Our last of the 20 courses that we were to be reviewing was one of the most anticipated ones. Throughout our travels in the greater Palm Springs area this month every time we mentioned going out to play Eagle Falls it was met with a very positive reaction. A few weeks ago when we went to pick up tickets for a concert at the Fantasy Springs Casino next to the course we popped in to have a look around. Head Professional Tristan Taylor was very welcoming at that time showing us photos on the wall of some of the more famous celebs that have come out to play the course. We invited new friends Robert and Lise Tessier who we were paired up with on my birthday at SilverRock Golf Club to join us for our final round in the Coachella Valley. There isn’t anything overly glamorous about the pro shop and snack bar buildings at Eagle Falls and they need not be but they are very clean and serve the purpose well. The pro shop does have an excellent selection of clothing to choose from with many of the items have the stylishly cool Eagle Falls logo on them. I was rewarded for my 2-birdie day with a great looking pink golf shirt that after the discount was a mere $27. The logo stands out prominently and I will wear it proudly at one of the local men’s nights back in Parksville, our beautiful Vancouver Island hometown.
Myra leads us down one with a great opening drive
With efficient ease the great guys working as golf attendants whisked our clubs off to an awaiting cart and we headed in to introduce ourselves.
This time it was one Tristan’s assistant pros Steve who was our greeter and we let him and his colleague the very affable Bob from San Francisco know what a great reputation the course has. Bob was also there at the end of the round manning the pro shop and was very helpful with our clothing purchases.
After a lengthy warm up in the very organized and well-maintained practice area the four of us headed off to the first tee upon the direction of the amiable starter Mike.
In the first month on the 14th day, my 58th birthday I birdied the 1st and 14th hole at SilverRock. 16 days later with the same couple joining us Robert and Lise I birdied the 1st and 14th holes again, go figure.
From 140 yards out on the Par 4 2nd hole
Right from the opening tee shot till the very last putt on 18 this layout was fantastic. The par 72 layout was a combination of three par 3’s three par 5’s and a dozen par 4’s. On the back nine the noted designer, England’s Clive Clark, teases longer hitters with two reachable par fours, one that I drove, ending up just over the back of the green. Golfers to the Coachella Valley area may also know that Clive Clark designed the great Celebrity Course at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, which I had the pleasure of playing in 2012. Mr. Clark whose design company is based in La Quinta is someone who I hope to meet on our next trip down to Palm Springs. Among golf course design I will also ask him to recall that spring day in 1968 when the talented touring pro made the only hole in one during the Masters that year at August National, on the 170 yard Par 3 known as “Red Bud”.
The par 5 4th hole, deliciously long and tight
I may be one of the few to boast that I have also played some of his courses over in The UK where I lived from 2001-2008. The Manor House in Wiltshire, England and Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, England are two of the finest courses I have ever played.
The greens at Eagle Falls were probably the most consistent and true rolling of the 20 courses we have played. Tees and fairways were also in fantastic shape and perhaps the only weakness of this desert gem is that is victim to some occasional high winds, which has made the bunker sand a little sparser then it should be.
Number 7 the incredible Par 5 with its stone wall bunker
There were more than my birdies out there too. Numerous flocks of guinea hens, my favorites and beautiful mallard ducks bathed in the many ponds and lakes on the course.
At $85, which includes carts with GPS, complimentary bottles of water, unlimited range balls and your green fees it’s one of the best golf deals anywhere.
One of the most unique features on the course, which I had never seen before, was the use of stonewalls on some of the bunker facing.
The 10th at over 400 yards a testy Par 4
The greens are very receptive to shots from any distance and all four of us played numerous great shots. Although I was feeling the effects of 20 rounds of golf in four weeks Myra seemed to peak in the last few days of golfing and came within one shot of her personal best for nine holes.
To shoot 111 after only a couple years golfing on a course this challenging is really something to be proud of and it was the most fitting way to end this fabulous month of January down here in the golfing mecca of Palm Springs, California.
The reachable Par 4 11th hole
Greater Palm Springs has excellent restaurants, fabulous shopping, numerous non-golfing attractions and activities like the Thursday night street market, weekend Village Fest and the Palm Springs Cruizers car show every month. We are already on the lookout for a place for next January to stay and come and repeat the process all over again. Oh ya, a lots of fellow Canadians!
