Celebrate The Game Of Golf With The PGA

By Eric Tracy
erictracy@earthlink.net

Standing at the Pro Shop counter in the magnificent new clubhouse of the PGA of Southern California Golf Club you'll wrestle with the decision "do I play the Legends or the Champions course?" I suggest at these prices, play them BOTH!.

Don't confuse the new PGA of Southern California Golf Club with courses around the country operated by the PGA Tour called TPC courses. Those tracks are for deep pockets. Yet, it's ironic that here in the land of high ticket-daily fee golf the Southern California section of the PGA of America went the other way. They built a wonderful two-course facility east of Riverside that's great golf for $50. And get this; it's the goal of the guy that runs this place that everyone leaves happier than when they arrived. In fact, if you lose a ball, he'll replace it. I can tell, already you're smiling.

WARMING UP: The SCPGA had been looking for years for a site not only to put its headquarters, but also to own and operate a 36-hole club with it. Oak Valley Partners, a housing development firm, made that dream come true when they donated 500 acres of --believe it or not--wetlands, along with some rugged terrain 30 miles west of Palm Springs in the triangle between the 10, 60 and 215 freeways. After fighting off a few environmentalists and a whole bunch of nay Sayers, it was done. Two 18 holes courses named The Legends and The Champions. Courses so equally tricky and beautiful, if ask a 100 players which course is the best, they'll be split 50-50. Exactly they way the General Manager Jeff Johnson and his brain trust wanted it. So, before heading to the outlet malls at Cabazon or dropping some coin in the slots at the Morongo Indian Museum on the way to Palm Springs, give yourself some time and don't pass up this genuine golf value.

CLUBHOUSE COMPLETED: The first time I played the PGA of Southern California Golf Club the clubhouse wasn't completed. It will be this week. WOW! The 34,000 square foot facility boasts a golf shop along with men's and women's locker rooms equipped with shower facilities and private lounges. There's The Pub, serving Pub Grub in addition to two outdoor dining areas that offer panoramic views of the golf course. In addition, the clubhouse will offer full club repair and a complete shoe care service. That's right, all the same stuff that costs you $75k up front to join. Here it's free. The banquet facilities can host 200 with room for even more on the outdoor patio, great for corporate events and charity golf tournaments.

PRACTICE WITH A PURPOSE: Don't get me wrong, I love to play but I've got a lot in common with PGA Tour Pro Vijay Singh. I love to practice. I could pound balls for hours. Here in Calimesa, practicing is an art form with a remarkable practice center. This double-ended facility. 400 yards in depth, is much more than a place to warm up. No plastic mats here. The all-grass practice tees simulate any course condition. The short game area-(where too few duffers spend enough time)-allows players to practice any type of scoring game shot imaginable.

MY FAVORITE HOLES: Alright, let's play a few holes on The Legends course with manicured bunkers and plenty of elevation changes. The Legends goes straight out from the clubhouse and doesn't return until you finish:

• No. 4, 153 yard par 3, 17 handicap named "Lookout": The "Lookout" hole is the first of two places where they actually encourage you to stop for a Kodak moment and snap a few pictures. At the highest point on the course (2,430 feet), there is a view of the San Jacinto Mountains to the East, the San Gorgonios to the North and the San Bernadinos to the West. There are five launching pads to choose from all spaced apart on the ridge facing the gorgeous gorge in front of you.
• No. 6, 570 yard par 5, 7 handicap named "Cur Lee" (after architect Brian Curley): A very artistic fairway bunker to the left provides a great tee-off target - it's about 280 yards away and if you hit it, you're a better man than me.
• No. 9, 407 yard par 4, 13 handicap: The "Rail" hole puts you out in the Old West, with a train track running along the right side and, off in the background, a ghost town of old tin shacks and rusted silos. Quiet for a second, and you can hear the sound of frogs croaking over the din of the dirt bikes.
• No. 15, 361 yard, par 4, 14 handicap: It's called "Goosebumps" because of the stunning display of fairway bunkers sitting in front of you. The key is finding an island of grass to land on for your second and third shots.
• No. 17, 156 yard par 3, 3 handicap: Another breathtaking view of the San Gorgonios (that's actually the name of this hole) provides the second picture stop. Hit it long, because the green warbles so much in the front half that putting can be a heartbreaking experience.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: If you stop for some Pub Grub, notice the placemats and take them with you. They aren't just there for decoration. They have pretty good course info that'll help you out on each hole of both courses. I took mine with me, consider doing the same.

WILDLIFE ALERT:

According to the marker at the 12th hole of the Legends Course, "watch for bald and golden eagles, red tail hawks and white-tail kites." The latter would seem to be the least dangerous.

DID YOU KNOW: The junior program here is about as good as it gets. Beyond getting a fair shot at each course with a "learners loop" of special gold tees, the 400-member program of kids 17 and under have access to complimentary instruction every Wednesday afternoon and, with a $25 annual fee, they play free each day after noon (and they have to walk, no carts). This is the home course to two local colleges and three high schools.

COOL PERKS: It says on the "Welcome to the course" info card in each cart that if you "misdirect a shot," find a "host" and they will "happily furnish you with another ball." Also, if you lose a club and it isn't returned, the course will order a replacement at their wholesale cost. Finally, to make sure everyone fixes ball marks on the greens, they'll issue a complimentary repair tool.

SUMMING IT UP:

From the white tees, you'll have a great time; from the black or blue tees, it'll be a challenge. But more than that, Director of Operations Jeff Johnson says he has three objectives: "My vision here is for more than having the opportunity to play but also the opportunity to learn something - look at everything around here. We also tell everyone on our staff to make sure everyone leaves happier than when they arrived. And we also want everyone to make relationships with other golfers." There's no doubt that'll happen on this Golf 101 classroom in the desert. Plenty of stone markers give players interesting info, such as those are Coast Live Oaks and Cottonwood trees on the 7th fairway, and not a single tree was taken in the design of the courses. All told, from the fabulous open-ended driving range to the final hole, for course beauty, challenge and, above all, affordability, this is worth the haul from all corners of Southern California. So walk the course if you can, they encourage it.

Eric Tracy

KFWB RADIO