Epson Tour Championship Heading to Indian Wells Golf Resort

The Coachella Valley is adding a new event to the desert’s bustling sports’ calendar.

As announced this past autumn, ever-popular Indian Wells GR (IWGR) — the 36-hole “super muni” golf nexus of the city eponymous — will become new host to the Epson Tour Championship.

Epson, the developmental circuit of the LPGA, will host its season finale at IWGR from October 3-6, 2024, and will culminate with awarding 15 LPGA Tour cards for the following season.

Set to be played on the grounds’ John Fought-designed Players Course, the event fills a professional women’s golf void that occurred when the LPGA major championship long known as the “Dinah” left the desert after 51 consecutive years at Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage.

“I think the Epson is a great fit, both for our property and the entire valley,” says Joe Williams, director of golf at IWGR. “Obviously, we lost the LPGA event, so there weren’t any (touring) professional female tournaments out here; but women’s golf is really on the rise, and we have a tremendous number of female golfers in the valley. And it’s a great way to get behind these up-and-coming players who will hopefully become stars on the LPGA one day.”

In November of ’23, the Indian Wells City Council voted 5-0 to approve hosting the tournament; said sponsorship was approved at $100,000 in lieu of a lessor, $50,000 option that presented fewer ticket trimmings for city residents.

“We weren’t going to cheap-out with this,” says Greg Sander, mayor of the City of Indian Wells. “We’re putting our money where our mouth is, we’re very excited about it and we want to put on the best tournament possible.

The city isn’t sheepish about said funds serving as seed-planter to eventually bring the LPGA back to the desert.

“We do see this as something of an audition, as we would love to have the LPGA make Indian Wells Golf Resort a stop on the tour,” continues Sanders. “So, we’ll roll out the red carpet and demonstrate what Indian Wells can do with our hospitality and ability to put on a very high-end event; we certainly have the infrastructure to accommodate an LPGA tournament.”

Williams agrees. “First, we really need to put our best foot forward with this event and be sure this event goes exactly the way the Tour wants it and the way that we want it,” he says. “But, yes, we do see this as a chance to springboard to something bigger.”

A FILLING CALENDAR

The new event joins a growing list of high-profile sports that call the valley home. Each January, the PGA Tour returns for the American Express in La Quinta; come mid-March, the BNP Paribas Open, known as the “Fifth Major” to the tennis set, gathers for two weeks at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; rounding toward Easter, Mission Hills now serves as home and host to the PGA Tour Champions’ Galleri Classic, which was played for the second time this year.

Across the valley’s filling calendar, however, the October time period has proven generally mellow. “With a lot of people closed for overseeding and not a ton of stuff going on out here at that time, I really do think this is great timing to hold the tournament,” enthuses Williams. “With October a transition month out here, it’ll make it more of a showcase event for us in that time of the year.”

GATEWAY TO THE LPGA: In the years since its formation, Epson Tour grads have gone on to win more than 500 LPGA titles.

The addition of the Epson — whose grads have captured nearly 500 LPGA titles — only enhances the allure of a region shouldering toward a year-round playground.

“The Coachella Valley has become a truly great sports scene,” Sanders says, “and getting the Epson Tour Championship here really adds to that.”

As further fuel to the desert sporting calendar, the Epson arrival coincides with some NBA preseason action: On October 4 and 6, the L.A. Lakers will play NBA preseason games versus the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns at the new Acrisure Arena.

“Between sports and entertainment, and with the addition of Acrisure Arena, there’s a lot going on out here,” concludes Williams. “It’s booming, with more and more activities for our locals and folks out here visiting the desert.”