The ingredients that have made Indian Wells Golf Club so successful over the years are the same ones that ensure the course’s popularity going forward. Players arrive at the first tee safe in the knowledge that outstanding conditions and a good, fair challenge await.
The course opened in 1984 and is a traditionally designed layout, featuring tree-lined fairways and water on 14 holes. Indian Wells is very playable as long, forced carries are non-existent, making the challenge created by water mental as much as it is physical.
The course isn’t particularly long, playing just over 6,600 yards from the tips, so players don’t have to bomb the ball off the tee to succeed. As a matter of fact, the driver might be the least important club in your bag at Indian Wells, where getting up-and-down around the greens is much more important to your final score.
The closing three holes are the course’s most memorable, highlighted by the par 4 18th, which features water along the left side and a tree in the fairway that can come into play.
Indian Wells favors thoughtful golfers, but it’s fun for everyone to play.