Started off the Palm Springs weekend with an impromptu nine holes at the Pete Dye Challenge course at Mission Hills on Friday. My friend whose family are longtime members there (and own a home) got us... Continue »

Started off the Palm Springs weekend with an impromptu nine holes at the Pete Dye Challenge course at Mission Hills on Friday. My friend whose family are longtime members there (and own a home) got us a cart late afternoon and we took up the challenge, but only had time for the front 9. Very nice course in all respects, down to the difficult Dye design. I learned how much Pete Dye likes to tempt you into the tougher tee shot in order to have a better angle towards the greens. If you take the bailout area you're often presented with a much smaller green to land because it will run more perpendicular to the safe spots - evil! But it's of course very good fun and it's a beautiful little layout with plenty of water in play, long carries and an unruly amount of undulation in the fairways so a flat lie even off a great tee shot is never a given. The conditions were pretty perfect for late summer in the desert. There were a few dry areas in the fairway or some overwatered sumps, but nothing to worry about in the grand scheme of things. Rough was thick and challenging. Tee boxes immaculate and the sand was quite good. The greens? Probably running about a 10-10.5 and very clean and rolling true. Not much to complain about when you get to jump onto this track for a nice, fun twilight session. I would love to play the full 18 next time we're out here but it gets more and more busy as winter approaches so we'll just have to wait and see when that day comes. Get out there if you can.

A friend had lined up a round out here and I joined him. We knew we were set on the Dye course, but it was pretty empty out there and we ended up getting to play all three courses in under 7 hours! We... Continue »

A friend had lined up a round out here and I joined him. We knew we were set on the Dye course, but it was pretty empty out there and we ended up getting to play all three courses in under 7 hours! We started on Dye around 11:00 and literally had this course to ourselves. Doesn't seem like this one gets as much play from members because it's a tough, tricked-out course. The course was in good shape overall for early summer. The tee boxes were great. The fairways were mostly great, but there were some scattered thin/bare spots. The rough was mostly quite good, cut down and easy to hit from with the ball sitting up nicely. The greens were tricky because there were some really soft spots and some really firm spots, so not every approach/chip reacted the same. Some greens had some repair work being done, too. Still, the surfaces were nice and rolling smooth at medium speeds. I wasn't in a bunker on this course, but they looked perfect just like on the other courses. With a name like "Pete Dye Challenge Course" you know you are in for a pretty tough course. Lots of similarities to PGA West Stadium, with water in play on almost every hole and a lot of deceptive angles to taunt you into biting off more than you can chew on drives. Lots of mounding in the rough areas and around greens. Like Stadium, the green surfaces themselves aren't that crazy once you are putting, but they are fairly small and everything around them is treacherous to make approach shots and scrambling tough. I'm a big Pete Dye fan and enjoyed this course overall. At the same time, it has a pretty familiar feel as other similar desert courses of his.

Golf course is located in a private gated community in Rancho Mirage where you have to pass through security guard to verify your tee time for guest access. As we were driving up the road towards Mis... Continue »

Golf course is located in a private gated community in Rancho Mirage where you have to pass through security guard to verify your tee time for guest access. As we were driving up the road towards Mission Hills CC, we saw a lot of brown patches of grass. What a relief to finally see the course and the patches were just the rough and not the fairways. Tee box, fairways and greens were in great condition, lush and green all the way through. Greens were a bit slow.. ok, it was realllly slow. Some greens actually has major repair being done but it did not affect play. Lots of water that comes in play and certainly can be intimidating at times. Noticed there are a lot of bunkers taken out of play that are now 'grass' bunkers. Heard that members complain about the course being too difficult so they converted some of the bunkers. LOL! Customer service was so so. For the most part, everyone was pleasant to deal with but there were some staff (2) in the proshop that was snobbish when they find out you are not members. NOT cool! Facilities include valet parking, nice grass driving range, a large chipping and putting practice area and super nice clubhouse and proshop. Oh and on course restrooms are locked. Keys are attached to the cart keys but kind of inconvenient esp when you really need to go... Find it rather strange given the fact the course is members only that they need to do this. Pace of play was 3 1/2 hours despite the course being full. One of the few private course that does offer yardage books. I guess part of the Kraft Nabisco LPGA site brings in a lot of outsiders who purchase merchandise and souvenirs. No GPS on the carts (as expected) so make sure to bring your own or get the yardage books. Did not see any yardage markings on sprinkler heads or anything on the course itself. Overall, we had a fun time playing and enjoyed the course and the facilities. Definitely recommended.

Played in a charity event 2-27 great course and very challenging. A lot of water waiting for your golf ball and the greens were firm and fast with many undulations. If you get the chance a must play... Continue »

Played in a charity event 2-27 great course and very challenging. A lot of water waiting for your golf ball and the greens were firm and fast with many undulations. If you get the chance a must play. Everything is top quality.

Played in a charity event 2-27 great course and very challenging. A lot of water waiting for your golf ball and the greens were firm and fast with many undulations. If you get the chance a must play... Continue »

Played in a charity event 2-27 great course and very challenging. A lot of water waiting for your golf ball and the greens were firm and fast with many undulations. If you get the chance a must play. Everything is top quality.

Terrific. Great challenge on a beautiful layout. Easy 4 hours with immaculate presentation.

Terrific. Great challenge on a beautiful layout. Easy 4 hours with immaculate presentation.

All that you want and everything you expect from MHCC, with a superb presentation and lush all around.
Two ball playing in 3+10 with 0815 tee. Busy day with LPGA Q school on Palmer and Shore courses,... Continue »

All that you want and everything you expect from MHCC, with a superb presentation and lush all around.
Two ball playing in 3+10 with 0815 tee. Busy day with LPGA Q school on Palmer and Shore courses, leaving members the Dye course.
Absolutely no faults found. Extremely challenging.

July 12 tee 0830; finished at exactly 4 hours letting through 3 groups of members. Four of us off white tees enjoyed the superb course conditions; much improved from last time and worth the return. Th... Continue »

July 12 tee 0830; finished at exactly 4 hours letting through 3 groups of members. Four of us off white tees enjoyed the superb course conditions; much improved from last time and worth the return. The two other courses have been closed due to grass kill from lack of watering (heat too), so only one course opened and it was busy.
All staff and service is first class. There was no drinks cart nor marshal all day, but lots of water stations along the way, and rest stations too. No GPS carts, but ice in the cooler, and towels included.
Get here early and enjoy the impressive huge practice facility.
All tees have been improved/repaired and were lush and level. Fairways, rough and greens are all green and lush with expert manicuring. Fairways fast, rough around an inch and thick, greens soft, smooth and medium speed, a few marks visible, no bare patches. Really, you can marvel at the designs.
Sand bunkers were good green-side, with some pebbles still there. Fairway bunkers are more compacted but groomed and manicured well. The condition today is more of what I would expect from this club and should be played if you get a chance. What an experience.

Rancho Mirage Golf Course Reviews
Mission Hills Country Club Golf Course Review

Just two of us among some 4 balls, June 3, 0806; finished in under 4 hours. Staff and service is what you would expect at a private club, although did not see a drinks cart nor marshal all day. Lots o... Continue »

Just two of us among some 4 balls, June 3, 0806; finished in under 4 hours. Staff and service is what you would expect at a private club, although did not see a drinks cart nor marshal all day. Lots of water stations along the way. No GPS carts, but ice in the cooler, and towels included.
Prac-fac description in review below. Get here early and enjoy it.
I played the Blue/White Combo tees-Red for Shazza; they are in need of attention as grass is thinning and plenty of divots (sanded).
Fairways, rough and greens are in transition to bermuda, so rye is dying off leaving brown blotches behind. Fairways fast, rough dry, greens soft but bumpy from the transition to bermuda, and medium speed, some bare patches too, but you will love the design. Everywhere is perfectly manicured.
Sand bunkers were good green-side, airy, and plentiful, some pebbles still there. Fairway bunkers more compacted but groomed just as nicely; some sand areas are waste.
I have seen the course in better shape, but it is that time of year. This whole experience at MHCC, and the Dye Challenge, is always a treat and worthy of a return.

Rancho Mirage Golf Course Reviews
Mission Hills Country Club Golf Course Review