Palm Desert is relatively flat, but the course had some surprising elevation changes, and not just around the greens. However, he made a great chip and the ensuing par putt. In retrospect, the eventual bogey was perhaps the best result of the mishit eight-iron.ĭave put his tee shot on the short par 3 17th hole on a steep slope in the left rough, about 6 feet above the green. It felt lucky that my first attempt stopped 6 feet from the hole. I am normally fine with putting from off the green, but it was a total guess how hard to hit this one. The ball could roll back to my feet if too short and roll well past the hole if hit too hard. From down there, I had to jump to see the hole location.Ĭhipping was out of the question. I found it at the bottom of the closely mown deep swale separating the bunker from the elevated green, about 40 feet from the hole.
My ball headed straight for the pin but disappeared. The hole was perched on a small tongue at the front of the green. I hit a thin eight-iron approach from 125 yards over the left greenside bunker on the 328-yard par 4 eighth hole. It landed in the left greenside bunker, about five feet below the green level. I slightly pulled my approach shot on the first hole. In fact, on the back side of the Shadow Ridge scorecard Faldo is quoted: “Miss the putting surfaces here and your ball will invariably roll into a tightly mown collection area or into a greenside bunker.” The greens complexes at Shadow Ridge reflected those skill requirements, in my opinion. In his competitive heyday, Faldo developed a reputation for precision play, especially with his approach shots. Darned if that isn’t a great way to play Bayside Resort or The Peninsula, among other Nicklaus courses I have played.įaldo’s design company website says, “ Our fairways are typically generous and our bunkering style is strikingly bold with greens that have plenty of subtle undulations to reward and encourage a variety of approach shots.” In my experience with golf layouts designed by famous touring professionals, their course elements often coincide with their own distinctive and successful playing tendencies.įor instance, Jack Nicklaus tended to favor a high fade. His first course in North America, it opened in 2001. Nick Faldo designed the Shadow Ridge golf course on the property. My brother Dave and his wife Maggie invited us to join them at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge II - The Enclaves resort in Palm Desert, Calif., a 10-mile ride from Palm Springs International Airport. Part of the experience certainly differed from my usual game in the Cape Region, but there was quite a bit of the familiar as well. I recently enjoyed the opportunity to play golf in the desert.