Indian Wells Golf Resort

Indian Wells Insider - September 2016

Indian Wells Golf Resort

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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

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