Join me as twice a month I take the opportunity to play courses in Southern California and share the round and what I think of the course.
Please join me and if you have a course you’d like me to play and write about, please send me a comment or email to igolf010@gmail.com
The Reserve
I must admit, playing golf with 3 other great people, on incredible golf courses and then writing about it does make me pinch myself from time to time!
This review falls into the “wish I could play” category. The club I am writing about is private, located in the foothills of the mountains, overlooking the Coachella Valley.
It had been many years since I last teed it up at The Reserve, in Indian Wells California. The last time I was there, it was very new and had not been open that long. Maybe 1 or 2 homes and most of the shrubbery were still small. That was where small stopped and incredible began.
The golf course, designed by Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish, is a masterpiece. And in my experience it’s not because of one particular item…like going to your favorite restaurant because they have these special rolls that are to die for! No it’s everything, from the moment I turned off Portola Ave, onto Reserve Drive, the outside world was left behind, and the experience began.
I have to say the drive in is unlike most private or gated clubs I have experienced over the 35 years I have played the game. I drove what felt like about ½ to ¾ of a mile on a road, that winds through the desert, flanked right and left with natural beauty common in Southern California, with some side streets with homes of colors matching the surrounding, blending in and not overtaking the desert floor.
As I drove I wondered if I had made the proper turn, because I had not reached the guard gate, and then as I rounded a corner, there it was, subtly tucked in amongst the cacti, while not spoiling the experience and building the right mindset for what lay ahead.
The lady at the gate could not have been more pleasant, again, each piece making the whole stronger, more meaningful…
As I arrived at the parking lot, about a mile further in, I was so comfortable because they have gone in a direction that makes everyone, guests and members alike, immediately feel welcome instead of uneasy when arriving at a club for what could be the first time.
The guys at the bagdrop? Incredible comes to mind. Each was nice, attentive and generous with knowledge.
The first questions they asked immediately allowed them to know who I was playing with, and then they told me exactly where my playing partners were. My clubs were loaded and I was given directions to the driving range, and told I was already checked in and unless I needed something from the proshop could go right out and warm up…WOW!
Ok, so I can say I have been on ranges all over North America, including Canada, at some of the greatest courses and this one is definitely in my top 5.
The range faces North, which gives you a panoramic view of the entire valley. You combine this with the desert beginning to come to life with colors after a plentiful season of winter rains, and a backdrop of Mountains covered in snow, “swacking” balls onto a carpet of lush green grass, I mean this could have been the day to check out and life at that moment could not have been better.
My dear friend, known in the desert as Da Coach, Rich Gilgallon, was the pass that allowed me this rare opportunity. Da Coach, who, I think if we could create a way for him to play golf every day, and pay his bills, would also do everyday’s’ radio show from a driving range or tee box somewhere. Thanks Coach! Make sure to listen to his show KPSI 920 4-6pm weekdays!
Ok back to golf. Condition of the course and all its surroundings were breathtaking. At times I found myself just gazing out at nature and enjoying it and appreciating the incredible job the architects, not only of the golf course, but of all the homes, that are expertly placed, had done. Never taking away from the beauty nature provided, but instead, like instruments in an orchestra, working together to make award winning music to our eyes and ears.
The golf course layout is very playable. Several sets of tees allow all levels of players to enjoy this course and test their skill set, or push them to the next level.
The fairways encourage you to give it a rip, and reward you when you hit it solid, and a fairway bunker or three wait for you if you hit it crooked.
The rough was left natural, so if you were in the rough or desert, the shots were playable. You might have to navigate a small shrub or a cactus here and there.
The greens reminded me of playing on tour. They were firm, yet receptive when you hit a solid shot. The pace was at least a 10 and as the dew from an unusual frost delay burned off, they got even faster.
Local knowledge helps when putting. Surrounded on 3 sides by mountains creates illusions of breaks that really aren’t there. I was fortunate enough to have the eyes of an expert, who is also the Member and the reason we got to play. We have to refer to him as Mr. X….but he played professional golf for a living on 3 different continents, stretching over the Regular, European, South African and Senior Tours. If there is a nicer man, I would challenge you to find him. Like that saying, ”when he speaks we listen” Mr. X knows golf!
On two different occasions I asked for a read. Both puts were about 20-25 feet, and his reads, which were not my first best guess, allowed me to make two putts that otherwise would have been missed by margins that would have been embarrassing…again, thank you Mr. X
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Black and Whites! On the 9th Tee Mr. X asked if we’d like anything from the grille. When the three of us said we were good, he insisted we have a milkshake, called Black and White.
OMG! I coddled that cup of heaven for at least 6 holes on the back nine! Make sure, if you do get to play, that you have a Black and White Milkshake. Think “Cherry On Top”. I didn’t think it could have been any better, until I took my first sip.
Golf at The Reserve in Indian Wells California felt like a world away. I have to say special thanks to my dear friend Da Coach, Pat (who flew out from Jersey to escape the snow, and not miss this opportunity) and our dear dear host, Mr. X. (who by the way birdied 6 holes on the back 9, which was hard to beat, even though my partner Pat started off with an Eagle!)
It is hard to extract or highlight one particular hole, not because they weren’t great, but rather they’re all pieces that fit together so magnificently that like a team that just won the gold medal, because they all work together to win, no one athlete, and no one golf hole should overshadow the entire 18. They’re all incredible!
This is a must course to add to your bucket list….somehow some way.
And if your thinking about living in the desert, like my friend Pat is, and had felt he made a decision where to establish roots, after playing the Reserve, is now strongly considering it his new home when he plays golf in the Coachella Valley. Everyone we bumped into made us feel welcomed. Hats off to the staff and of course the architects. Great Job, the best Weiskopf course I have ever played.
Signing off until the next round…keeping it in the short grass.
