FORE! Kraft Nabisco Championship in Palm Springs follows a fun KIA CLASSIC event in San Diego!
If this weekend’s KIA Classic Presented by J Golf is any indication, Cristie Kerr might be a force to be reckoned with next week at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the season’s first major. She finished tied for second last year, as Brittany Lincicome leapfrogged her to the title with her dramatic eagle on the 72nd hole to win by one. Kerr finished T14 this week at 1-under but was 5-under over her final 36 holes.
Could Cristie Conquer?
General Information:
March 29th – April 4th, 2010
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, CA
Frequently Asked Questions provided by www.kncgolf.com:
How do I get tickets?
You can purchase tickets through our website, KNCGOLF.COM and take advantage of advance pricing through the tournament. All tickets (not pavilion passes) sold will benefit local charities through the Integrated Wealth Management TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program.
Locally, Lumpy’s in Cathedral City (67-625 Hwy. 111, 760.321.2437) and La Quinta (46-630 Washington St., 760.904.4911) has discount tickets for sale.
The City of Rancho Mirage City Hall and Library has discount tickets for Rancho Mirage residents.
There are also plenty of tickets available for purchase at the gate. What is the Kraft Pavilion?
The best seat in our house! The Pavilion overlooks the 18th green and provides the only ticket with onsite parking. Complimentary food and beverage provided by Piero’s Acqua Pazza. There is also a wine tasting every afternoon, courtesy of Mirassou Winery.Where is the tournament played?
Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA, on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. The tournament has been held here for the last 38 years.What is the Schedule of Events? (Times are approximate.)
Monday – Practice Rounds. No formal parking, no admission charge; Toyota/Kraft Nabisco Championship Celebrity Hole-in-One Shootout starts approximately at 2 p.m.
Tuesday & Wednesday – Celebrity Pro-Am presented by Clemmy’s Ice Cream to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: Tee-off approximately 6:45 a.m. each day
Thursday – LPGA 1st Round: Tee-off approximately 7:30 a.m.
Friday – LPGA 2nd Round: Tee-off approximately 7:30 a.m. (cut to the low 70 scores and ties)
Saturday – LPGA 3rd Round: Tee-off approximately 8:30 a.m.; Family Day
Sunday – LPGA Final Round: Tee-off determined Saturday eveningDownload the full schedule of events by clicking here.Where do I park?
Parking is located at the corner of Crossley and Ramon Roads in Cathedral City. A map and directions are available here. There is NO onsite general admission parking. General parking fees are $5.00 per vehicle per day. A continuous shuttle will transport spectators from the parking lot to the course and back. Is there a shuttle? What does it cost?
Yes, there is a FREE shuttle operating between the parking lot and golf course. Parking shuttles are handicap accessible. A handicap shuttle route will be available from the drop-off spot to designated areas.
Parking Shuttle Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Are there restrictions on what I can bring onto the tournament grounds?
Yes. No CELL PHONES or pagers are permitted, but if you must carry a cell, please insure they are on silent. Cameras are ONLY permitted Monday through Wednesday. Cameras are strictly prohibited Thursday through Sunday. Coolers, backpacks, large bags, and memorabilia will NOT be allowed on the premises at any time. Small-beach type lawn chairs and golf stools are permitted. Are there grandstands on the course?
Grandstands will be located on the 1st tee, 9th green, 10th tee, 17th tee, 18th green and driving range with seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no reserved seating.Golf Etiquette 101
Stay quiet and stand still when the players are about to hit the ball. For your own safety, follow the directions of tournament marshals. Spectators could be removed immediately without warning for:
- Refusal to obey quiet signs or signals
- Distracting or embarrassing a player
- Making rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures toward a player
- Booing or cheering at inappropriate times
- Cell phone usage
Check The Weather
Check the weather forecast before you visit the KNC and dress appropriately. Expect cool mornings and sunny afternoons, so dressing in layers is the best idea.
Must-Have Items
Sunscreen, hat, comfortable shoes and binoculars.
Have A Plan
There are basically two ways to watch a golf tournament.
“Parade Style”: pick a spot and watch the field pass by.
“Cross-Country Style”: follow a particular player or group around the course.
Arrive Early
Arrive early to reserve a spot, especially if you plan on watching the tournament “Parade Style.”
Daily Pairing Sheet & Map
Pick up a daily pairing sheet to find out when the players tee off and the order of the groups. Pairing sheets include a course map and are available near the entrances and at selected other locations on the tournament grounds. Check the scoreboards to find out who the leaders are, and where they are on course
Spectator Tips
Autographs
Players are more receptive to requests for autographs after they have completed their round, so don’t interrupt them before or during their round. A good place to catch them is at our Autograph tent located behind the 18th green. Most all players will stop and sign autographs after they sign their scorecard. So check the pairings and see when your favorite player is due to come off the course and get in line!!
Food/Drinks/Souvenirs
Concession stands are located throughout the tournament grounds. For lunch or dinner, visit these areas:
- Cart staging area
- Kraft Experience Tent
- 18th grandstand
- 18th fairway
- 17th tee
- 3rd tee
- 2nd tee
Visit our upscale boutique, The Gallery at the 18th Green, adjacent to the 18th green. You can shop for the finest fashions and accessories from Adidas, Ashworth, Cutter & Buck, Nike featuring footwear from Sandbaggers and Ecco. Stop by the Gallery each day and sign up to win one of our daily prizes! Don’t forget to visit the booths at the Kraft Experience. Who is playing in this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship?
You can see the player field here. Information is updated periodically from the LPGA.How can I find out what time my favorite players tee off?
Daily pairings will be published in The Desert Sun sports section and will also be posted on our website, KNCGOLF.COM. Free daily pairing sheets will also be available at the tournament.What are the best days to see celebrities?
Our Celebrity Pro-Am event takes place on Tuesday, March 30, and Wednesday, March 31.Will the KNC be broadcast on TV?
Yes, the Kraft Nabisco Championship will be broadcast nationally on television on ESPN2 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and CBS Sunday) — check local listings for broadcast times in your area. Real time scoring is available at LPGA.COM.Where is WILL CALL located?
Will call is located inside the Mission Hills Dinah Shore Gate, at the first stop sign and adjacent to the admission booths. Unless you have Pavilion passes, please park first, take the shuttle and pick up your tickets. If you are picking up Pavilion passes including parking, there is 5 minute parking available next to Will Call to enable you to pick up your pass before proceeding to the clubhouse. What if I am physically challenged?
We provide handicap equipped shuttles from the parking lot to the admissions gate. There is no onsite handicap parking. We have a handicap shuttle route which operates Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A continuous loop will run from ticketing, to the 1st tee, to the food court, on to the Gallery and the grandstand on the east side of the 18th green.Golf carts are paved, but may in inaccessible due to gallery crowds. We do not have scooters available for rent at the course.
For tickets - click here -
If you get the itch and want to book a round of golf in Palm Springs - click here -
Why We Play The Game!
It’s the way the first tee feels, alive with possibility.
It’s that feeling, out of nowhere, that comes as you’re lining up a putt,
letting you know that all you have to do is get the ball rolling and the
hole will get in the way.
It’s the thump of a well-played bunker shot.
It’s nine holes late in the day, when the sun is sinking and the shadows
are stretching, showing every bump and roll in a golden light that makes
you stop and look around.
It’s calling your shot and pulling it off.
It’s the eleventh hole at Preston Trail, the tenth at Whisper Rock
and the seventeenth at Wade Hampton , paintings with a flagstick in the middle.
It’s your Saturday morning game, with a little money on the line and no
haggling about the teams.
It’s the guys who look like they can’t play a lick then spend their days
around par, not needing swing coaches, just having a knack for getting
the ball in the hole.
It’s calling your own penalties.
It’s a kid with his bag slung over his shoulder, cap pulled low, hoofing
it down a fairway.
It’s nipping a wedge just right, having it bounce once and cozy up to
the hole the way Sergio does it.
It’s a bowl of peanuts and a cold beer at the end of the day, when
stories can be embellished, if only a little.
It’s the warm feel of a turtleneck in December, the first greening of
the grass in March, the thrill of hitting it a club longer in July and
greens as fast as the kitchen floor in October.
It’s the suntan marks left by your golf socks and shoes.
It’s Harbour Town in April, Quail Hollow in May and Pinehurst any time.
It’s having the sun behind you and catching a tee shot square, having a
moment to admire it as it’s framed against the sky.
It’s the small but sudden thrill of finding a new Titleist, even if you
already have a bagful.
It’s the clutch in your throat the first time you see St. Andrews and
the never-ending thrill of Amen Corner.
It’s the belief that the magic you’ve found in a new driver will
last forever.
It’s the scent of salt air, the faint taste of pine pollen on your lips
and the glimpse of a gator in a low country lagoon.
It’s standing over a 5-footer that doesn’t matter to anyone but you and
being thankful for the feeling.
It’s Tiger on the tee, Mickelson with a wedge in his hand, Nicklaus on
the property.
It’s the little places with pickups in the parking lot, ragged
grass, bumpy greens, worn-out golf carts, yellow range balls and a
spirit all their own.
It’s the way you practice your swing in the elevator riding down, the
way you put an overlapping grip on the rake and the way you see golf holes
where others just see fields along the highway.
It’s the way tournament golf feels, even if it’s just a little club event.
It’s the feel of new grips and the shine of new irons.
It’s playing with your father, your mother, your brother, or your daughter.
It’s listening to David Feherty, Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo explain
the game as only they can.
It’s the gentle creak of aging muscles in the evening, a good tired.
It’s a birdie at the 18th to win the press.
It’s having people who understand what’s important, whether
it’s renovating a course or reinventing a local tournament.
It’s going for a par-5 in two, trying to cut a corner and that
instant when you wonder if the shot is as good as it looks.
It’s golf.
And it’s why we play.
Article provided by William Buzz Gill, PGA
(Retired Palm Spring golf professional of 37 years)Â
To book your next tee time in Palm Springs CLICK HERE!
(Tell us why YOU play the game and we’ll take $5 off per person)
To book your next tee time in Palm Springs CLICK HERE!
(Tell us why YOU play the game and we’ll take $5 off per person)
California Lawmakers Looking to Extend the Sales Tax to Golf – Again!
The California Tax Commission is re-examining a proposal to extend the sales and use tax to golf play and services.
The golf tax was a near certainty at one point during the budget discussions in the beginning of the year; and was successfully stopped with the power the golf industry and individual golfers like you working together to protect our great game.
Such a proposal was not included in this year’s budget agreement and for good reason: It would impose a risky and inequitable burden on a golf industry in California that has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn. An additional tax on playing golf and golf-related activities would cause significant harm–reducing play, slashing golf and service economy jobs, and shutting down courses that are already operating on slim margins.
Moving forward, we will be calling on you again to help defeat this unfair tax, and with your support, we know we can achieve success. Please stay tuned to the website for news updates, and possible calls to action. Continue to spread the news to your fellow friends and golfers, getting them to join the coalition if they haven’t already.
California’s broken budget system will not be repaired by breaking the state’s golf industry. As the Governor’s Executive Order creating the commission rightly said, “California’s long term prosperity requires that employers and entrepreneurs invest, remain and grow in the state…†A tax on golf will do just the opposite, reducing jobs at golf courses and in the hotel, restaurant and service industry.
For more information visit www.forecalifornia.com.
Palm Springs Golf Special: SilverRock Golf Course
Showtime Golf highlights one of our favorite courses in the desert; SilverRock Resort. For a limited time only, Showtime Golf is offering a $15 discount per player, that’s a $60 savings per 4-some on your next round of golf at the beautiful SilverRock Resort in La Quinta! Simply enter “ROCK” in the promo code area when booking online to receive your savings!
SilverRock Info:Â Home of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and recently voted by Golf Magazine as a top 10 new course in America that the public can play; the Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock Resort is a challenging 7,578 yards from the tips, yet enjoyable for all skill levels with six tee boxes on each hole. With breathtaking views, a professional and friendly staff, a grill and outdoor patio area with majestic views, and GPS golf carts, your experience here at SilverRock Resort will be one that you will never forget.
Use our free golf service NOW to book your golf reservations at SilverRock Resort - Arnold Palmer Classic online in real-time!
Tiger Woods Returns To Match Play!
It’s official: Tiger Woods returned to golf at the Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday.
I love match play at any time. The prospect of a returning Tiger just makes it more interesting.
In honor of the return of the great Tiger Woods, Showtime Golf is offering a comeback web special for a limited time only. SPECIAL OFFER (expires 3/5/09): Simply enter ‘TIGER′ in the promo area when reserving your next tee time at any one of our 75+ great golf courses in San Diego, Phoenix, Palm Springs, &/or Las Vegas, and Showtime Golf will deduct $50 off your next 4-some! Twilight tee times do not apply. Book Now and Save!
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