Imperial Palms Hotel & Resort at Barbara Worth

Imperial Palms Hotel & Resort at Barbara Worth is a historic 18-hole course in California, built in 1926 and designed by Lawrence Hughes, a Southern California architect responsible for more than 20 courses across California and Arizona. Playing to a par 72 and stretching just over 6,500 yards from the blue tees, the layout is short by modern standards but should not be underestimated. Small, sloping greens and fairways lined with tall, mature trees demand precision throughout the round. Wind is a genuine factor in this part of California, and the par-4 18th is a particular test when it picks up. Hughes routed the course cleverly across relatively flat terrain, placing 18 holes side by side without the benefit of modern construction equipment. The result is a classic, tree-lined layout that has held up well since its opening nearly a century ago.