La Quinta Country Club still loved by Bob Hope

Classic golfers !

LA QUINTA — Although the sun wasn’t shining at La Quinta Country Club on Wednesday, players sounded like they were in golfing paradise.“I remember my first year out here in ‘07, I was going, ‘Man, I could play here every day,’” George McNeill said.

It didn’t hurt that McNeill shot the lowest round of the day at the course — a 7-under 65 — but fellow pros echoed his praise. They are pleased that the course has rejoined the rotation at the Bob Hope Classic after a one-year absence.

“I’ve always liked this golf course,” McNeill said. “It’s always in just absolutely perfect shape.”

The course wasn’t used last year primarily because a new clubhouse was being constructed. It opened last fall.

But it’s the course’s historic charm as well as its flawless greens that most impress the pros.

La Quinta Country Club opened in 1959, and was first used for the Hope in 1964. The setting is intimate. Its well-conditioned layout weaves through cottage-style houses dotted with citrus trees.

“When I’m here, I know I’m in Palm Springs,” said Matt Kuchar, who shot a 5-under 67.

McNeill also raved about the greens, saying that he and his fellow golfers consider them among the best on tour.

“We go, ‘Man, the best greens we play on all year are at La Quinta,’” he said.

Jeff Klauk also complimented the course’s condition. He is hard to impress. His father served as the superintendent at TPC Sawgrass.

“The course is in great shape,” said Klauk, who shot a 6-under 66. “Being the son of a superintendent, I always seem to notice a lot of things.”

Although the conditions at La Quinta were cool and windy, scoring was slightly lower than in 2008. The scoring average was 69.688 on Wednesday, and 69.891 two years ago.

Three strokes behind leader Shane Bertsch, McNeill saved his round at one of the Hope’s most historically difficult holes, the 434-yard second.

The par-4 requires players to land their drives in a narrow space between bunkers and palm trees. It was the second most difficult hole in the tournament Wednesday with a 4.406 average.

After an errant drive, McNeill was forced to pitch out from behind a tree, but he got up-and-down for par from 80 yards. He then closed with three birdies on his last five holes.

Scoring at La Quinta will depend on the conditions as the week progresses, McNeill said, but he said players could finish a few strokes lower than his 7-under 65.

“You’ve still got to shape your shots off the tee, and you’ve still got to shape your shots into the green,” he said. “Being soft, you can go at the pins.”

But he doesn’t see anyone threatening the course record of 11-under 61, which Lennie Clements set in 1994.

“I don’t see anybody shooting 60 or anything,” McNeill said. “If they do, good for them, but there won’t be more than one of them.”

THE NEW CLUBHOUSE AT La Quinta Country Club, was the setting for the FIRE & ICE BALL last weekend!  With 200+ attending the event was an amazing success-- decorations of ice scultures and blocks of carved ice on each table with candles glowing created a magical setting.  It was held in the Eisenhower Pavillion-- with entertainment by Mike Costley and his Band...

For dinner we were treated with a Poached Lobster and Pear Salad, and a Truffle-Mushroom encrusted Filet-- followed by an enticing Chocolate Truffle Bomb!

To cap off a perfect evening, fellow Member Andy Williams sang some his favorite numbers.... "Call Me Irresponsible", "The Days of Wine and Roses", and finshed with (of course)  "MOON RIVER" !!  Truly a magical evening in an INCREDIBLE SETTING! 

Next week the LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB hosts the BOB HOPE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT!  Come see us in La Quinta and take a tour of our new CLUBHOUSE!  To keep up with the latest at LQCC and the desert life, check out LiveTheDesertLife.com!

Tough Competition

Perez’s three-stoke victory in 2009 earned him $918,000

Pat Perez (shown here) defends his title at the 51st Bob Hope Classic golf tournament, Jan. 18-24. Perez’s three-stoke victory in 2009 earned him $918,000 of a $5.1 million purse, compared to Arnold Palmer’s $12,000 share of a $70,000 purse in the 1960 inaugural tournament.

This year’s event attracts a lineup of 128 top PGA Tour pros and 384 amateurs, including 30 celebrities. In addition to Classic namesake Bob Hope, past celebrities have included entertainers from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Sammy Davis Jr. to Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper,  and Justin Timberlake; sports heroes from Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, and Johnny Bench to Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley; poli-ticians from Tip O’Neil and Dan Quayle to Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Gerald Ford; and Classic Girls from Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds to Jill St. John, Barbara Eden, and Linda Carter.

Play takes place on four courses: the Palmer and Nicklaus private courses at PGA West, La Quinta Country Club, and SilverRock Resort. 888-672-4673.

The Desert Sun features LQCC New Clubhouse!

WE are so excited about the new Clubhouse at LQCC!  and it has even made the news...with the economic times and dreary forecasts, it is great to see some signs of recovery and excitement in La Quinta!  Larry Bohanan of The Desert Sun wrote an article this weekend featuring the new Clubhouse and interviews with the new General Manager!  LQCC is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year-- and the beginning of a new era!  

LA QUINTA— Bruce Zahn says he’s heard some of the snowbird residents of La Quinta Country Club are coming back to the desert a bit early this year.

“The membership is pretty excited,” said Zahn, the general manager and chief operating officer of La Quinta, one of the oldest private country clubs in the desert. “The word is out. There is a lot of excitement. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”The excitement is about the new 50,000-square-foot clubhouse, something the members and guests of the club haven’t had for three years due to the renovation. The $25 million project also includes a new maintenance facility, cart barn and remodeled practice area.

(to read the rest of the Larry Bohanan feature– click on the picture above!