Took advantage of a ‘Golf Now’ Hot Deal and headed out to Rams Hill on Thursday. The savings were noteworthy…$50.00 off the rack rate…which I found to... » More

Took advantage of a ‘Golf Now’ Hot Deal and headed out to Rams Hill on Thursday. The savings were noteworthy…$50.00 off the rack rate…which I found too tempting to resist. Weather forecast pointed to a high temperature of 92 with 17% humidity and just a breath of wind. The day before Halloween? Sign me up!

Absolutely love the layout…can’t say enough good things about Fazio’s redesign vs. Ted Robinson’s original routing. I have more fun playing here than anywhere else in Southern California and couldn’t wait to see what kind of shape it was in since their maintenance process was completed back in July/August.

Well, the golf course is in impeccable condition. Full coverage on the tee boxes and fairways, relatively short yet healthy rough, consistent sand to play out of, and greens that I feel are the best around. This combination is about as good as it gets.

And speaking of the greens, they are beginning to soften up compared to my experience earlier this summer. Shots were stopping right by their ball mark, which meant a more aggressive approach into the pin locations could be undertaken compared to May/June.

But don’t be fooled…the greens rolled at a posted ‘12’ on the Stimp…and were every bit that quick and smooth as glass. Yet, nothing outrageous…totally fair…even with the challenging contours one must navigate if on the wrong side of the hole.

The new surfaces are definitely sturdier than the ones they replaced. I can’t recall seeing a course with so few ball marks…you literally had to search for them…despite being so receptive. They are indeed a pleasure to putt on.

Also want to mention the fairways; they’re cut short and tight lies are the order of the day. Solid contact produced shots with the proper amount of spin, which assisted in controlling shot trajectory/distance. It is so satisfying to flush fairway woods off this turf.

Customer service level continues to shine. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, everyone is committed to guaranteeing one’s experience exceeds all expectations. So many courses talk about providing that type of vibe yet far too many of them fall short. Not so at Rams Hill.

So I walked away with another positive memory, which was boosted by a solid ball-striking round (it’s about time), and being paired up with three other guys who were great company. I’m looking forward to a couple more visits planned for December but wouldn’t be surprised to find myself out there again this month. Weather will be much different…or maybe not…but I expect playing conditions to be top-notch if the course continues to be treated with this level of TLC.
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Participated in the GOLF MOOSE/VIVID Private Club Event (my first) @ Dove Canyon on Monday and was happy I elected to do so. As is always the case whe... » More

Participated in the GOLF MOOSE/VIVID Private Club Event (my first) @ Dove Canyon on Monday and was happy I elected to do so. As is always the case when Johnny is involved, it was a well-organized affair with the club staff providing a welcome, hospitable atmosphere. A tip of the hat to everyone who made this day possible.

And I was blessed with great company…having been paired up with Johnny, Ron, and Mark…which elevated my level of enjoyment. Got to witness a number of high-quality shots from the boys as well. And much appreciation for Mark’s guidance throughout the day since this was my initial visit to the golf course.

Expansive, warm, and inviting clubhouse that’s conducive to relaxing with a drink and trading stories following a day on the course. Large practice range facility with a short-game area off to the side provides the opportunity to work on all phases of one’s game. Although we were relegated to hitting off mats, they were in good shape as I didn’t notice any signs of excess wear…and good quality range balls I might add. Practice putting green overlooks the picturesque finishing hole and was pretty close to mirroring what I encountered on the course.

As for the course itself, I’d rank it as one of the more demanding layouts I’ve played. Typical Nicklaus design: it demands precise iron play in order to score well. Having the ability to hit high approach shots is a huge plus…particularly when the pins are tucked in the far reaches of these devilish greens, many of which are on the narrow/shallow side and run diagonally to the fairway. And Jack’s bunkering has them well-protected. For a guy who was never known for his sand play, I get the impression this is how he’s chosen to exact his revenge.

While I personally feel some of the contours and segmented sections of the surfaces ‘push the envelope’, there is a perverse sense of pleasure one experiences if able to navigate those challenges successfully. Adventuresome and mentally-stimulating are appropriate terms when it comes to describing the pitching/chipping and putting experience at Dove Canyon.

And with that said, the golf course demands full engagement from start to finish; it’s an exciting layout and the word ‘boring’ never comes into play. I found the elevation changes, rolling fairways, and general scope of this design quite pleasing to the eye. There are a number of excellent holes out there but it’s tough to top the dramatic tee shots you face on the Par-3 10th and 17th holes.

Course conditions were very good; tees, fairways, and greens in solid shape for this time of year. Took note of a few bare spots on a couple of greens but didn’t have to deal with anything that compromised play. Rough was just long enough to create an issue but that was dependent upon the lie: if the ball sat up, not much of a problem…but a different story if it burrowed into the turf.

Greens rolled at a quick pace but nothing unreasonable…especially given the contours and slopes…and were very receptive to well-struck shots. Yes, the approaches are challenging, but if you hit the mark distance-wise, the ball did settle down nicely.

Bunker sand had good texture…a bit on the heavy side…along with plenty of depth, with just about all of them requiring lofted escapes as the ones I was in sat below the putting surfaces and featured steep faces.

Having no previous experience at Dove Canyon, I felt I was at somewhat of a disadvantage…which wasn’t helped by a sloppy ball-striking round. But now that I’ve gotten a look at it, made some observations, and taken notes, I’m looking forward to a return at some point down the road.
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Thoroughly enjoyed the day @ Classic Club from all aspects…but it was my playing partners, Johnny G. and Mark E., who really made it extra special. Co... » More

Thoroughly enjoyed the day @ Classic Club from all aspects…but it was my playing partners, Johnny G. and Mark E., who really made it extra special. Couldn’t have asked for a better duo to be paired with.

Classic Club is one of my favorite courses in the Palm Desert area and for many reasons: outstanding layout…challenging yet fair…full-featured practice facility, professional/outgoing staff, and a meticulously-manicured, ambient setting that blends in so well with the property.

Course was in very good shape tee to green but it was difficult to not be disappointed with the overall quality of the greens. Possibly attributable to the time of year, they ran slow, grainy, and not as true as I had anticipated.

But what really caught my attention were the frayed and ragged edges around a number of cups…which led me to believe they elected to not cut fresh hole locations that morning. It’s not something I would expect from a high-end course such as this…especially after having already come out of aeration.

With that aside, this is a well-run operation; every staff member I interacted with was pleasant, courteous, and on top of their game. They genuinely make one feel welcome here…and that isn’t always the case at many other venues.

I opted to have dinner at Bellatrix at the conclusion of the GK raffle and the food/service were excellent. The generous meal credit is a nice touch and provided added value to the day’s entry fee.

I highly recommend Classic Club as a ‘must play’ if you’re in the area. The facility checks all the boxes when it comes to an enjoyable and satisfying experience, from start to finish.

And thanks again, Johnny, for organizing and making this all possible. It was great to have the opportunity to tee it up with you!
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Played Shadow Ridge for the first time in 12 years…a self-imposed seven-year exile from golf was a major contributing factor…as a warm-up for the Clas... » More

Played Shadow Ridge for the first time in 12 years…a self-imposed seven-year exile from golf was a major contributing factor…as a warm-up for the Classic Club event. It didn’t take long to be reminded why this course is my top choice in the Coachella Valley; the layout demands the best from all aspects of one’s game yet is fair and totally devoid of gimmicks.

Course conditions were very good as far as the tee boxes, fairways, and rough go. The greens? They were slow and grainy…but I did manage to make a few putts once I was able to dial in the speed so it turned out to be a relatively minor issue at the end of the day.

I had the last time on the tee sheet…2:00…and the course to myself so I played two balls the entire round. 36 holes on the books in three-and-a-half hours? I’ll take that every day of the week.

Practice facilities are second-to-none and the staff rates high as well. Having access to the locker room for a quick shower…after playing in the rain over the final four holes…was a welcome perk.

Also nice to FINALLY see an on-site restaurant (‘Giuseppe’s) open for business adjacent to the pro shop. Stopped in for dinner after the round and it was packed. Food and service were excellent…and they offer a pretty extensive menu.

Going back to the golf course, I believe the greens will be undergoing aeration next week, with a full course-closure scheduled at the end of October. With that in mind, I’d recommend holding off on playing there until they reopen late November.
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