Indian Wells Golf Resort Tees Up Great Experiences
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2024-01-26
By Gord Montgomery, Senior Writer, Inside Golf
INDIAN WELLS, California — After surveying the terrain at this municipally-owned divot-digging property, it’s no wonder that other munis around the world wish they could grow up to be compared to the Indian Wells Golf Resort. Why wouldn’t they?
With wonderful playing conditions on both courses, the Celebrity and the Players, both are backed by mountain vistas and a wonderful array of amenities including an eye-popping 53,000-square-foot pro shop. This indeed is a place to stay and play. It’s things like that, and more, that keep this 36-hole playground top of mind for visiting golfers in a jam-packed field of choices.
The facility’s Director of Golf Joe Mitchell noted, “The market (in the Palm Springs area) is huge. We are blessed to have two beautiful golf courses that are diverse.
The Conditions & The Views At The Celebrity Course At The Indian Wells Golf Resort Are Second To None In The Valley. (Photo By Gord Montgomery/Inside Golf)
“The Celebrity course that hosted the Skins Game in 2007 and ’08 is... I’m not going to say it’s ‘quaint’ because it’s a 7,000-yard golf course, but its fairway corridors are a little more narrow than the Players. The greens are a little more undulating, smaller, and maybe more like your country club course. The Celebrity course has all the bells and whistles. Flower splashes all over the golf course. The last six holes all have some sort of water feature like a waterfall or a lake. It’s wonderful but challenging at 7,000 yards.”
Truth be told, this course is eye candy. The fairways are lush, the greens smooth and quick, and there aren’t a lot of spots to get yourself into trouble (other than all the water on the homeward stretch). With that being said, players must be sure to take enough club to reach the greens on their approach shots as the majority of the putting surfaces are raised, so running the ball onto that area isn’t easy to do.
There are five boxes from which to start your adventures, ranging from the aforementioned 7,000 yards down to 6,600, 6,300, 6,000, 5,600, and finally 5,200 meaning anyone, and everyone, can take in this beauty and truly enjoy their day.
Overall, this is a wonderful track that begs to be played.
As Shown Here, The Players Course At Indian Wells GR Is A Bit Sterner Test Than Its Sister When It Comes To Avoiding Hazards Such As The Massive Waste Bunker To The Right On This Par 4 Hole. (Photo By Gord Montgomery/Inside Golf)
As for the Players course, well, it’s a bit bigger but it plays a bit easier if that makes sense. The greens on this 18 aren’t as elevated so running the ball up onto the putting surface is a possibility on almost every hole. The one thing here are the bunker complexes, both those that protect the greens and those in the fairways denoting the line of play. There are also waste bunkers along the way, so as they say, the middle of the fairway is the place to be on this layout.
“You have bigger fairway corridors, bigger green complexes, and some very big bunkering,” compared to its sister course, Mitchell pointed out. “It’s a big course that can measure almost 7,400 yards. Now, we have seven sets of tees on that golf course so all levels can enjoy these courses.”
What is noticeable about Players is the length of the par-3 challenges. From the White blocks, three of the four are at least 160 yards, and those are well protected by bunkering. The odd man out here is the 17th at only 125 yards.
These sister courses are an interesting back-to-back play as you get a taste of two different styles on one property, with great visuals on both and awesome wintertime weather in which to enjoy them.
The Rooms At The Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa Are Clean, Comfortable, And Spacious For Those Looking For A Spot To Settle Down For A Great Stay-And-Play Experience. (Photo By Gord Montgomery/Inside Golf)
Where To Stay
If you’re into the Stay-And-Play routine, then the Indian Wells Golf Resort fits that bill too, especially at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa. You’ll find a variety of excellent choices to bed down for the night, including comfortable rooms, suites, and villas if you’re looking for a longer stay. This place is so comfortable, notables such as Marilyn Munroe and the Rolling Stones have stayed here in the past.
As for amenities, the Hyatt fits the bill to a tee, as it’s nestled up to the two championship golf courses at Indian Wells. If the rest of the family isn’t into that particular game, the hotel is close to the famous tennis centre here. There are on-site swimming pools with two water slides, a 450-foot lazy river, private poolside cabanas, and of course, a deluxe spa. Other guest amenities include high-speed internet, electric vehicle charging, a fitness centre, digital key and check-in, a business centre, and it’s pet friendly.
To top off your day, or to begin the day, there is great food and service at the facility’s restaurants. Included in that is the casual Agave Sunset lounge which serves a variety of lighter fare including wonderful fish tacos, sliders, and personal-sized pizzas, topped off by a wonderful selection of thirst-quenchers. On a more upscale note, there’s Lantana. As well as an elevated dining experience, you don’t want to pass up the breakfast buffet here, where you can replenish your energy with a selection of made-to-order omelettes or feast on a variety of fruit, hot oatmeal, eggs, bacon, sausage, and oh-so-much more via their buffet.
There is also an on-site Marketplace where you can find a wide selection of custom-made grab-and-go sandwiches, snacks, and liquid refreshments.
Only a short walk from the golf courses, and with a quiet time in the hotel from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m., the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa at Indian Wells is the place to settle in for a great stay, meaning you’ll be ready to take on the challenges of the day ahead on the two exquisite golf courses next door.
For information on these properties, go to www.IndianWellsGolfResort.com or the Hyatt at any of their social media sites: @hyattindianwells (Instagram); @HyattRegency_IW (Twitter or X); @HRIndianWells (Pinterest).