Two Courses at Indian Wells Golf Resort Hard to Beat

By: Steve Habel

Everyone knows that the Coachella Valley is one of the premium golf destinations of the world, an area replete with great courses, wonderful resorts and amenities that are second to none. But the real head-turner about golf here is that many of its best golf options are municipal courses owned or leased by the cities in which they're located.

Such is the case at Indian Wells Golf Resort, which boasts a pair of tracks - run Troon Golf but owned by the city of Indian Wells - that are the match of any 36-hole resort anywhere. Indian Wells has had muni golf since 1986 with two courses designed by Ted Robinson. But both the original East and West were redesigned beginning in 2005.

Now called Celebrity (West) and Players (East), the two layouts are wildly different in appearance and playability. No expense was spared in the renovations, though Celebrity has a few more aesthetic touches and might be prettier to the eye. Waterfalls, ponds, lush plant life and palm trees are featured on each manicured venue. The PGA Tour's LG Skins Game was hosted at Celebrity in 2007 and '08. Players is tougher, longer and more traditional.

Celebrity is Quite Unique

English architect Clive Clark redesigned the West course and the new layout was unveiled to much fanfare in the fall of 2006. In addition to spectacular mountain views, the par-72 layout boasts wavy fairways and assorted water features in the form of streams, brooks and split-level lakes connected by splashing waterfalls, all surrounded with vibrant flora.

Clark's alterations to the original course were dramatic. Bunkers (there are 97 now) range in size from small to massive and many are whale-tail shaped and contain brilliant white sand for excellent definition. Also, Celebrity's expansive putting surfaces are turfed with Tif-Eagle and quite contoured.

Many fairways are parallel and separated by vegetation and mounding that often creates a bowl effect. A local rule allows golfers to take a free drop if their ball ends up in any of the flower beds.

Water is another significant feature at Celebrity as 13 holes have hazards in play in some shape or form. Most of the wet stuff on the front side is along the periphery, but the home half has some beautiful and incredibly challenging water holes.

Celebrity stretches 7,050 from the tips, where it has a 74.2 rating and 138 Slope. The course is quite narrow, but there are sufficient recovery opportunities near the greens, though the high-lipped fairway bunkers can be penal. It's unusual with a routing with just one par-5 and one par-3 on each nine.

On the front nine golfers must carry ponds on the approaches at the 501-yard, par-5 fourth and the 237-yard, par-3 sixth. Both are beautiful holes with palms and mountains forming the backdrop. The back side features the 367-yard par-4 11th, which can be attacked off the tee and is birdie-able. The 13th, another short (376-yard) par-4, is more difficult.

Celebrity's closing stretch is quite testy. The spectacular 519-yard, par-5 14th offers a wide landing area off the tee, but the route is eventually squeezed by a stream that crosses about 115 yards from the green. No. 15, the longest par-4 on the back at 471 yards, demands a tee shot over water, and the 180-yard par-3 16th is quite lovely. The finisher heads right to left toward a lake at its port side before ending at a huge, slightly elevated green.

The terrain is generally more rolling than at other Coachella Valley offerings. It is not a desert layout (anything but, in fact), and its side-by-side fairways provide more room than golfers might expect, adding up to a mostly friendly experience for all skill levels.

Players a Good Test for Better Golfers

A year after the new Celebrity course debuted at Indian Wells, the refashioned East course - now called the Players - opened for play. Designed by former U.S. Amateur champion and PGA Tour player John Fought, the course features bunkers styled in the fashion of those at Riviera, Winged Foot and the Sandbelt courses near Melbourne, Australia, created by Alistair Mackenzie.

Fought integrated many stately trees on the property into the design to impart the feeling of an established track. Most of the holes are oriented to take full advantage of views of the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and San Bernardino mountains; majestic Eisenhower Mountain stands sentinel to the south.

At 7,376 yards Players, is 300 yards longer than Celebrity, though Celebrity's tightness and more uphill approaches help even out the disparity. The "Cabernet" or back tees at Players are rated 75.3 and 139. It's markedly different than Celebrity in its parkland feeling.

Its Tif-Eagle greens are firm, vary in size and sport plenty of tilt. There are several large, waste-areas and some brutally long holes. The test begins at the 470-yard par-4 fourth, a gentle dogleg-right with a barranca down the right side. The green is elevated and protected by bunkers, making this a tough hole from start to finish. Things aren't easier at the 459-yard, par-4 sixth, where water guards the left side of the hole. With Eisenhower Mountain in the background, the tee shot is one of the more spectacular scenes at the course.

On the back nine the 186-yard, par-3 12th is also played toward Eisenhower to a green guarded by five menacing bunkers. The round concludes at an outstanding par-4 of 491 yards. A deep hazard guards the front and right sides of the green and four bunkers lurk long and left.

The better a golfer you are, the more you will enjoy Players. Those new to the game will find the course difficult with its up-and-down fairways, well-placed bunkers and water hazards.

Over the Top Clubhouse

The most striking feature at Indian Wells Golf Resort might be its clubhouse, called the IW Club and was tabbed the Clubhouse of the Year in 2008 by Golf Inc. Magazine. The 53,000-square-foot structure features sandstone walls, large expanses of glass, limestone and granite accents and stainless-steel detailing. Large sliding-glass doors in the dining areas allow a transition to several outdoor patios.

With the two playing options here golfers can have their pick on which course to play. Common to both are upscale amenities, excellent conditioning and first-class service from the bag boys to the pro shop to the starters, marshals and cart ladies.

In 2013 Golfweek ranked the Players course as the 10th-best municipal while Celebrity was No. 23. Players ranked as 24th among the 25 Best Courses You Can Play in California. Golf Channel's "Big Break" series was held at Indian Wells Golf Resort for its 15th season and showcased both courses.

Golf packages are offered through one of four partnering hotels - the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa, Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Miramonte Resort & Spa and Indian Wells Resort Hotel - all within easy walking distances from the courses.

For more information, see www.indianwellsgolfresort.com.

Steve Habel is a freelance writer contributing Cybergolf news stories, features, equipment and book reviews and personality profiles from his base in Austin, Texas. He also works as an associate editor for Horns Illustrated magazine, a publication focusing on University of Texas sports, and is a contributing writer for Texas Golf Insider, Golf Oklahoma magazine, Tri-State Golfer and ATX Man magazine. Habel's blog (www.shotoverthegreen.blogspot.com) features news on golf and chronicles his many travels, including playing almost 1,000 golf courses since 2008. Habel is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and the Texas Golf Writers Association.

Tweet