually, the green fees are $150 on weekends. I have played both the Palms and the Valley courses, and they are very well maintained, scenic, difficult and impressive. I played the valley course only once, several years ago. I prefer the more difficult Palms Course. The Signature Hole (Palm Course) must be hole number 17, the Island Green, shown above. My three shots at this green went like, one short in the water, one hit a palm tree and kicked back into the water and one landed on the green and stayed. It is true Target Golf. The course has a slope rating of 130 from the black tees and 126 from the blue tees. I played the blue tees every time I played this course. Water is present on many holes, usually punishing a hooked shot. I tend to slice or hit straight, but I occasionally will hook one. This course is very hilly, I never had a flat lie (that I remember, but some fairways have flat spots), there are very large palm trees everywhere, water everywhere, pot bunkers around some greens, fairway bunkers on long holes, and deep and winding bunkers engulfing some greens. The greens will challenge most golfers, they slope and have subtle breaks that are difficult to read. The staff was very helpful and service was great. Play was fairly fast on a weekend with 4 hours and 15 minutes to finish the 18 hole experience. It is hard to believe that one is in the middle of the Mojave Desert when playing this lush green course with so much water, but the water is courtesy of the Colorado River and some Very Large Pumping Stations. I found the course very challenging, very enjoyable and very beautiful. An Oasis in the Desert. It is a GREAT course to play.
My scorecard from this course. I played is last in May, 2007.
My scores range from 90 to + 100, on a bad day. Slide Show of the Palms Course |