Palm Springs Review Series- The Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club Home of the ANA Inspiration, an LPGA Major

Being a member of a clubcorp course or travel membership has its perks. It allowed me to play one of the best courses in Palm Springs just a few weeks before a major LPGA tournament. The Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club is probably my favorite course I have played to date. It was unanimously picked by our group as our favorite of 7 different courses.

Designed by Desmond Muirhead, it is not overpowering, or penal as a Pete Dye (I have a special place for him, and it’s not in my heart) course. The rough is longer due to the upcoming tournament, and much harder to advance the ball if sitting down. The tall, mature trees that line the fairway ensure that you must hit the fairway on the correct side if you do not want to worry about them in your approach shot. It is a fair course, fairly straightforward. Strike the ball good, and you will have a good day. A bad striking day will have the opposite effect. You will leave yourself with challenging shots under or over trees.

The first hole is a straight forward par 4. Just like any championship golf course, bunkers surround every green. The second hole is a long par 5 with one of the more narrow driving windows on the course. A good drive will result in a chance to get to the green in two. A great two holes to begin any round.

Holes 5 and 6 in my opinion are the signature holes on the front 9. Hole 5 is a par 3 over water to a demanding green. Hit it in the wrong quadrant and you will find yourself in three putt heaven. Hole 6 is a fun hole with an interesting fairway. It has a finger that juts out into the water. You have a choice to drive it down the right hand side of the fairway or hit a long iron onto the finger that juts out. Obviously, the riskier shot to the finger will result in a much better approach angle that you can be more aggressive with.

The back 9 starts very similar to the front, except there is more danger. You need to keep it on the left hand side of the fairway right about the area of a fairway bunker. The 11th hole is a dog leg right par 5. The drive is the dog leg part rather then the end. A successful aggressive drive cutting the corner over the trees will allow you to go for the green in two. Players the draw or hook the ball beware, too much can land you out of bounds.

The signature hole on the back, and for the course, is the par 5 18. Playing 646 yards from the tips, it is a mammoth of a par 5. It is one of the few par 5’s you will find that even the second tee is over 600 yards at 618 yards, longer than any par 5 from the tips at the famed Blue Monster at Trump National Doral (look for this review later). If you have watched the ANA Inspiration, it plays at 531 for the ladies during the tournament. Two great shots will leave you with a wedge over the water to the large green.

If you ever get an opportunity to play the Dinah Shore Tournament course take full advantage of it. It is one of the best parkland style golf courses you will ever play.