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CONTENTS D ECEMBER J ANUARY 2019-2020 9 12 Publisher’s Notes THE AMERICAN 16 Celebrating Indian Wells Tennis EXPRESS Garden’s 20th Birthday It’s time to get ready, time Since 2000, Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the glitz, glamour, high has hosted the biggest stars in tennis golf anxiety and rock and roll that make up the desert’s PGA Tour event. 20 The 2019 Pickleball Championships are a Wrap This popular sport is pushing boundaries and gaining momentum 24 Tom Flores on the Oakland Raiders, Las Vegas and Antonio Brown The desert resident and NFL great offers his perspective on football past and present 26 Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis Golf Expo 2020 One of the valley’s favorite events returns in February 28 The 2020 Fred “The Hammer” Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament Now in its 10th year, the tournament benefits the Wounded Warrior Project 30 The Jerry Weintraub Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament An upscale event where integrity scores high for charity 32 GOLFER’S PLAYBOOK Executing Intimidating Tee Shots with the Driver Cover photo: Phil Mickelson Desert Golf &tennis • December January 2019-2020 5 CONTENTS D ECEMBER J ANUARY 2019-2020 36 36 Coachella Valley’s Real Estate Market COACHELLA VALLEY’S REAL is on an Upward Trend ESTATE MARKET IS ON AN From townhomes to estates, every niche is UPWARD TREND experiencing growth 38 For Sale: Changes at Coachella Valley Golf Clubs Some have sold, some are up for sale and there’s optimism for changes to come 40 What to See & Do Across the Valley This Season Bring on winter wonderland! We’ve curated a list of holiday and beyond events for all ages across the region as high season amps up 44 Desert Dining Scene In winter, the desert’s splendor carries over from the subtle crisp climate changes and an ephemeral shift in the mountain hues 48 The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Exudes Muscle and Style 48 50 Gowns dominate the Tom Ford Winter Collection Dazzling dresses with attitude designed for strong, intelligent women 52 The Sublime Simplicity of Picchiotti Jewelry Adornments for today become heirlooms for tomorrow 56 44 Tennis Resort Maps and Guides DESERT DINING SCENE 64 Golf Resort Maps and Guides Desert Golf &tennis • December January 2019-2020 7 D ECEMBER J ANUARY 2019-2020 Publisher’s notes by timothy J. Pade • [email protected] Wow! We Welcome Phil Mickelson back on our desert community. We begin our coverage of the cover! upcoming event on pg. 12. Mickelson is again hosting the Coachella Valley’s The valley is all abuzz this season with the latest, legendary PGA Tour event, formerly called the Desert hottest craze in sports, pickleball. Still in its infancy, Classic and long before that The Bob Hope Classic. With pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the nation. The American Express onboard as its title sponsor, the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships beloved tournament, now named The American in November were held for the second year at Express, will continue its long tradition in our valley. prestigious Indian Wells Tennis Gardens in Indian Wells, Mickelson has become the “patriarch” of this event, California. Once again the event was an enormous having previously hosted it under the CareerBuilder success with more than 2,200 players and thousands of Challenge and Desert Classic names. As of 2020, he spectators. Read all about it starting on page 20. becomes the face of The American Express, which will Pete Carlson’s 2020 Golf & Tennis Expo returns Feb. certainly help draw his Tour friends and colleagues to 7 and 8 at the College of the Desert driving range. The participate. expo has become THE fun even at which to find a new American Express brings hope of a bigger and set of clubs, balls, hats, gloves or whatever else you might stronger Tour event given its significant resources and need for your game. In addition to the latest equipment willingness to support the tournament in every way and gear to put to the test, there are activities and clinics, including more money and bigger names, which should to say nothing of live jazz to set the perfect mood for ramp up the excitement and bring back the luster the buying what you need. Get the details on pg. 26. event has lacked the past few years. That all but As always, we continue to work to improve our guarantees a brighter future for the tournament than coverage of golf and tennis throughout the valley, and in any recent sponsor has been able to deliver. These are this issue we also provide a Holiday Happenings feature indeed exciting times for this “golf capital.” for your “not-t-be-missed” festivities and events this We welcome the American Express team to the season. Turn to pg. 40 to find all the valley has to offer. valley and support Mickelson and American Express in The staff and I wish all of our supporters, including their efforts to create an exciting new chapter for this you, the reader, an amazing holiday season and a fantastic tournament that has long been an integral part of our New Year! Desert Golf &tennis • December January 2019-2020 9 December January 2019-2020 21st annual Vol.XXi, no.ii Editor/Publisher: TIMOTHY J. PADE Marketing/Promotion: TIMOTHY J. PADE Deputy Articles Editor: CHRISTINE LOOMIS P.O. Box 1158, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 969-2392 • (800) 858-9677 [email protected] Writers: AARON ATWOOD ALISON ELSNER CHRIS LEWIS Account Executive CHRISTINE LOOMIS KAREN GUTHRIE MATT MCKAY P.O. Box 1158, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 KIMBERLY NICHOLS 808-264-9065 SANDI PHILLIPS [email protected] ROB STANGER Vice President Sales & Marketing, Hawaii Division Art Director: MICHAEL UNGER KATHRYN HELLER 469 Ena Road #3507, Photography: LUIGI SERRA Honolulu, HI 96815 DANE ANDREW PAUL LESTER Marketing Pacific Northwest Region: NIKKO MILKOVIC MARY CONDY KEN E. MAY 541-390-9504 Bend, OR 97702 JOHN HENEBRY [email protected] GREGG FELSEN Desert Golf & Tennis is published under ISSN No. 1522-9777 five times a year by Pade Publishing L.L.C., P.O. Box 1158, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted 2019 by Pade Publishing L.L.C., all rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the editorial or graphic content of this magazine, without permis sion, in any manner, is prohibited.© To subscribe: 1yr. at $24.75, 2 yrs at $49.50 and 3 yrs. at $74.25. Send check to: P.O. Box 1158, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 TO SUBSCRIBE call: 760-969-2392 or visit dgnt.com Desert Golf & Tennis, LLC President, Timothy J. Pade In Memoriam, Executive Vice President, Ellen Meyer Secretary, Sherwood Steele Legal Counsel, Michael Henson Follow us on facebook at: facebook.com/golfmagazines Search “Desert Golf” on facebook and become a fan for updates and golf promos Desert Golf & Tennis is a division of Pade Publishing, L.L.C. Follow us on twitter at: S ASS’N R O E F twitter.com/desertgolfguy T I A R M E W R F I L C O A G National Photography Award 1st Place International Network of Golf Awards 2004, 2005 & 2008 on cover It’s time to get ready, time for the glitz, glamour, high golf anxiety and rock and roll that make up the desert’s PGA Tour event. In 2020, organizers expect to see all of the above ramped up as a new, high-powered title sponsor steps in to add punch and prestige. By Matt McKay The American Express, the Desert Classic tournament’s new name, will be played January 16-19 on the same La Quinta-based courses as last year—PGA West Stadium and Tournament courses and La Quinta Country Club. With society currently engaged in fall and winter sports, not to mention upcoming major holidays, the new year and the PGA Tour’s 2020 calendar seem a long way off. But behind the scenes, things are coming together. Phil Mickelson Photo By Nikko Milkovic “Everything is rocking and rolling. The American Express is coming to town and it’s going to be the biggest and best one yet,” says Jeff Sanders of Lagardere Sports, the tournament’s executive director. “We’re getting set to deliver some great entertainment to all our fans. You know how we do it. It’s golf by day, music by night. It’s Golfchella.” Player commitments tend to come rolling in around the first of December, and the American Express stands ready to benefit from the second year of the PGA Tour’s adjusted majors’ calendar. Top players who might have considered skipping the tournament in the past, when the season’s second major wasn’t just over a month after the first, front-loaded their schedules in 2019. The former Desert Classic benefitted greatly, boasting one of its best fields in years. Sanders believes the event is positioned perfectly during the tour’s West Coast swing. As a result, many players will come to the desert and establish a base for The American Express and the other Southern California events on the schedule,” he says. Those players will often come in early to practice, particularly if they haven’t been playing a lot of golf over the holidays, then shift their seasons into high-gear. “I know that’s what Phil says,” notes Sanders, referring to tournament host Phil Mickelson. “He likes to Desert Golf &tennis • December January 2019-2020 13 PGA West Stadium Course on cover The golf festival theme continues in the ticket booth. Sanders says the tournament will once again offer its one-price ticket ($30 per day, $75 for five days), which allows holders into every area and every event, including the now-famous music concerts the tournament puts on after Friday’s second round and Saturday’s third round.