SHADOW HILLS GOLF CLUB (760-200-3375)
Palm Springs Golf Course Review 6/20/07
Shadow Hills Golf Club at Sun City Shadow Hills (a Del Webb Community) is a beautiful 18- hole Schmidt-Curley championship design that is sculpted into the desert floor of the Indio Valley, with surrounding mountains providing spectacular backdrops at every turn. This course is famous for a new bunkering style - the Whale Tail. These intricately shaped, deep faced sand traps create some outstanding aesthetic value, and also will challenge the sand game of even the best players.
There are 81 of these meticulously sculpted bunkers, along with 5 additional sprawling sand waste areas. Water hazards also play a dominant role in this design, as ponds or lakes (with some beautiful natural areas hosting native wildlife) come into play on 13 holes. The bunkers are particularly troublesome off the tee - as golfers reaching these traps can genuinely consider themselves in a hazard - with the chances of recovery for par or better quite slim.
The terrain is gently rolling as it winds through a residential community, with some mild elevation changes from tee to green. The fairways are ample but undulating, and the green complexes often feature raised putting surfaces that are protected by swales, collection areas, and of course - sand traps. Many are sloped with ridges and undulations that create the need to hit the correct portion on the green.
The hole locations on these medium sized greens rotate from front to middle to back - as indicated by the pin placement charts mounted on each golf cart. The carts also feature ball & club washers, towels and ice chests with bottled water. On course the sprinkler heads are measured tot eh front, Middle and backs of the greens, and there are also 100, 150 and 200 yard markers in the fairways of all par fours and fives.
Six sets of tees mean that players of all skill levels will be able to choose a set that matches their games. The tips measure 6804 yards with a slope of 132, while alternate sets measure in distance and slope - 6304 yards/127 slope, 6122 yards/125 slope for men and 135 for women, 5697 yards/122 for men and 129 for women, 5322 yards/118 for men and 125 for women, and 4999 yards with a slope of 116 for men and 120 for ladies hitting from the front tees.
On property is a full service clubhouse with beautiful restaurant and outdoor patio (serving breakfast and lunch menus), plus a nicely stocked pro shop. The practice facilities are comprehensive, with a targeted grass range (comp balls for green-fee paying guests), short game area with sand bunker, and putting greens.
This is a beautiful golf course, and the Whale Tail bunkering certainly provides players with a unique experience. The topography is interesting, and as the photos in this review indicate, the mountain vistas are spectacular. The course was in very good shape on our late June visit. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link tot heir website by clicking here.
|
