careerbuilder challenge

4 Golf Courses to Play During CareerBuilder Challenge

When you're not busy watching the world's best golfers compete at the CareerBuilder Challenge, take your own game up a notch.

Bill Dwyre Golf

careerbuilder challenge

Golf legend Phil Mickelson will return for his second straight year as ambassador of the CareerBuilder Challenge, the desert’s annual PGA Tour event. Jeff Sanders, tournament executive director, says that Mickelson’s presence “brings us unbelievable expertise,” and his ongoing connection to the event “helps us work — alongside him — to make it great.”

Mickelson has won five majors and was champion in the desert in 2002 and ’04.

See related story: Change is the Challenge

The Jan. 17–21 tournament will be its 59th iteration. For many years, it was played as a 90-hole event, generating most of its extensive charitable donations to Coachella Valley groups through amateur participation. Now, it is a standard PGA Tour event, with 18 holes a day over four days and with a purse of $5.9 million. But the charity element, with a reduced amateur presence, remains intact and lucrative, under John Foster, longtime president of Desert Charities. Entertainment includes Huey Lewis and The News (Jan. 19) and Goo Goo Dolls (Jan. 20).

The tournament is traditionally played on a series of courses. This year, CareerBuilder takes over the Stadium Course at PGA West, as well as the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and the La Quinta Country Club. Defending champion Hudson Swafford will return to defend his only PGA title.

Tickets purchased by Jan. 14 will cost $30 for a one-day grounds pass, $75 for a weekly grounds pass, and $25 for a senior one-day pass.

“At $30 a day,” Sanders says, “we are the most affordable tournament on the tour.”

CareerBuilder Challenge, Jan. 17-21
cbchallenge.com

4 courses to play
 classicclub
CLASSIC CLUB


Arnold Palmer designed this nationally recognized par-72 championship course, complete with rolling terrain and 30 acres of water features.

silverrockresort
SILVERROCK RESORT


Another par-72 championship course designed by Palmer. This one, in La Quinta, meanders across 200 acres against the Santa Rosa Mountains.

indiancanyonsgolfresort
INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT

Palm Springs’ first golf resort, opened in 1961, became a favorite for Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, and former President Gerald Ford.

 escenagolfclub
ESCENA

This Palm Springs 
play, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is lauded for its unobstructed sightlines and modernist clubhouse, a watering hole for locals.