Page 75 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Taking a page from Robert Louis Stevenson’s
classic novel, Treasure Island, Spyglass has
hole names such as “Black Dog” and “Billy
Bones,” hints for the unwary at this
demanding 6,960-yard layout. Designed
(1966) by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., holes 6, 8
and 16 are listed among the toughest on the
PGA Tour. Spyglass features two distinctly
different kinds of terrain that influence
how the fairways look and play: the first five
holes roll through sandy seaside dunes
while the remaining 13 holes cut through
majestic pines with elevated greens and
strategically placed bunkers and lakes to
grab errant shots. pebblebeach.com
MOUNTAIN COURSES
Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club
Carved from the natural terrain of the Mohawk
Valley, approximately one hour north of Lake
Tahoe in the Plumas National Forest, the fair-
ways are framed with native grasses and a
profusion of wildflowers. Seven meandering
streams through tall pines, cedars, firs and
quaking aspens contribute to the challenge
and beauty of the 6,955-yard, Dick Bailey-
designed course. golfwhitehawk.com
Coyote Moon Golf Course
Nestled in a serene setting at 6,800 feet above
sea level in Truckee (Lake Tahoe) among tow-
ering pines and enormous granite
outcroppings, the 7,177-yard Brad Bell design
serves up one of the best mountain golf expe-
riences in the country. With generous
fairways and not a single home to spoil the
dramatic views, this upscale daily-fee course
provides dramatic elements of risk,
including the 13th, a 200-yard par 3 that drops
80 feet from tee to green. coyotemoongolf.com
DESERT COURSES
PGA West—TPC Stadium Course
Since opening in 1986, the TPC Stadium
Course in La Quinta has been rated one of
the “Top 100 Courses in the World” by GOLF
Magazine. This 7,300-yard challenge
designed by Pete Dye hosts PGA Tour “Q-
School” Finals every other year with players
having to navigate cavernous bunkers, an
island green (known as “Alcatraz”) at hole #17
as well as the menacing water-lined 18th
.
Named “Stadium” due to Dye’s ingenious
plan to sculpt spectator seating into the nat-
ural terrain, one of the most memorable
events includes Lee Trevino’s hole-in-one on
#17 earning him $175,000 from a carry-over
skin in the 1987 “Skins Game.” pgawest.com
Indian Wells Golf Resort
Only 20 minutes from Palm Springs Interna-
tional Airport, golfers have the opportunity
to play the newly transformed Players
Course (John Fought, 2007) and Celebrity
Course (Clive Clark, 2006) at a property with
the distinction of being the only 36-hole
public golf facility with both courses on
Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play” in
California. Combined with a lighted, 9-hole,
natural grass putting course and a brand new
53,000-square-foot clubhouse, this “muni”
golf experience in the desert is unparalleled.
indianwellsgolfresort.com
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Celebrity GC at Indian Wells Resort,
Desert Willow (Firecliff GC), Greenhorn Creek GC, Spyglass Hill GC.
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 73