And while there are certainly enough lavish country clubs and pro-style resorts to accommodate the TPC Snoqualmie set, the best news is that the vast majority of Palm Springs’ courses are right in the Cascade Golfer wheelhouse — reasonably priced and of impeccable quality. Nearly all offer significant discounts for golfers looking to make their stay an extended one, while still others partner with area hotels, resorts and suites to create stay-and-play packages that take care of all of a golfer’s needs, whether staying for two weeks or two months.
Now, some might find the idea of taking a golf vacation in the middle of an economic crisis to be a little nutty — an idea that frankly, we encourage all of those California and Arizona-based golfers to keep on thinking. That’s because with an anticipated dip in the travel market this winter, just about every Palm Springs resort we talked to said they’re having to take unprecedented steps to attract out-of-towners, from slashing greens fees to unheard-of lows, to offering free food and wine … in some cases, even going completely over-the-top and throwing in free rounds with their snowbird packages.
I don’t know about you, but as I look out at gray skies and anticipate another cold, wet, Northwest winter, or turn on the news only to hear about rising foreclosures and falling 401(k)s, the idea of swinging the sticks for a week or two in the 75-degree, Palm Springs sun seems like exactly the right tonic for an overstressed body and mind.
So replace those rain-soaked pines with sun-dappled palms and let your mind drift to Palm Canyon Drive, where the sun is just beginning to set over the San Jacinto Mountains …
Hole-In-One Service
“It’s another beautiful day,” says Mike Dahlstrom as he answers the phone at Cathedral City’s CIMARRON GOLF RESORT (760-770-6060, www.cimarrongolf.com), the first stop on our eastbound journey through the heart of the Coachella Valley.
While it’s true that Dahlstrom, Cimarron’s Vice President of Sales and Hospitality, always answers the phone this way, it’s also just about always true. Tucked in what geologists call a “rain shadow” between the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains, Palm Springs receives fewer than six inches of rain a year, making Dahlstrom’s opening salvo more than just mere optimism.
Cimarron takes its name from a purple flower that runs wild throughout the desert valley?— a fact that seems to have inspired John Fought’s similarly unconventional design. The resort’s 36 holes — including the par-71 Boulder Course and the shorter, executive Pebble — wind their way through a native arroyo, blending desert and links elements to create a unique valley experience.
In addition to the lack of on-course homes and condos that are an ever-present fact of life for many desert courses, Cimarron boasts a surprising number of elevation changes and greens that are considered among the best in the valley. The friendly staff are well-versed in the club’s “beautiful day” mantra, and likely play a significant role in the resort’s 70-percent retention rate among snowbirds — a high number given the multitude of world-class golf options in the valley.
Much of the club’s recent success can be traced back to the purchase of Cimarron in 2004 by Paradigm Golf Group, which also owns nearby Woodhaven Country Club in Palm Desert. Paradigm recognized that beautiful views, generous fairways and cherry greens weren’t enough to make Cimarron stand out from the crowd. Instead, the company chose to recast Cimarron as the valley’s friendliest resort, with second-to-none customer service and player card programs designed to engender loyalty with golfers who have no shortage of other world-class options in the region.
“We strive to give the player a first-class experience in all aspects of their visit, not just on the golf course,” Dahlstrom says. “We have a world-class practice facility, a full-service restaurant, a fun and friendly staff and the most popular Players’ Card program in the desert.”
Paradigm’s Players’ Card is indeed one of the valley’s best values, featuring unlimited golf for as little as $279/week (single) or $479/week (couple), plus two free rounds, five buckets of range balls, a free lesson and discounts in the restaurant and pro shop. Assuming a snowbird played as few as four rounds per week, that averages out to less than $70 per person, per round — a stunning value given the three-digit peak-season price tags of most valley courses. In addition, golfers planning to make a longer stay can pay for a three-week pass and receive a fourth week of unlimited play absolutely free. Flexible daily greens fees also apply for those just passing through, while the resort boasts 41 reasonably-priced vacation villa units for those looking to establish a more permanent foothold in the region.
Ultimately, Cimarron and its semi-private partners, Woodhaven Country Club and Palm Desert Country Club, represent some of the valley’s best values. Their player card program is perhaps Palm Springs’ most rewarding, piling free golf and other discounts on top of bargain-basement prices. And no course is more committed to the power of a smile and a helpful hand.
It’s a beautiful day, indeed.