Indian Wells Country Club, Classic Course Review

Posted On May 8, 2019

Introduction

Located in the Palm Desert of California lies Indian Wells Country Club in Indian Wells. The original Bob Hope Classic started here and called Indian Wells Country Club home for more than 40 years.

With 36 total holes of golf, there are two good course options. Both run up against the mountain side at some point. We will be reviewing the Classic course today.

The Classic course plays to a par 72, and just 6478 yards in total from the back tees. It has a rating of 71 with a slope of just 127.

Practice Area and Pro Shop

The pro shop is on the bottom level of the clubhouse. It is not overly large but adequate. There are a little less options to purchase items, but then again, this is a private course and not a resort. The staff has always been extraordinarily helpful here. One of the members of our foursome had a delayed flight and there was no issue with moving the tee time back 30 minutes. The men’s locker room is something to marvel at as well. It alone makes me want to join.

The practice area is good as well. Not large but plenty of room. There is plenty of length to the driving range. The chipping area with a bunker, an area of fairway along with the green is located on the far end of the range. There is also a nice putting green. If you are playing the Cove course, then you will need to warm up here before heading over. There is only a putting green near the Cover clubhouse.

Conditions at Indian Wells Country Club

We travel to Palm Springs every March for a yearly trip. The couple of times we have played Indian Wells Country Club it has been in terrific shape and it did not disappoint again. The greens didn’t seem as fast this year, or maybe I was just better prepared but they are always quick! We enjoy playing here because the conditions are so good. It is really hard to find something that is bad about Indian Wells Country Club.

The Front 9 at Indian Wells Country Club Classic Course

One tidbit before we get started on the hole by hole review, make sure you keep you ball below the hole whenever possible. The greens are fast and anything above the hole will have you playing defense for most of the day.

Hole 1 starts of with a short par 4 that crosses the drainage ditch. Driver doesn’t have to be hit off the tee here, as a fairway wood or a hybrid for a longer hitter will work. Take your tee shot over the edge of the water. Faders may want to aim just right of the palm trees while drawers of the ball may want to aim 10 yards right of the water. With your approach, just make sure you clear the front bunker and stay out on the one on the left.

Hole 2 is a par 4 back across the drainage ditch and street. At only 355 yards, a driver again isn’t necessary. Hit whatever club is going to put you in the fairway of this narrow par 4. Just long or just left are you best misses into this green. The front left bunker isn’t too much trouble.

Hole 3 is a par 4 that heads back into the mountains. Keep your drive out to the left to ensure a clean look at the green. Longer hitters may again want to take a fairway wood off the tee. This is one of the more nerve racking approach shots. You really need to hit this green. Just left is your only decent option to miss.

Hole 4 is a beautiful par 3 with the mountains in the background. At just 162 and slightly downhill, it’s not overly tough. Short left or left will be easy up and down.

Hole 5 is a fun par 5, taking you over the edge of a mountain. You will want to keep your tee shot down the left hand side for the best look into the green. Anything right will be tough. If you decide to go for the green in two, have a drive up and look at the hole. It feels like it turns a lot more to the right than it actually does. If you are right off the tee, my suggestions is to lay up even with the mountain to the left. This will give you about 130, but takes out most the trouble. So just long or deep right would be the only decent misses, but would likely leave you above the hole.

Hole 6 is a par 3 back over the drainage ditch. The bunkers may look worse than they actually are on this hole. Just left or right is fine but long will give you a speedy chip back down.

Hole 7 is a short par 4 at 338 yards. Be smart of the tee here and hit your best club to put you in the fairway. Just make sure to clear the bunkers here on your approach.

Hole 8 is a par 5 that is only 515 yards. It can be tough to reach because of how narrow it is. You have to put your drive into the fairway. Putting it just in front of the bunkers with a short pitch is just fine as well. Long is not that fun here. There is a decent spot to lay up to, about 100-130 yards out, but make sure you don’t end up behind a tree. With your approach, just left is your best miss option, just not down into the ditch. the right bunker leaves you with a decent angle so it isn’t that penal.

Hole 9 is an awkward par 4. Try and hit your drive as far down into the drainage ditch as you can. You will be hitting back up to the green so while the yardage may not be that bad, you will need to take an extra club probably. The back bunker is not somewhere you want to be. The front bunkers aren’t great but it beats going over this green.

The back 9 at Indian Wells Country Club Classic Course

Hole 10 is the toughest hole on the course. Its a par 4 stretching 446 yards. It’s quite a change from the several short par 4’s on the front. I prefer to keep it down the left, and out of range of the houses on the right. The left side is the miss here. The bunker will give you enough room so don’t worry about it.

Hole 11 is a par 4 that bends slightly to the left. Right middle is the play off the tee here. The best miss is opposite the flag stick just behind the bunkers.

Hole 12 is a shorter par 4, compared to the last two. Keep it down the middle and out of the trees on the left. A Fairway wood is fine off the tee here. This is a long skinny green. Just make sure you clear the bunkers and aren’t long past the flag.

Hole 13 is a long par 3 at 197 yards. Left is the miss here, even the front left bunker. Just stay out of the trees deep right.

Hole 14 is a nice par 5. There is a large fairway bunker where the majority of players would place their drive. Even if you are short of it, you can take a crack at the green in two with a fairway wood. The front bunkers are fine if you are going for it in two. No trouble if you need to lay up. just hit it to your desired number. Be accurate with your approach. The green is similar to hole 12, as it’s long and skinny. There is room right, behind the front bunker, but be careful of it rolling across the cart path.

Hole 15 is a par 3. There isn’t much room for error here, but I prefer the bunker on the left. It will leave you with a little bit better angle and counters of the green to work with.

Hole 16 is a fun par 4, and one of my favorites. A really good drive here is need to clear the drainage ditch, and have a better look at the green. Right is the only option to miss here, even if it is the bunker. Anything left will likely be dead or cause some major issues.

Hole 17 is your last par 4. A stellar drive will have you shape it around the large tree on the left hand side of the fairway. The green is a bit uphill from the fairway. You will have a better chance at getting it up and down from the front bunkers than anywhere else. Left behind the bunker can be a hard up and down because you will likely not be able to control it very well.

Hole 18 is a par 5, and plays best with 3 shots to the green. Keep your drive out of the bunkers on the left. Lay up in the fairway just past the trees that are to the left to keep them out of play. If the pin is in the front miss short, the it is in the back the only option is to miss deep right or short on the green. The back bunker is no man’s land.

Conclusion

We really enjoy playing Indian Wells Country Club every year and look forward to it. The conditions are always near perfect, and you won’t find a place that will treat you better. If you are in the area, it’s definitely a place you will want to visit. If you’re looking at retiring or joining a club in the palm springs area, definitely check out Indian Wells Country Club.

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