In a bid to boost competitiveness and attract the LPGA Tour back to Coachella Valley, the Indian Wells City Council narrowly approved a $13.5 million renovation for one of the Indian Wells Golf Resort’s main courses. The decision, passed by a 3-2 vote on Thursday, allocates $12 million for Troon, the resort’s management company, to collaborate with a golf landscaping firm on a comprehensive redesign of the Player’s Course. Additionally, $1.5 million is earmarked for a new fire access road on the property.
John Fought, the original course designer from 2007, leads the renovation plans, which will reconfigure the 17th and 18th holes to the north side of the Whitewater Channel. The project will also include upgrades to greens and tee boxes, replacement of the irrigation system, and rerouting of the course layout. Construction is slated to start in March 2025 with an anticipated reopening in November of the same year.
City Manager Christopher Freeland emphasized the importance of the project, pointing to the course’s drop in rankings and the need to keep pace with neighboring destinations like PGA West and Desert Willow, both of which have recently undergone renovations. “We want to maintain our market share and ensure our course is competitive,” Freeland told the council, explaining that hotel officials also believe a full redesign will be a stronger marketing asset than a mere refurbishment. The city expects the project to increase revenues for the resort.
In addition to elevating the resort’s appeal, Freeland suggested that the renovated course might attract the Ladies Professional Golf Association back to the region. The LPGA held its Dinah Shore tournament (now the Chevron Championship) at the Mission Hills Country Club in nearby Rancho Mirage from 1972 until 2022. Although that tournament relocated to the Houston area in 2023, the Epson Tour—a developmental league for the LPGA—recently held its championship at the Player’s Course. Freeland said LPGA officials expressed enthusiasm about the redesign, fueling optimism that the upgrades could eventually bring a major LPGA event back to Coachella Valley.
To fund the project, the city will primarily rely on loan repayments through the successor agency of the Indian Wells Redevelopment Agency, as well as potential revenue from land sales. The city originally lent money to its redevelopment agency for resort improvements before the state dissolved such agencies in 2012; those loans are now repaid annually via property tax rebates from Riverside County. To bridge timing gaps in funding, the city’s general fund will temporarily cover $2.2 million, which will be reimbursed in 2026.
The Player’s Course closure from March to November 2025 is anticipated to result in a $1 million revenue loss. Despite some financial concerns, two residents spoke in favor of the redesign at the meeting, calling it a sound investment for the city.
The project has been a subject of debate within the council. Councilmember Ty Peabody, who voted against the funding, raised concerns about additional project costs, such as those for a new parking lot, and argued for more bids from leading golf course designers. Peabody also criticized the perceived lack of community input, noting that there hadn’t been a resident survey about the project since the special meeting held in early April. “We’ve been asked to rush through this,” Peabody stated.
In response, Councilmember Donna Griffith pointed out that the city has held over two dozen meetings on the project since 2018, adding that the city’s golf resort advisory committee unanimously recommended the redesign in March. “I think that our residents know this is coming,” Griffith remarked, recounting an interaction with a resident who expressed impatience for the renovation to start.
Another point of contention was the budget, which rose from an initial estimate of approximately $8.7 million to the final bid of $13.5 million. The scope of earthwork required for the project increased from 25 to 42 acres, contributing to the cost increase. Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Whitman, who also opposed the funding, criticized the communication process, noting that the council received the revised budget only days before the vote. “We’ve had a deliberative process about this increase for essentially 10 days,” he said, describing it as a “failure of communication” with consultants. Despite his concerns, Whitman acknowledged the council’s need to make a decision but argued it shouldn’t be rushed.
Councilmember Dana Reed defended the project, stating that it has been in the works for years and has undergone the necessary procedures. “I am persuaded by Troon and the hotels and the golf committee that this is a good project,” Reed said, adding that the city’s finance director confirmed the availability of funds without jeopardizing the general fund.
In the end, the council voted to approve the project’s funding and the fire access road by a slim margin, with Whitman and Peabody dissenting. In a separate motion, the council also moved to finalize an agreement designating Troon as the project manager, a decision Peabody opposed. The redesign, officials hope, will solidify Indian Wells as a premier golf destination and increase its chances of hosting prominent tournaments, potentially revitalizing the region’s golf tourism appeal.
