It’s what every golfer wants—great weather, great golf courses and the thrill of competition. Those elements have been brought together for the first annual Palm Springs Amateur, a four-day, flighted, amateur event scheduled for Jan. 7-10, 2010 at the world-famous PGA West and La Quinta Resort and Club courses.
This event will attract golfers from throughout the western U.S. and Canada with each golfer playing three days of stroke play on three different courses, and flight winners advancing to a championship round. In addition to flight-winner prizes, the overall winner will receive a grand prize and their name will be placed on the event trophy to be kept in the PGA West clubhouse. Play for the first year is limited to 330 players and early bird registration is available online at www.palmspringsam.com.
Patterning itself after the successful Pacific Amateur in Bend, Ore., and Mesquite Amateur in Mesquite, Nev., the Palm Springs Amateur will add a few twists of its own that will make this event a must-play.
What sets this event apart from other amateur events is the fact that golfers will be playing premium courses during the prime season with great weather. Average temperature in Palm Springs the first week of January is 74 degrees. This is the first week of the high season in the Palm Springs area and courses will be in pristine condition.
The entry fee is $575 if registered before Nov. 30, 2009. Entries received after Nov. 30 will be $625.
Through a partnership with Lumpy’s of La Quinta and Cathedral City, each player will get a $100 gift card with a paid registration. This can be used to purchase anything at the store. Players will also receive a tournament golf shirt and cap, plus a variety of other goodies provided by event sponsors. Daily contests will be played out on the golf course as well.
As a special incentive to register early, the first 150 completed entries will go into a drawing with the winner getting a free luxury suite at the La Quinta Resort & Club for the duration of the event. This is valued at well over $1,000.
Palm Springs has long been a golf Mecca with golf courses from every major designer including the Nicklaus, Palmer, Norman and Dye designs that will be a part of the Palm Springs Amateur.
The event is open to any player with an approved USGA handicap. (For more info on this log on to www. palmspringsam.com.)
The tournament is being managed by Pacific Northwest Golf Tournaments, which has been running golf tournaments and golf specialty events for more than a decade.
For more information, log on to the event website, www.palmspringsam.com.
From a Glance
Palm Springs Amateur hosted by La Quinta Resort and Club
Courses: PGAWest Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium courses, La Quinta Resort & Club’s Dunes and Mountain courses.
Date: Jan. 7-10, 2010
Format: 54-hole individual stroke play competition; 18-hole championship to include top two from each flight. (Flights will not exceed 24 players.)
Optional practice rounds available Monday through Wednesday (4th – 6th) or a post tournament round Sunday (10th) at a discounted daily rate.
Entry fee is $545 per player if purchased by Nov. 30, 2009. Entry after Nov. 30, 2009 is $595.
Every player in the Palm Springs Amateur receives a $100 merchandise card from Lumpy’s Golf in addition to all other gifts and prizes!
Other benefits: carts and range balls, pro shop discounts, opening day BBQ & cocktails at La Quinta Resort ($40), riday Night Prime Rib and Lobster Banquet at local casino, $10- $20 match-play at casino, Friday night poker tournament (not included in entry fee), and tournament hat and shirt.