Palm Springs, California, holds a special place in the minds of many Americans, not least for the excellent Bob Hope Chrysler Classic tournament, the great dining and some truly elegant places to lay your head at night. The city is proof that class is possible in sandals and that desert living can be as lush as anywhere else—provided you find the right oasis.

as defined as palm springs can seem to be, this desert city 110 miles east of Los Angeles is, in fact, a rather dynamic and multi-faceted destination. Depending on your generation, you might regard it as a getaway for movie stars, a living museum of Mid-century Modern architecture or as an open-minded playground replete with nightlife and festivals. Golfers know it as one of the greatest places in the world to find an open tee time and there are plenty. The Palm Springs area boasts more than 125 courses (including nine Palmer courses), and is host to more than a few tournaments. Of them all, one of the most beloved is surely The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Half a century of great golf and great stories have come out of that event, and this year’s the Golden Anniversary is sure to be a winner as well.

Whether you make it to the area for the Bob Hope tournament, for a music festival, to marvel at the wave of recently restored mid-century homes or just to spend some time in the sun, we’re sure Palm Springs is a place you’ll want to spend a little time. Here’s a quick look at the Bob Hope and a short guide to desert dining and accommodations, including a few places you may know already. Wherever you stay, have a good time, remember the sunscreen, remember a hat and for goodness’ sake, don’t forget your clubs.

Hope History

The name Arnold Palmer is writ large in the annals of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, one of the PGA Tour’s more enduring and entertaining events, which will be staged for the 50th time in January 2009. As well known as the tournament is, the history behind it is less so.

Back in 1960, the King collected the first of the eight titles he was to claim that year with a three-shot victory over Fred Hawkins at the inaugural five-round Palm Springs Golf Classic, staged over the country-club courses of Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, Tamarisk and Thunderbird.

Palmer won for a second time in 1962, again with a three-shot margin over Gene Littler and Jay Hebert. When the title fell a year later to Jack Nicklaus (23 yrs and 13 days old, the tourney’s youngest–ever winner) its status was assured. By 1965 celebrities were flocking to the desert for a mid-winter golf fix, and Bob Hope lent his name to the event. Thus the Bob Hope Desert Classic, as it was first called, was born.

By then the Eldorado and La Quinta Country Clubs had replaced Tamarisk and Thunderbird on the roster of courses and the winners in 1965 and 1966—Billy Casper and Doug Sanders (Palmer was second by a shot both times)—further enhanced the tournament’s reputation.

Palmer boosted his title tally to four with playoff wins in 1968 and 1971 (over Deane Beman and Ray Floyd respectively) before signing off with a fifth victory—the 62nd and, as it turned out, the last of his PGA Tour career—by edging Nicklaus and Johnny Miller by two strokes in 1973.

The Modern Tournament

Tamarisk returned to the roster in 1969, the year of Casper’s second victory, and alternated with Eldorado thereafter until 1987 when the new PGA West resort in La Quinta entered the fray. That first year, the Stadium Course was in the mix, but in 1988 PGA West’s schedule spot moved to the Palmer Private Course, which has been ever-present on the roster ever since.

A second Palmer design, the Classic Club of Palm Springs, was introduced in 2006, and earlier this year the Palmer Course at SilverRock Resort came on board as well.

A look at the list of winners, including a total of 19 major champions, confirms the quality of the tournament’s courses over the years. Casper, Miller, John Mahaffey, Corey Pavin, John Cook and Phil Mickelson have each won twice while for four players—Bill Rogers (1978), Craig Stadler (1980), Donnie Hammond (1986) and Charley Hoffman (2007)—victory at the Bob Hope was the first of their PGA Tour careers.

With courses set up in early rounds for amateurs as much as for pros, scoring is hot. The 90-hole record is Joe Durant’s 36-under-par total of 324 in 2001, a single shot under Tom Kite’s 1993 score. In all, the 30-under mark has been equaled or bettered 11 times, most recently in 2004 when Mickelson beat Skip Kendall in a playoff after the pair had tied on 330.

Perhaps the most remarkable/famous feat at the Bob Hope came in 1999 when David Duval, at the time rivaling Tiger as world No. 1, came from seven shots back to fire a closing 59 (the third ever on the PGA Tour) for a one-stroke victory. Having carded 11 birdies, his coup de grace was a stunning eagle-three on the Palmer Private course’s 18th where he launched a towering 5-iron approach across the lake in front of the green and coolly slotted home a 5ft putt for victory.

Despite his passing in July 2003, Bob Hope’s name remains an integral part of the title alongside Chrysler, the sponsors since 1986. Apart from the great comedian, the other household name inextricably linked with this tournament is, of course, Palmer. How fitting, therefore, that for the 50th version of this hugely popular event The King himself will act as host.

PALM SPRINGS AREA ACCOMMODATION

La Quinta Resort & Club—The Waldorf-Astoria Collection
laquintaresort.com
49–499 Eisenhower Drive La Quinta, CA 92253 (800) 598–3828
golf: La Quinta Resort Mountain Course, La Quinta Resort Dunes Course (Pete Dye), PGA WEST Greg Norman Course, PGA WEST Stadium Golf Course (Pete Dye), PGA WEST Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course John S. Morgan made his fortune in oysters and in 1921 his son Walter made the logical decision to purchase 1,400 acres in the middle of the California desert. What began as a modest collection of casitas made from adobe bricks fired on premises, has blossomed into a world-class resort with five golf-courses, 41 pools, 52 hot spas, a full service spa, luxury accomodations and some of the best dining in the Coachella Valley. Needless to say, we think John Morgan would be very proud of his son. Over the years, La Quinta Resort & Club has hosted countless celebrities, including Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Clark Gable. Director Frank Capra called it his “Shangri-La for script writing” and Greta Garbo leased La Casa—a private home built on the La Quinta property.

Today, guests can rent their own luxury casitas, some with fireplaces, private patios and private pools. Relax in the seclusion of your own private bouganvilla covered patio while you dunk your feet in your private pool and contemplate whether or not you’ll make your tee time after-all and whether or not you want to. The La Quinta Resort & Club brought golf to the Coachella Valley when they built the valley’s first course in the 1920’s—a nine hole course with a one-dollar green fee—and they continue the tradition today with five courses designed by some of the most celebrated designers of our day: Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Pete Dye.

After you show the pros a thing or two on course, duck into the gorgeous Spa at La Quinta and indulge in one of their signature treatments, “The La Quinta Sportsman” which involves a Tri-Crystal scrub, a classic liniment rub down and a sports massage.
One bedroom hideaway suite from $599 per night.

Hyatt Grand Champions Resort Villas & Spa
grandchampions.hyatt.com
44600 Indian Wells Ln Indian Wells, CA 92210 (760) 341–1000
golf: 36-hole Indian Wells Golf Resort on property and Callaway Golf Performance Center/Pro Shop.
resort: Set on 45-acres of lush landscaping, with shimmering lagoons, burbling fountains and the bright green grass of two championship courses, The Hyatt Grand Champions Resort Villas & Spa is the perfect embodiment of a desert oasis. After checking into your one- or two-bedroom villa with a private backyard spa and butler service, dodge the desert heat in one of seven outdoor pools or welcome the burn in their 24-hour fitness center, complete with exercise cycles, steppers, stair climbers and free weights. If you’d rather build up a sweat outside, take advantage of three tennis courts, jogging and bicycling trails, and of course, golf. The Players Course, built in 1997 by John Fought, and The Celebrity Course, built in 2007 by Clive Clark, will definitely keep you busy. Be sure to visit the on-site Callaway Golf Performance Center.

One of only nine in the nation, professionals use high-speed cameras and trajectory simulation software, they’ll sort you with the most precise swing analysis and fitting available. After all that, grab a bite at one of the Hyatt’s four restaurants or melt into 80 minutes of bliss with the “Athlete’s Massage” at the Aqua Serena Spa. There’s plenty to do around town, but with no reason to leave the resort why bother?
One-bedroom villas from $442 per night.

Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa
desertspringsresort.com
74855 Country Club Dr Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 341–1725
golf: Palm Course and Valley Course (both Ted Robinson).
resort: When you step into the grand lobby at The Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa and look through a wall of windows onto the expansive property covered with lawns, lagoons, pools and palm trees, you may completely forget you’re in the desert. Settle into a 560-sq ft two-room Executive Suite and take in the views from an oversized patio while contemplating your next move. If you’re hungry, there are 11 eateries to choose from—more than any other desert resort—and a 600-selection award-winning wine list. Get to dinner on a gondola; boats leave from the lobby and make a few stops around the large indoor/outdoor lagoon.

Time for a workout? There’s a 4,000+ sq ft fitness center. Tennis? Enjoy 15 hard-surface courts, three clay courts and two stadium grass courts at the only resort in the world with the combination of all three surfaces, the PBI Tennis Show, eight fun lawn games, award-winning player-matching and a fun computerized hitting wall. For golf, there are two Ted Robinson courses, The Palms and The Valley, as well as an 18-hole putting course. Known as the “King of Waterscapes”, Robinson designed both courses with beautifully landscaped waterways under views of the breathtaking Santa Rosa Mountains. Finally, it’s time to visit The Spa and smooth out the knots with an 80-minute Cryotherapy Sports Massage. Nice.
One bedroom Executive Suite from $529 per night.