www.westinmissionhills.com Phone 760 328 5955
It’s highly unlikely that Gary Player and Pete Dye sat down over lunch and discussed the design strategy for the two courses named after them at The Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. Certainly one could expect that the two design companies and members of their respective teams shared information and ideas but it would be great to think that Gary and Pete were chatting about it many years ago.
Gary ” Well Pete I think I am going to design a really playable, relaxing, fun, stress free golf course that people will come back to over and over.”
Pete ” Well Gary I too think I am going to design a really playable, relaxing, fun, stress free golf course that people will come back to over and over.”
“Hmmm”, Gary pondered ” well we better not design them identically Pete”
“No Gary” Pete mused ” I am going to elevate the greens on mine”
After playing both these resort treats that is really the most noticeable difference between them and it makes for just a subtle enough change to keep them both interesting and playable.
Poised for another day Ken representing lefties tees off
Hitting a golf ball along your kitchen floor into a coffee mug is some what challenging so with that in mind any aspect of golf is a challenge but in the lexicon of golf these two delicious tracks would not be high on the top whatever list of the most challenging golf courses in the world and thank you for that.
A beautiful Par 4 guarded by water on both sides
There are enough of those types of courses in the Coachella Valley and trust me you will read about them in the coming days and weeks as we are slated to play a bunch of them but for the last two days its been an abundance of friendly staffers and friendly golfers that have been milling around at the Westin Mission Hills golf courses.
If you want to know exact details of the Dye course other than it is a little more undulating with those perilous Dye elevated greens just read yesterdays Day 3 – Players Course review.
The gorgeous elevated green of the 9th green
Greens that are not overly speedy, fluffy happy lies in the rough, close nipped fairways, level tees, well marked distances a great practice facility and I think they use the same toilet paper supplier. It reminds me of days gone by when we were young and we wanted to borrow Dad’s car but you took Mom’s, they both drove nice, looked the same except dad’s didn’t have the furry steering wheel cover.
The sun beaming down on Bills swing
Myra and I both have a background in owning successful businesses that had a huge emphasis on customer service and rapport and the importance and value of it as it related to success of the organization. The Dye Course staff were more than capable of achieving this. Whether it was direct communication like the very succinct introduction by the starter Doug Berry on the hows and wheres of playing a round offered in the most friendly but articulate manner to just a general non specific uninvited comment added to conversation where a few staffers were gathered helping customers, the mood was delightfully buoyant and pleasant.
Myra tees off on a great finishing hole, the Par 4 18th
Worthy of additional mention by name are the outside staff members Lisa, Jon and Jesus and pro shop workers Brody who assisted us with ease at the counter and our first point of contact Assistant Pro John.
As the Dye Course is located within the grounds of the Westin Hills resort it has a greater buzz and far more traffic and activity. It is quite a sprawling place and where as you can park and walk to the pro shop in less than 30 seconds at the Players Course situated a mile down the road multi person shuttles run back and forth all day at the Dye Course lugging eager golfers and there clubs to and from their vehicles.
So joined by our golfing friends Ken and Murielle under sunny skies and plus 20C weather we drove away very thankful for another great day of golf highlighted by Murielle’s last shot of the day being an off the green 45 foot putt rolling in for birdie.
