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W
ith the Indian
Wells Pro-Am In-
vitational having
recently been contested on
the Players Course and the
final leg of the Desert Two-
Ball Challenge
coming in April,
the longer of the
two layouts at In-
dian Wells Golf Re-
sort has enjoyed its
fair share of the
spotlight.
"The Players
Course is a great
layout with all sorts of chal-
lenges," said PGA Head Golf
Professional Tom Burley.
Both of the par 3s on the
front side play longer than
220 yards, with multiple par
4s in the 450-460 yard range –
so ball striking is a premium
if you want to get it close.
"It requires skill to hit the
greens as most are crowned,
and off-target shots can lead
to less-than-favorable
bounces," Burley said. "Deep
bunkers line the fairways and
guard the greens – which also
creates a fair but solid test."
But that challenge is a big
part of the layout's appeal,
Burley said. So, here are his
four tips to help you conquer
the Players Course:
• • • •
CHOOse Wisely
When teeing it up on the
Players Course, make sure
you select the proper set of
markers as there are seven
different areas to choose from
ranging from 5,108 yards to
7,376 yards.
Playing from the tees that
best suit your game will
make for a better experience.
• • • •
BrinG yOur sHOrT GaMe
Shots around the greens
can be tricky, especially if you
short side yourself because
many of the putting surfaces
are crowned. With most chip
shots, the flag will be sitting
higher than where you are
standing, so it calls for imagi-
native short-distance, high-
lofted shots.
• • • •
fOllOW THe COMpass
Anybody who has played
a fair amount of golf in the
Coachella Valley will know
one local trick that can help
immensely with your put-
ting. The greens tend to break
toward the east — most of us
call it the "Indio effect."
When putting, take into
consideration that the grain
will be growing toward the
east and urging your ball in
that direction.
• • • •
lOCal KnOWledGe Helps
There are a few holes on
the course that you will prob-
ably play better the second
time around, such as the 5th,
6th, 9th, 15th and 18th.
These holes present tight-
lined tee shots to a favored
part of the fairway, usually
bordered by a hazard or out-
of-bounds areas. I would rec-
ommend playing well away
from the trouble spots on
these holes, as they typically
don't yield too many birdies
and par is a great score.
BrinG yOur BesT!
How to take on the challenging Players Course
By TOM
Burley,
PGA
The Players Course requires
precision and a deft touch.
