Indian Canyons Golf Resort

A regular stop on my annual visit to Palm Springs and the California desert cities is the Indian Canyons Resort in Palm Springs, California.

When Frank Sinatra and the "Rat Pack" were regulars in the desert paradise known as Palm Springs, one of the first very posh and private courses was then known as the Canyon Country Club. A very exclusive private club that was the first home of the Frank Sinatra celebrity golf tournament, this location has seen the likes of Sinatra, Martin, Disney and Eisenhower.

When the economy nosedived, exclusive golf memberships were one of the first luxuries to be sacrificed by the now no longer rich and famous. As a resultt the once members only Canyon Country Club was opened to the public

Today the former Canyon Country Club is considered, semi - private. It is on Indian land in the heart of Palm Springs and consists 36 - hole resort is nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains in what locals like to call a "wind free" zone.

The Indian Canyons Golf Resort offers two very distinctive 18 - hole golf courses.

The South Course is an 18-hole championship course that was redesigned by Casey O'Callaghan in 2004 along with consultant and LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott. It is a par 72 that consists of 6,582 yards with four lakes that each come into play on six of the holes. My favorite holes of this course are the par five holes. All told there are five of them on the South Course and they are bounded by water, palm tree and desert cactus, flora and fauna.

The older of the two courses is the North Course. It is an 18 - hole championship course. It is a par 72 that consists of 6,943 yards. Designed by well-known architect, William P. Bell, it is steeped deep

The North Course provides six challenging water hazards with the largest located between the 9th and 18th hole. The beauty of the North Course is the way it meanders through Palm Springs' stylish 'Canyon Country Club region with its architecturally significant mid -

century modern homes.

The North Course is the original members only Canyon Country Club course and it has a clubhouse that has black and white photos of some the most famous personages every to play golf in Palm Springs.

When you are finished with your day of golf, the clubhouse is a great place to sit, relax and talk golf with your friends or simply take in the beauty and serenity of the snow - capped mountains.