FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Book
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Book
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
Travel
Home›Travel›Experience the “Birdies & Bloom” of Rams Hill and Borrego Springs

Experience the “Birdies & Bloom” of Rams Hill and Borrego Springs

By Judd Spicer
March 4, 2019
7867
0
Share:

Golfers seeking a unique blend of nature, serenity and premier design have found a ready recipe at Rams Hill in Borrego Springs. Playing without the din of highway buzzing, resort ringing or condo-lining, the popularity of the Tom Fazio-designed grounds has seen the course’s rep steadily grow from secret retreat to a SoCal must-play.

Images Courtesy of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Amid this late winter and early spring season, the bounty of Borrego grows even greater.

Known as the “Superbloom,” an astounding wash of wildflowers are currently popping across the Anza-Borrego State Park adjacent to Rams Hill. California’s largest state park at over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego is a destination draw for everything from hiking and biking, to stargazing and wildlife watching.

This season, a mere 15-minute drive from the course to select areas in the park can make for an especially memorable day of birdies and bloom.

“There are many factors which contribute to the success of the wildflowers, including rain at the appropriate time of year, favorable temperatures, heat and wind,” says Dennis Stephen, district interpretive specialist for the Colorado Desert District. “This year, it’s looking particularly good for the bloom conditions.”

Images Courtesy of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Expected to peak from early March through early April, golfers headed to Borrego and Rams Hill should aim to carve-out a little extra travel time.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to recreate, get in some golf and to enjoy the park and the wildflowers,” adds Stephen.

Like golf, the best superbloom-seeking starts with a good game plan. In concert with players studying the inviting tee corridors and strategic swales of Fazio’s awesome green structures and surrounds at Rams Hill, visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park will be well-served with some pre-game prep.

“Currently, we’re seeing flowers at the Coyote Canyons and Borrego Badlands at the northern end of the park, and then along S-22, at the southern end of the park, there’s the Carrizo Badlands Overlook.”

As of the first week of March, the Borrego Badlands locale on S-22 between mile markers 30 and 35 is a highly-suggested stop.

“We’re seeing a lot of Verbena this year, along with desert sunflowers,” Stephen details. “There are also spots where Lupine is starting to come up.”

At mile marker 31 specifically (and, rest assured, you’ll see the cars on the weekend), the splash of regal purples and popping yellows set against the otherwise-rustic desert backdrop creates an especially-photogenic canvass.

Images Courtesy of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

The specific locale requires no deep desert dive at this mile marker, as an inviting wildflower walk of 20-minutes can be enjoyed with an easy stroll less than a quarter-mile into the sands.

Golfers matching wedges with wildflowers can scorecard updates with a call to the park’s regularly-updated Wildflower hotline at 760-767-4684. To book a tee time at Rams Hill GC, visit their website.

For wildflower driving directions from all points SoCal, the park’s website provides detailed mapping; just click here to learn more and plan your visit.

Along with online review of viewing tips and a list of official park concessionaires, visitors should take heed of park safety suggestions. Bringing ample water is a must, as is a vehicle in full-working order; flower-seekers taking in more than a pit-stop may also want a printed-out map (cell reception is funky in the park), and be certain to bring layered attire and sunscreen.

Previous Article

Volunteers: The Lifeblood of A Tournament

Next Article

Stroke Awareness

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Judd Spicer

Judd Spicer is an award-winning writer, radio host, columnist for The Desert Sun newspaper and an Associate Member of the Golf Writers Association of America.  A Minnesota native, he relocated to the Palm Springs region in 2011 to pursue his Champions Tour dream.  Sporting wayward accuracy off the tee, Judd refers to his 56-degree as his magic wand.  Visit www.juddspicer.com and @JuddSpicer for more.

Related articles More from author

  • Fall 2022Travel

    The Greens of Utah’s Color Country: Great Golf Leads the Charge in Historic, Fast-Growing St. George

    October 20, 2022
    By Joe Passov
  • On The TeeTravelWinter 2025

    Omni Vision

    January 24, 2025
    By Joe Passov
  • Fall 2016Travel

    Taming the Dragon: The Scribe Returns to a New and Improved Nakoma Resort

    October 24, 2016
    By T.J. Simers
  • Summer 2017Travel

    Up North and Unmatched: The Many Charms of Northern Michigan

    July 26, 2017
    By Tod Leonard
  • Travel

    Welcoming Colombia: Ready for Birdies and Business

    February 19, 2020
    By Judd Spicer
  • TravelWinter 2020

    Winter Getaways: Hawaii’s Newest Hot Spot

    January 25, 2020
    By George Fuller

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • At The TurnFeaturedSCGA JuniorSpring 2025

    Mr. & Mrs. Porter

  • FeaturedIn The ClubhouseSpring 2025

    John Henebry

  • FeaturedOn The TeeSpring 2025Sustainability

    More Green, Less Grass

  • At The TurnFeaturedSpring 2025Travel

    Irish Ayes

  • FeaturedSpring 2025Travel

    The Heart of Idaho

FeaturedIn The ClubhouseSpring 2025

John Henebry

A Personal Remembrance Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. A ballroom at Desert IslandCC in the Coachella Valley pocket of Rancho Mirage. The “Celebration of Life” for my dear friend, my colleague, ...
  • Fun & Games

    By Kevin O'Connor
    May 15, 2025
  • Rule 25

    By Jimmy Becker
    May 15, 2025
  • Doing More With Less

    By Kevin Fitzgerald
    May 15, 2025
  • Original Wonder Woman

    By Joe Passov
    May 15, 2025
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise