One of the most spectacular Southern California desert designs by Arnold Palmer—the Classic Club—has become more accessible than ever with some new changes and innovations to this newer course that served as the host to the Bob Hope Classic for three years (2006-2008) and is owned by a renowned charitable foundation.

Located adjacent to Palm Desert next to Interstate 10, the Classic Club, which is professionally managed by Troon Golf, was developed and is owned by the H.N and Frances C. Berger Foundation as a community benefit project. The upshot for the golf community and visitors to this area is that both local and vacationing players can now access this wonderful facility at greatly reduced fees-- but with the same great service and amenities.

For charitable organizations the Classic Club is now offering greatly reduced greens fees year-round to qualifying organizations for charity tournaments on the 18-hole championship course. The goal is to maximize charitable fundraising efforts by encouraging economical tournaments during prime season.

“The Classic Club provides an extraordinary golf experience with unmatched dedication to our community,” said Ron Auen, President of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

Rates are now about 20 percent lower than comparable Coachella Valley public golf courses and reflect the Classic Club’s priority to being first and foremost a charitable golf course.

After purchasing a Classic Club resident card this season for $15, Valley residents pay only $45 for each 18-hole round. Resident guests pay only $90. The peak rate plus lunch is only $125 thru May 17, 2010. All players receive exceptional amenities with those daily rates: golf cart with GPS, unlimited bottled water, yardage book, range balls, divot tool and ball marker.

“Our rates give more people in the Coachella Valley and those visiting an opportunity to play on a magnificent championship course that has been ranked between Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines, two of the most celebrated courses in California,” said Greg Rubino, Classic Club General Manager.

Additional amenities at the Classic Club can accommodate groups of 10-400 with food and beverage service in private rooms, banquet facilities and picturesque outdoor spaces. The three-story, 63,000-square-foot, Tuscan Village-inspired clubhouse houses the Classic Grill, which serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. The new fine-dining restaurant, Bellatrix, is open for lunch every day and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. The views from the clubhouse overlooking the cascading waterfall and mountain vistas offer a great setting for dinner, casual drinks after a round or with friends.

The golf shop, which was recently named on Golf World’s “2009 List of Best 100 Golf Shops,” features men’s and ladies apparel and popular brands including Nike, Adidas, Greg Norman, Travis Mathew, Club Glove, Titleist, Callaway and more.

This is a “new breed” of desert course—and one that should be on anyone’s the list to play during a visit to the Southern California desert. It is definitely a high-end golf experience with service to match.

The 18-hole championship course offers five tee options for a challenge at any level. The course features rolling terrain outlined with Pine, Dogwood, Pepperwood and Olive trees, offset with flowering bushes, shrubs and pine straw ground cover. Wide landing areas, stunning water features and 360-degree views of the surrounding Chocolate, Little San Bernardino, San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountain ranges make this course an incomparable experience. The Zagat Survey rates the renowned course and amenities as one of America’s Top Golf Courses.

This par-72 layout truly tests the pros from 7,305 yards, but yet is very playable for the recreational or vacationing golfer, with rolling terrain accented with elevated tees.  In terms of course conditions, this is as good as it gets with lush, spacious fairways and 30 acres of lakes and streams. Although there are five sets of tees, most players usually will play from the White (6,467 yards) or Gold (5,872) tees, since the Blues at 6,947 yards are recommended for better single-digit handicappers who can bomb it. The rye grass and poa greens are some of the purest you will find, and the large putting surfaces create some great opportunities to test your short game.  

The Palmer design, heavily influenced by senior architect Vicki Martz with help from PGA Tour Design, is probably one of the best layouts that the firm has done in the area and features 18 holes that have a lot of character and can be played a number of ways, depending on you’re your skill level and tolerance for risk.

For example, the finishing hole is a 483-yard par-five from the White tees that can be reached in two with a good drive, but in order to do so you have to hit the approach shot over water that protects the 18th green—leaving bogey or worse in the equation, but also making eagle a distinct possibility.

The back-nine presents more challenges than the front with holes and 10 and 11 longish par fours that feature water down the right side that demand accurate drives. Hole 17 may be one of the most fun par threes on the course and can be played anywhere from 90 to 176 yards.

For more information: www.classicclubgolf.com or www.hnberger.org. To book a tee time call 760-601-3600.