Okay, here we go! Here’s my rundown of hitting up Westin Mission Hills Pete Dye course.
Alright, so last weekend, I finally got around to playing the Pete Dye course at Westin Mission Hills. Been meaning to for ages, and figured, what the heck, let’s do it. Started by booking a tee time online, pretty straightforward. Got a decent slot in the morning – wanted to beat the desert heat, you know?
Got there a little early, grabbed a coffee at the clubhouse. The place is swanky, no doubt about it. Headed over to the practice green to get a feel for the speed. Those greens are FAST! Realized I needed to dial it back on my putting stroke like, a lot.
Teed off on the first hole, a par 4. Pulled my drive left, into the rough. Classic! Managed to get it back on the fairway with my second shot. Then, chunked my wedge, leaving it short of the green. Ugh. Chipped on and two-putted for a bogey. Not the start I was hoping for, but whatever, still plenty of golf left.
The course itself is beautiful, but seriously challenging. Lots of water hazards, strategically placed bunkers, and those darn undulating greens. Pete Dye wasn’t messing around! I spent a good portion of the day in the sand, let me tell you.
One hole that sticks out is the 8th, a par 3 over water. The wind was swirling, making club selection a real guessing game. Ended up going with a 7-iron, aimed for the middle of the green, and actually stuck it within 15 feet! Two-putted for par – felt like a major victory after all the struggles I was having.
Highlights:
- The scenery is amazing. Mountain views, palm trees, the whole desert vibe.
- The course is in great condition. Fairways were lush, greens were smooth (and fast!).
- The staff was super friendly and helpful.
Lowlights:
- My short game was atrocious. Need to spend some serious time on the chipping and putting green.
- The wind made club selection difficult at times.
- Lost a couple of balls in the water. Those lakes are hungry!
Overall, it was a tough but rewarding round of golf. Shot something in the high 90s – definitely could have been better, but I’m not complaining. It’s a course that demands precision and strategy. You can’t just bomb it off the tee and hope for the best. You’ve gotta think your way around, which I usually fail to do.
Would I play it again? Absolutely! It’s a course that you could play a hundred times and still find new challenges. Plus, the scenery is worth the price of admission alone. I definitely need to work on my game before I go back though. Thinking of taking some lessons focusing on short game. That’s where I really lost strokes.
After the round, grabbed a burger and a beer at the clubhouse grill. Perfect way to end the day. Highly recommend checking out Westin Mission Hills Pete Dye course if you’re ever in the Palm Springs area. Just be prepared for a challenge!
Oh, and bring extra balls. Trust me on that one!
