The Elf has completed the busiest time of her work year so we are off to stay in Indian Wells and golf in La Quinta at the Stadium Course at PGA West and the Mountain Course. Both courses have been on our short list to play and were getting around to it this weekend. Per our weather review, we are fortunate that this is the last mild weekend with weather in the upper 70s’ and low 80s’ before it gets monkey hot out here.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
The course features typical Pete Dye designed undulations seriously limiting your odds of having an even lie.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
A par 3 hole surrounded by a sand pond and grassy mounds.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
The numerous water holes begin now.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
More water…
Stadium Course @ PGA West
And more water…
Stadium Course @ PGA West
And even MORE water…
(fortunately we enjoy water holes since they’re rather rare in the OC)
Stadium Course @ PGA West
“The golfing squirrel” facing off against more water.
Yes…even more water.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
There are splendid views on this course. The course fairways are fairly green with the roughs being more yellow-green. Courses in the Palm Springs area had stunningly well kept and very green fairways about 3-4 years ago or more but we’ve seen that to be much less common over the past few years.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
This course reminds me somewhat of Pete Dye’s course at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa. It is a similar style course but with many more water holes and with more land. This hole in particular provided a stunning visual.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
An island green par 3 hole that I was looking forward to.
Stadium Course @ PGA West
“Whole lot of water goin’ on”…
View of golf course from our hotel room
After golf, we arrive at our hotel, the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa (marriott.com). The course is a bit weathered but Bella loves seeing golf out her hotel room window any chance she gets.
Renaissance Resort Hotel: Courtyard circular stairwell
This is a view of the old world circular stairwell from the 6th floor. There are various restaurants and cafes located down in this area.
Hotel room bathroom wallpaper
I’m loving this nostalgic mid-century modern architecture wallpaper featuring local Palm Spring’s properties.
You Grill Korean BBQ in La Quinta, CA
This recently opened Korean BBQ is pretty darn good and our bellies are enjoying the all-u-can-eat factor. Pork belly, brisket, beef chuck, beef belly…the list goes on.
You Grill Korean BBQ in La Quinta, CA
I’ve always enjoyed seaweed salad, but for some reason tonight I am requesting large refills. Maybe I’m deficient in vitamin K? 🙂
You Grill Korean BBQ in La Quinta, CA
Cheese corn on the grill rocks!
You Grill Korean BBQ in La Quinta, CA
The squid steak is very thin and small but tender and good. We should have ordered more of them.
Cava Restaurant @ Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa
A waiter is slow to arrive since we are the only ones seated inside. Everything is going well after placing our order. Bella’s continental breakfast buffet is healthy and tasty according to her.
Cava Restaurant
The lemon ricotta pancakes are good but not great. I told myself years ago that there isn’t any compelling reason to order pancakes after the age of thirty. These carb heavy gut bombs do you dirty and are a complete overkill based on your daily caloric needs. Regardless, once in a blue moon there is a flavor offered that I will consider even though I wish it were a thin crispy waffle instead. That is no exception today. Ricotta is very good when chilled but once heated it dissolves into a whipped cream like nothingness and is forgotten just as easily.
Cava Restaurant
The thick sausage patties have nice herb flavor inside and while not served hot are quite good.
Modern desert architecture: Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
Possible future retirement residence for us?
A noisy “chicken” keeps saying “hello” during Bella’s tee shot
Bella thought it was a human whereas I spotted it and was reminded of the passing of my pet “toucan” Cicero this past October. 😦
Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
This course is similar to Pete Dye’s Dunes Course but not as good on the front 9. Now that we’re on the back 9, things are getting a bit more scenic as well as interesting.
Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
The mountains in La Quinta really are spectacular to look at.
Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
This elevated par 3 is their signature hole for good reason.
Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
The Salton Sea is visible from the elevated par 3 between the end of the tree line and the mountains on the left in the distance.
Mountain Course, La Quinta, CA
This was the last golf hole that peaked (pun intended) my interest. The majority of the holes on this course were simply “okay” or rather ordinary. If this course was better than the Dunes course, it was — “barely, barely”.
Local radio station “Mod FM” 107.3
I’m going to miss this jazz standards radio station that places the likes of Frank, Dino, Tony, Bobby and Sammy all day long.
MasterFish Grill, Palm Desert, CA
These baked oysters in a creamy, green veggie sauce are un-be-liev-able. I can’t recall the last time I had Caribbean food, but I am a huge fan. Rating = A+.
MasterFish Grill: Fried calamari
The meat is tender with a light coating and an excellent chipotle like aioli sauce. Rating = A-.
MasterFish Grill: Blackened octopus tacos
I don’t really taste the blackened factor. Additionally, there is way too much cabbage and not enough octopus meat or white sauce. These are mediocre at best. Rating = C-.
Masterfish Grill: Side of coconut rice
There is sweet aromatic coconut flavor on the rice with a bit of light spice via the red pepper shrapnel visible. I prefer the sweet only version served at Thai restaurants but as they say — “different strokes for different folks”. Rating = A-.
Elmer’s Restaurant, Palm Springs, CA: German pancake with triple berry
I’ve never ordered one of these bad boys so I had to give it a go knowing that in spite of the word ‘pancake’, it was actually very thin and not a behemoth gutler buster. As ordered this was way too sweet with all the berry juice. Rating = B.
If I were to consider ordering it again it would have pure butter and pure maple syrup (ideally Canadian) only. Although I still would prefer a thin crispy waffle with fresh blueberries on top and Canadian maple syrup.
They serve Boyd’s coffee “Northwest Lodge Blend” which is good, but not great. I think Boyd’s is sold at Sprouts or other retailers. The coffee at Cava yesterday was better than this.
Cabazon Outlets: Cabazon, CA
We wrap up our trip at the Cabazon Outlets (cabazonoutlets.com) where the Elf does some shopping for hoof covers (a.k.a. shoes) and I visit surf and skate shops Quiksilver and Billabong. Being a cost-cutter there isn’t much for me here. The prices were similar to what I have available to me via an employee discount through a Nordstrom Rack store. Additionally, the selections here aren’t as good. If I liked the higher end designer brands and could afford them this place would be cool but my inner cost-cutter is content with what I find at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and an occasional purchase at Nordstrom Rack. My favorite thing here was the snow-capped mountain in the background.
THE END!!!
David J. Evangelisti, II 
As usual, your post made me want to: (1) golf, then (2) EAT! I just had breakfast and I’m already hungry.
This looks like a great place. Nice photos. It looks like a great place to just walk the course; no need to play it, though that’s gotta add to the day.
-FH