Just returned from a week long trip to Palm Springs and thought I'd share some pics. I included a list of the courses that we played. My 2 favorite BY FAR were Bighorn and Torrey Pines. I thought that Torrey would be hands down my favorite and we were actually supposed to play another course called Desert Willow on Friday but had a last minute change. One of my buddies on the trip’s dad used to play on tour and through a friend of his we got a dinner reservation at Bighorn’s steak house on Thursday. While at dinner we ran into the owner/developer of Bighorn who had heard we were there through that particular member. He came over to our table and chatted with us and asked if we were playing there. We said no and he says can you guys be back out here at 9 am tomorrow? We of course said yes, even though my buddy had put in his credit card for Desert Willow (he called them the morning of and were able to cancel luckily). Bighorn was probably the nicest course I’ve ever played on. I haven’t been to many across the pond trips or been out to Cypress Point, Pine Valley, etc like some of you big ballers though. Torrey had some pretty awesome ocean views, but for the course and overall views I'd give the edge to Bighorn. Our caddie said the cheapest plot of land out there was over $2 million and you have to live out there & it's another $400k initiation. Normally the guest fees are $350, but we got half off from the owner booking our tee time. The best part was the free replay. We started out on the Canyons course and then went over to the Mountains course which had some pretty spectacular views. I’ve included a few pics below. The other courses were nice as well, but views were somewhat similar to Indian Wells & Indian Canyons with mountains in the backdrop. Great week long trip for sure.

Monday
Indian Wells Celebrity Course



Tuesday
Torrey Pines






Wednesday
Golf – Indian Canyons South Course




Thursday
Desert Island

Friday
Bighorn – Canyons Course am, Mountain Course pm








Saturday
The Springs


[This message has been edited by David_Puddy (edited 3/24/2014 2:50p).]

Man, who hit this monster tee shot?

Seriously though that trip sounds (and looks) incredible. I was supposed to go to Torrey Pines a few weeks ago, but the weather was crap and we had to reschedule for May.

I assume you only played the south course? How was the rough out there? Tame enough for the average golfer or do they keep it pretty fierce?

Solid pics.....As a SoCal resident, you summed it up quite well.

I played Torrey South the week after the Farmers. Hardest rough Ive ever hit out of....and I have played that course many times. The rough now is more manageable.

Never played BigHorn but heard great things....much like La Quinta and The Madison Club. Glad you got to play there.

Desert Willow courses are pretty phenomenal too.


Sidenote....I just found out two weeks ago that my dad picked me up a Saturday/Sunday badge for the Masters. I am flying into JVille Thursday to play TPC Sawgrass then drive to Savannah that night to play Savannah Harbor (Champions Event location up until this year) then off to Augusta.

Love golf trips....just hate the time waiting !!!

Yea we just played the South. The rough wasn't too ridiculous.

DaLama, how does Desert Willow compare to Indian Wells and Indian Canyons? I thought they were both really good and similar type of resort courses that were in great shape.

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Man, who hit this monster tee shot?

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bagger, that was actually from the 2nd hole tee box looking out onto a different green. Just wanted to capture more pics of the ocean views

[This message has been edited by David_Puddy (edited 3/24/2014 7:24p).]

Nice write up. Thanks for the pics, and glad you had a good time.

Ahhh, I love that area! My "all time" favorite course & club there is Plantation in Indio.

It is so a m a z i n g ! ! !

Golf in the desert of SoCal is definitely all that!

Thanks for sharing details & pics of your trip; good stuff! I haven't played Bighorn yet...

David_Puddy....I think D. Willow tracks are my favorites out there in terms of qaulity for public courses. I also like Escena which is north palm springs. Great track for the money and amazing club house/bar/restauarant.

Obviously have the TPC courses too which are pretty good.

They trimmed the rough at Torrey. Promise you if you play it just before or after Farmers, you cant get out of it with anything probably longer than a 7, maybe an 8. Greens were rolling just under 13 that monday i played.

DeLama, in regards to your trip we actually used to do a trip to TPC Sawgrass every year the week after The Players when my buddy's dad was still on the Champions tour and could get us on for free. The course is cool, but honestly I'd put all of those courses in PS above it. Maybe it was the scenery at PS versus what's out there but I was never all that impressed with Sawgrass. There are certainly some cool holes but I think 17 is the allure of that track & it's certainly not worth the $400 or whatever it costs to get on. That said, I'm certainly glad to to say that I've played it once. Let me know your thoughts....obviously it's personal opinion.

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Man, who hit this monster tee shot?

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bagger, that was actually from the 2nd hole tee box looking out onto a different green. Just wanted to capture more pics of the ocean views

[This message has been edited by David_Puddy (edited 3/24/2014 7:24p).]

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Just teasing about the ball in the foreground.

Puddy - TPC Sawgrass is just a bucket list course.....do it one time and then ben done with it. Will follow up afterwards with thoughts.

bagger - I figured but can never tell on this forum

ThaNKS FOR THAT!