Palm Springs Review Series- Classic Club, an Arnold Palmer Designed Course

As we continue our Palm Springs, we take a look at an Arnold Palmer designed course north of I-10. After hearing horror stories of the afternoon winds, we decided it would be best to play in the morning and let others battle those winds. From the time we pulled up, to the time we left, Classic Club has one of the most courteous staffs we have encountered. We felt at home in the pro shop, and on the first tee by the starter.

The first hole starts you off gently with a generous fairway, which you will find throughout the course, and an easy to get green with only a bunker to the left. Hole 2 is a nice par 3, with your miss being either left or long left as it will hit and roll off the hill. Short will leave you with a difficult up and down. Hole 3 is a very nice par 4 that you will need to keep your drive down the left hand side as everything will roll towards the water. Hole 4 is a risk reward hole if you decide to try to get there in 2. Hole 5 is a decision maker off the tee, either lay up short of the bunker leaving a longer approach or take a driver and try to thread the needle between the traps, leaving yourself a nice approach. Hole 6 is an intimidating tee shot with a large valley to the right of the green. Stay left and short if you want to stay away from trouble.

Hole 7 heads back towards the clubhouse and reminds me of 18 on the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral. A good drive then to a slightly downhill approach to a green guarded on the left by water. Stop by the clubhouse between holes 7 and 8 if you need to as this will be your last chance before you head back out. If you play a fade off of the tee, then you will like the tee shot on 8. Keep it in the fairway to an easy to reach green, just steer clear of the bunker on the left. Finish off the front 9 with a nice par 5 as you aim over the trap on your tee shot. Little left over the trap isn’t bad either. A good drive will again leave you to gamble. Go for it in 2 or lay up. As you start the back, you will find one of the smallest fairways on the course. The scorecard may not say it, but this is one of the toughest holes on the course. Not much room for error off the tee or on your approach to a green protected, with water right on the right but open left. Hole 11 is a fun par 4, driving the ball towards the bunker with your approach to a very receptive green over water.

Hole 12 is one of the prettiest holes you will ever play. So much so you may miss all the danger. Water all along the front, with a stream to the right and guarded on the left with a large bunker. Hit the large green and enjoy the scenery. Stay out of the bunkers over the water on hole 13. A short tee shot will work just fine to a green guarded by 3 bunkers. Hole 14 is an awkward par 5, as you try to hit a narrow fairway with a layup leaving you a potentially blind approach the further right you go. This was probably my least favorite hole but still not a bad one. A short tee shot on 15 is all you need as anything long will bring in a lot of trouble. The green is guarded by water and bunker left, so don’t be afraid to miss right. Hole 16 was very reminiscent of 3, keep your drive left, and a 3 wood off the tee is a bad play if you can hit your long irons. Another well guarded green with bunkers left and long and water right. Hole 17 is a downhill par 3 with bunkers short and long. Don’t be afraid to miss right.

As you come to the last hole, you will finish with a long par 5. Keep the ball on the right hand side if you want a shot at the green in 2. If not, then the layup is long and straight, giving yourself a great angle into the hole. This is the best designed par 5 on the course and was a great finishing hole. We enjoyed Classic Club and the conditions were phenomenal. Having said that, it wasn’t the most memorable round or course. Just a solid track.

As always, if you want us to come review your course or resort, email us at ContactUS@TravlingGolfSticks.com