Floodwaters cutting across 17th fairway of the Legend Course at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort (photo by Larry Bohannan/The Desert Sun). A record Valentine Day’s rainfall of 3.69 inches in Palm Springs left a trail of debris and eroded landscapes, as washes and channels designed to handle the Coachella Valley’s infrequent downpours were overrun. Brandon Alexander…
New Sports Complex Reflects New Era at PGA West
The $10 million facility at the La Quinta, Calif. community is expected to further the trend that has already seen a swing from 95 percent golf memberships to 60 percent sports memberships among the property’s 1,400 members. The sports complex includes a fitness center, jacuzzi, swimming pool, bocce ball courts, dog park, drive-up movie area,…
Clubs in Palm Springs, Calif. Region Showed Hopeful Signs in 2017
In his year-end roundup of developments for the industry in California’s Coachella Valley, golf writer Larry Bohannan cited investments by Bighorn GC and Toscana CC as a sign that “on at least one level [golf] continues to attract players and money.” The re-opening of Rancho Mirage CC was also noted as another sign that things “certainly [aren’t] as bad as a lot of people want you to believe.”
New York Times Features Marrakesh CC As “Chic Again”
A Fashion & Style-section article highlighted how the Palm Desert, Calif., property, once known primarily for its 18-hole executive golf course, has become “a mecca for worshipers of high design”—and in particular architect John Elgin Woolf, who created Marrakesh’s pink-and-white villas and pool houses in his signature “Hollywood Regency” style that is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity. “The desert used to be driven by golf,” one Marrakesh resident told the Times. “Now the big engine of the economy [here] is style.”
Turf-Removal Rebates Continue Despite Official End of California’s Drought
As with previous offers, clubs and courses in the Palm Springs, Calif. region are being offered a new round of $15,000 rebates for each acre of irrigated turf that is removed, with a cap of seven acres. “It is not about being in an emergency or reacting to the emergency,” said a water-district official in explaining the program’s continuation.
Warner Springs Ranch GC Reopens After Two-Year Renovation
The property in San Diego County, Calif. was bought in 2013 by Pacific Hospitality Group and features an 18-hole course originally designed by David A. Rainville. Over the next two years, the new owners expect to reopen the world-famous hot springs pool complex and other portions of the resort.
Water-Use Paradox for Palm Springs-Area Courses Highlighted
The more than 120 golf courses in Southern California’s Coachella Valley have a rare luxury because of a huge underground aquifer that makes water cheap and plentiful, while other properties in the state must deal with a devastating drought. Superintendents still want to develop long-term conservation strategies, but pressure from residents, and in some case legal requirements, are forcing them to keep properties lush.
Clubs for Sale: Indian Springs GC, Tuscany GC, Seven Lakes CC
Indian Springs, in California’s greater Palm Springs region, is listed for $6 million. Tuscany GC is in the Henderson, Nev. region of Las Vegas that is beginning to experience a real estate recovery. Seven Lakes CC is in West End, N.C. and shares golf course design lineage with the Pinehurst resort.
“Rebirth” in the Works at Mesquite G&CC
Though the Palm Springs, Calif., golf course has gone into receivership, the club remains open and a new management company is planning a renovation in the coming months.
Seasonal Seafood
Club chefs aren’t shy about featuring regionally inspired, lesser-known seasonal fish alongside more traditional mainstays.
Hamachi Crudo with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Hamachi Crudo with Pomegranate Vinaigrette and a Salad of Persian Cucumber, Radishes and Grapes yields 6 servings Ingredients: 1 lb. hamachi, sliced thin as needed salt, lime juice and olive oil For Vinaigrette: 1 Tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 cup blended olive oil 8 oz. pomegranate seeds To Taste…
California Superintendents to Participate in Water-Use Forum
The Director of Golf Course Operations from Rancho La Quinta CC and the Golf Course Superintendent of Toscana CC will be panelists at a community meeting, co-sponsored by the city of Indio, Calif. and The Desert Sun newspaper of Palm Springs, Calif., that is being held to encourage dialogue about water problems in the Coachella Valley and explore potential solutions.
Tahquitz Creek Seeks Financial Assistance for Cleanup
The Palm Springs, Calif., golf resort is still dealing with damage from late-summer storms that sent a river of mud and debris down the mountainside and into the wash, affecting eight holes and burying cart paths. The club has requested that city council transfer $100,000 to the property to help cover restoration and cleanup costs.
Indian Wells (Calif.) Golf Resort Breaks Ground on $2M Pavilion
The publicly funded tent facility will offer a finished floor, large windows and climate-controlled environment, measuring 5,700 sq. ft. The city collected $6.3 million in the 2012-13 fiscal year from taxes levied against stays in hotels and vacation rentals, making the project an addition to the city’s robust tourism arsenal.