THE COURSES
> C L I C K H E R E F O R C U R R E N T C O U R S E C O N D I T I O N S AT I N D I A N W E L L S G O L F R E S O R T
BOOK
A
TEE
TIME
E
ven the best golfers can't avoid hit-
ting into the sand on occasion, but
those playing at Indian Wells Golf
Resort may now find the experience a bit
more enjoyable.
That's because the resort recently com-
pleted a major project that over the course
of the summer has involved a renovation
of all 105 bunkers on the Celebrity Course
and all 66 on the Players Course.
The project, which started June 13 and
wrapped up on September 2, saw the
sand completely removed from every
bunker, drainage improved and the fabric
liners replaced. Approximately 7,000 tons
of sand – a 50/50 blend of basic bunker
sand and Augusta white sourced locally
from the Coachella Valley – was then
brought in to refill the estimated 5½ acres
of bunkers across the two courses.
"We'll have consistent depth through-
out the bunkers, and playability will im-
prove tremendously," said Director of
Agronomy Rick Menard. "The bunkers
are looking fantastic."
Menard said most top courses renovate
their bunkers every 10 years or so, as foot
traffic, weather and normal wear and tear
take their toll. The summer's project marks
the first such renovation since the two
courses were redesigned in the mid 2000s.
While the Celebrity Course was closed
for bunker renovations, Menard and his
staff took advantage of the opportunity to
make a couple of other improvements to
the Clive Clark-designed track. They
drained the greenside pond on the 18th
hole, cleaned out residue on the bottom
and refilled it with fresh water. On the
par-4 seventh, which plays 445 yards from
the back tees, they reduced the size of one
of the fairway bunkers by 60 percent, soft-
ening the landing area.
The overarching goal of the projects
was to ensure that the Celebrity and Play-
ers courses maintain the level of quality
that players expect when visiting one of
the premier golf resorts in California.
"We're always striving to improve and
keep ourselves at the top," Menard said.
TOP:30 LIST
INDIAN WELLS
TRACKS NAMED
AMONG BEST
W
hen it comes to
great golf in The
Golden State, there's no
shortage of fantastic
choices. Narrowing
those courses down to
the best of the best can
be a daunting task.
But that's what the
editors at golf.com do
every other year – and
the two courses at In-
dian Wells Golf Resort
earned a spot on the
prestigious list of "Best
Golf Courses You Can
Play in California, 2016-
17 Edition."
Included among the
likes of Pebble Beach,
Aviara in Carlsbad and
Maderas in Poway, the
Players Course at Indian
Wells came in at No. 16,
while the Celebrity
Course rounded out the
list at No. 30.
>> Check out the
complete list HERE.
FRESH FACELIFT
Bunker renovations among improvements made this summer