Destination: Palm Springs

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Jan. 18, 2010
By LINKS Magazine

The home of the Bob Hope Classic, this desert oasis set against the San Jacinto Mountains is as much of a golf destination now as when luminaries like the Rat Pack and Arnold Palmer made it their winter playground.

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Where to Play
Classic Club: Designed by Arnold Palmer, the three-time host of the Bob Hope Classic is more forgiving than most target-golf desert layouts. Which is good, because depending on when you go, the wind can be a big factor.

PGA West (TPC Stadium): At some point, every golfer needs to take on one of the most difficult courses in the country and try to match Lee Trevino's famous 1987 Skins Game hole-in-one on the 168-yard island-green 17th, known as "Alcatraz."

SilverRock Resort: This is the only public layout of the four courses hosting this year's Bob Hope Classic. But just because the pros traditionally go low in the tournament, don't expect to do the same on this 7,578-yard layout.

Where to Stay
Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort: An oasis within an oasis, this 884-room property is spread over 450 acres connected by a lagoon system. From the lobby, guests can take gondolas to one of the 10 restaurants.

La Quinta Resort: Now branded as part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection, this resort dating to 1926 still remains the premier address for visiting golfers, with five courses that are among the best in the valley.

Viceroy Palm Springs: Harkening back to the days when the desert was the getaway spot for A-listers, the Hollywood Regency-style Viceroy is glamorous yet provides plenty of seclusion and relaxation.

Where to Eat
Arnold Palmer's: You can celebrate a special occasion (like a hole-in-one on "Alcatraz") at one of the private rooms. And you never know when you'll run into the King himself.

Copley's on Palm Canyon: After enjoying dishes like the pan roasted California sea bass, diners can take cooking classes from chef Andrew Manion Copley at this eatery housed in Cary Grant's former estate.

Melvyn's Restaurant: An area icon for decades and a favored spot for the likes of Frank Sinatra, this restaurant inside the Ingleside Inn offers an intimately timeless dining experience that provides a glimpse of old Palm Springs.