Indian Wells Golf Resort is a 36-hole Palm Springs golf resort. It's minutes from the Palm Springs International Airport and within walking distance of four luxury hotels in Indian Wells. It features a 53,000-square-foot clubhouse, one of many perks on its property, and two of its courses were ranked in the Top 25 "Best Municipal Courses in the United States" by Golfweek Magazine.
According to Ben Rodny, director of sales and marketing, Indian Wells opened its doors in 1986 and offers various services to golf clients there.
"Some of our services include two golf courses, The Celebrity and The Players," he said. "To take a break and indulge in refreshments, The Vue Bar and Grille is open year-round and boasts views of the courses and mountains. Our campus also has an entire banquet department, a retail shop for clothing, a golf academy for junior golfers, and 'Shots in the Dark," a golf nighttime entertainment experience.'
Indian Wells Golf Resort has evolved a lot since its opening over 40 years ago. The changes have helped make it a destination for golfers.
"The resort has evolved greatly," Rodny said. "First, in the mid-2000s, both golf courses were completely renovated. The East and West courses went from being the Celebrity and Players courses (or, as locals affectionately know them, Beauty and The Beast!). Multiple hotels have been built on campus. We have the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort, The Renaissance Esmerelda IW Resort, The Miramonte IW Resort, and the IW Resort Hotel."
Though Coachella has several golf resorts, Indian Wells offers the best outside services team in Southern California, according to Rodny.
"I don't say that lightly," he said. "From the moment your car drives into Valet to the moment you return to Valet to retrieve your car, the experience is all about our guests. We have a well-rounded team; we are all hospitality professionals, from the department directors to our staff. The differences stand out because we understand our guest expects an experience of which golf is only a part. We ensure the entire experience is up to par and exceeds expectations. In addition, we have some of the best playing conditions. We keep it going all summer long to ensure that our guests can experience the best that Indian Wells has to offer."
For the most part, golf resorts aren't considered a family destination—especially if young kids are involved. Some hotels offer activities to keep kids busy while the parents hang out on the greens.
"IWGR is an amazing destination for families," Rodny said. "The Hyatt Regency has an amazing water park so the whole family can have fun, not just the golfers. We always run 'Stay and Play' specials which you can access through our website: wwww.indianwellsgolfresort.com."
Rodny aims to make Indian Wells Golf Resort the number one golf and lifestyle destination in Southern California.
"Perhaps soon we will host a PGA tour event," he said.