Couldn't sleep last night so I got up and headed to the desert early for my planned golf later in the day. Saw a 7:15 for here on TeeOff.com for only $16 so I nabbed it as a "warm-up" round. Arrived a... Continue »

Couldn't sleep last night so I got up and headed to the desert early for my planned golf later in the day. Saw a 7:15 for here on TeeOff.com for only $16 so I nabbed it as a "warm-up" round. Arrived around 6:35 and there were already some people out on the course, but the pro shop was locked. There's a clipboard to sign in if the pro shop isn't open that says to write your name and then check-in and/or pay at the turn if it's not open yet. A couple minutes later the shop opened and the friendly employee told me a little about the course and sent me on my way. Total POP (walking only) was around 1:45 for 18 holes of par 3 golf. No waiting, but I took quite a few photos.

I've always heard this course is kept in great condition and it lived up to those expectations. I don't think the greens were mowed today (considering I played at practically the break of dawn on Easter Sunday), but they still rolled great; I suspect just a little slower than normal. They were smooth and held full shots well. Fairways don't really come into play but the grass between tee boxes and greens is beautiful. The rough was also great, and sometimes the ball sat down in it a bit. Blue tee boxes had quite a few divots but I always found a decent spot to play from. I was in several bunkers and they were all very nice.

Fun little course. Definitely recommended at a good price.

Played Palm Royale on March 28, 2021. Brought my uncle (fresh off of covid self-imposed lockdown), my brother (first ever round of his adult life), and my 7 y/o son. Warmup round for my round at Ind... Continue »

Played Palm Royale on March 28, 2021. Brought my uncle (fresh off of covid self-imposed lockdown), my brother (first ever round of his adult life), and my 7 y/o son. Warmup round for my round at Indian Wells.

Had a blast walking this course. Conditions were really good. Staff was really nice.

Tee boxes were in good shape. Fairways (all par 3, so saw very few) were really good. Sand was nice and fluffy. Greens were okay - minimal ball marks, but did not hold shots well.

All in all, a fun executive course that was perfect for the group we had. Fun fact - couples holds course record here.

Will definitely bring my family back here. Value for the short round is great!

Walked the Blues (2070/51.8/113) in slightly over 2H on a GN Hot deal for $9. The weather was clear and fairly calm around 70. I wanted a place I could hit new irons off grass to specific targets an... Continue »

Walked the Blues (2070/51.8/113) in slightly over 2H on a GN Hot deal for $9. The weather was clear and fairly calm around 70. I wanted a place I could hit new irons off grass to specific targets and this place was perfect, especially at this price. Great course for working on your short irons, used nothing longer than a 7I. Ted Robinson Jr. layout set over rolling hills surrounded by mostly condos in a private, gated community. Many greens are protected by a lake in front. If you cannot consistently get 75 to 115 yard shots in the air and land them relatively close to your target, this course would be a nightmare where you better have a bag full of balls. Even though the course is short, could not recommend it to beginners for that reason. Tees had decent coverage but were what you would expect when almost every shot is going to be taking a divot with their irons. Very chewed up. However, the tees were the only part of the course not well above average. Fairways and rough do not come into play much on a par 3 course. However, both were lush and well maintained. Sand traps very well maintained with good quality sand. Smallish greens were undulating, firm and medium fast speed. A little bumpy coming out of over seeding. They accepted iron shots well. Very friendly, quick, efficient check-in. Walking only, no on course services or water stations on the course. No range, they have a warm up net beside the pro shop. Most holes have water and there is also more sand than you may normally expect on a short course. Recommended, beautiful little course.

I played today, 4-29-18. The weather was beautiful - 85 degrees with, at times, a 1-2 club wind. I got a last minute GN Hot deal for $17 at 1:30 pm. The price was great considering I wasn’t sure if m... Continue »

I played today, 4-29-18. The weather was beautiful - 85 degrees with, at times, a 1-2 club wind. I got a last minute GN Hot deal for $17 at 1:30 pm. The price was great considering I wasn’t sure if my recently repaired knee would be ok walking this 2,000 yd, 18 hole, par-3 course. (happily, it was.)

I’ve wanted to play here again since my first experience in January. I was just as impressed this time as I was then. I was again greeted by Stuart in the pro-shop. He remembered me from last time and we chatted a bit before I teed off. The course was pretty much empty so there was no waiting at all.

The course conditions were very good. The Bermuda is beginning to sprout, making the fairways very thick and a little bit long. It didn’t affect play at all, but it definitely took more effort to push my cart up the hills. The bunkers were nice with clean, soft, white sand. There are many lakes on this course and the water is impressively clear. The tee boxes were level but had a good number of divots and could use a mow. The undulating greens were very firm, rolled medium speed and I saw only about 3 ball marks. The cups had the sharpest edges I’ve ever seen. Many putts dropped right in where they probably wouldn’t have had the edges been not so clean.

After I finished the round, I chatted a bit more with Stuart. He told me of the renovations/improvements that are planned for this summer. They will be enlarging the putting green to about double its current size. The patio will also be increased in size from a seating capacity of 60 to about 90. The ponds that are next to the patio are going to be redone to more of a river design. They are also going to be putting in full bathrooms and water stations at each end of the course, on holes 5 and 15. He let me know that from June to October, the pro shop is closed. All rounds are $10 on the honor system- just put your payment through the door. I will definitely take advantage of that!

This is such a fun course. It’s great short game practice and a perfect warmup to a later round. I highly recommend Palm Royale Country Club and look forward to getting back soon.

Walked the Blues (1992/51.8/113) in 2.5H on a GN Hot deal for $16.49 including surcharges. The weather was breezy, clear and in the mid 90's. Ted Robinson Jr. design. Great course for working on you... Continue »

Walked the Blues (1992/51.8/113) in 2.5H on a GN Hot deal for $16.49 including surcharges. The weather was breezy, clear and in the mid 90's. Ted Robinson Jr. design. Great course for working on your short irons. The tees had decent coverage but were what you would expect for a course where almost every player is going to be taking a divot with their irons... pretty chewed up. However, the tees were the only part of the course not well above average. The fairways and rough do not come into play much on a par 3 layout. However, both were lush and well maintained. The sand traps were well maintained with good quality sand. The greens were undulating, firm and smooth. Medium speed, they accepted iron shots well. Quick, efficient check-in. Walking only, no drink cart, no water stations on the course. I think roughly 15 greens were protected by a lake on this layout set over rolling hills surrounded by homes in a private, gated community. Even though the course is short, I would not recommend it for beginners for that reason. If you cannot consistently get 75 to 115 yard shots in the air and land them relatively close to your target, this course would be a nightmare where you better have a bag of balls. Recommended with the above in mind.

Played Palm Royal Country Club Tuesday 04/03/2018. Magical and fabulous, are not words you would typically expect to be applied to a par 3 course Look forward to playing this course again soon, immacu... Continue »

Played Palm Royal Country Club Tuesday 04/03/2018. Magical and fabulous, are not words you would typically expect to be applied to a par 3 course Look forward to playing this course again soon, immaculate PGA grade condition are likely just as unexpected, however these are my sentiments after playing Palm Royal Country Club, a wonderful 1992 yard, walking only 18-hole par three course in La Quinta California. The course is inside a gated community and is largely played by residents, making this a relatively low volume course.
For those who have played the course but not recently the complex has new owners and they have invested heavily in making this well-designed course pop. Some water conservation design work has added character to the course, well adding some apparent hazards.
My friend has rented a condo for the month to decompress, and as an avid golfer he has ben there four days and played the course four times, including the men’s league. He invited me out yesterday morning to play the course. Now I admit almost 180 miles plus tolls to play a par 3 is a little over the top, but his company alone is worth the trip and this little gem is amazing. I thought Iron Woods was in good shape, it’ has nothing on this course.
I arrived early expecting to get a little time on the putting green before our scheduled 9:15 round. We had chosen this tee time as the women’s league goes out at 8:15, and I didn’t want to get up earlier than I had to already to get out there from Mission Viejo. Traffic was mostly light and I arrived at 8:00 am. At 8:16 my friend called to see how I was doing, when I told him I was just being some putting practice, he walked over 200 yards from his condo, talked to the starter and we were out on the back nine at 8:30. We had no one in front of us on the back nine, but were tied up behind several foursomes as we played the front nine. Pace of play was excellent.

Club house is nice, the pro shop simple but with the necessities. Fee for a nonresident was $23 which my friend picked up. The starter had a wonderful Irish brogue and very friendly demeanor.

As we tee’d off on #10 there was a slight breeze and temperature was in the mid 70’s. # 10 is indicative of much of this course, it plays 101 yards, with the approach over water with a bunker to the left side and behind the green opposite the water. Greens are sloped and contoured. Having played the course twice before, my friend knew to play the slope and contours of the green. Depending on pin you use the rise behind, to the sides or in front of the greens to get the ball in the right position. Many of the holes have false fronts or quick sloping runoffs to the side or back. # 12 & #7 are the long holes on the course at 150 yards, #8 is a treat at only 81 yards, but all over water and a pair of small palm trees.
The actual course review is easy. Tees are very good, level, little divot damage, the people playing here are religious in their devotion to using the provided divot mix.

Fairways are perfect, manicured fluffy, and because most yardages are carry, I saw not divots or signs of damage.

Bunkers are plentiful, and perfect, and players here are as devoted to raking bunkers after use as they to repairing tee boxes.
Rough is about two maybe three inches and manicured as well or better than a course prepared for PGA event.
Greens are alternately cut so they are as pretty as they are perfect. Every green has a reminder to repair ball marks, and people take this to heart as there just aren’t any unrepaired ball marks. The greens could be synthetic grass for all you can tell. Speed is a little slow which caught me on some down hill putts. They are firm but receptive and are fun as you can walk the ball back with spin.

Water of which there is an amazing amount of on this course is clear, clean, and nicely kept. Many of the ponds have rubber coyotes to scare away the birds, and it works on all but the four ducks and 13 ducklings we saw up by the club house.

Honestly, I have never played a course in better condition. It is worth every penny of the green fee. The drive might be another matter.

The course puts a premium on knowing the greens so that shots can be placed, which means you have to control your wedges and irons. Water and bunkers mean your air mailing your shots in, not playing bump and run. Putting is a challenge of reading the speed and breaks and having hit the ball to the right place. Close isn’t good enough if the pin is cut on a slope.

I expect to make at least one more tip out this month to play the course before it becomes too hot to walk. I should note this is a walking only course, push carts are allowed but there are no electric carts period. This is also a very hilly course, this morning my low back which is bad anyway, and my glutes felt the workout.

If there is a short fall it’s that there are no water stations on the course. I went through two and half bottles walking the course, so it is important to plan for that. Temperature at the conclusion of the round under slightly overcast skies was 83 degrees’ and a light breeze. The only restroom is the one at the club house, or at your condo if you live or are renting there. There are no secluded spots on the course.