The Nineteenth Edition of YIPSS MAY 4TH - 7TH 2025

WHAT IS YIPSS?

Nineteenth annual YIPSS (Yearly Invitational Palm Springs Swings) event.

YIPSS is an open golf tournament featuring three rounds at a variety of beautiful venues across the Palm Springs area. If you enjoy golf, vacation, and camaraderie then YIPSS will not disappoint. Its loyal player following has created a legacy of fun and friendly competition over the past seventeen installments. 

Please consider rallying friends and fellow players to become part of YIPSS history. Our goal is to field at least 36 golfers, but many more are welcome!

If you do forward this on, please share the email addresses so I can add them to our mailing list.  Due to several of life’s circumstances, some folks change or no longer monitor their email addresses.  If you know of anyone like this, please contact them or forward this message.

WHEN IS IT?

Sunday, May 4th through Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

WHERE ARE WE STAYING?

Residence Inn Palm Desert
38305 Cook St,
Palm Desert, CA 92211

Website: Marriott Hotel in Palm Desert | Residence Inn Palm Desert
Google Maps: Residence Inn by Marriott Palm Desert - Google Maps

For players who decide to share a room/booking, it’s ideal as each player gets their own private Bedroom and Bathroom.

NOTE:  The Host will be staying onsite at the Hotel

WHERE ARE WE PLAYING?
Sunday, May 4th (Optional Round; Legend Package)
Desert Willow Firecliff
First Tee Time:  1220AM
Website:  Firecliff Course | Desert Willow | Palm Desert, CA
Google Maps:  Desert Willow Golf Resort - Google Maps

Monday, May 5th
PGA West Dunes
First Tee Time: 1133AM
Website: Dunes Course | La Quinta Resort & Club
Google Maps: PGA WEST Pete Dye Dunes Course - Google Maps

Tuesday, May 6th
SilverRock
First Tee Time: 850AM
Website: Home - SilverRock Resort
Google Maps: SilverRock Resort - Google Maps

Wednesday, May 7th
Indian Wells Country Club - Classic Course
Shotgun Start:  AM (Luncheon/Awards immediately following round)
Website:  Classic Course | Indian Wells Country Club | Indian Wells, CA | Invited (invitedclubs.com)
Google Maps:  Indian Wells Country Club - Google Maps

WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR?
There are no significant changes planned for our overall event structure, format, or cost.
 

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?  

Cost is TBD and will be calculated by end of DEC 2024. The firm cost will be established prior to the formal request for down payment message in January 2025. As reference, please see the 2024 costs listed below:

YIPSS Classic Package 

1. Single      Golfer w/King Suite - $1076 
2. Two      Golfers w/2Bed/2Bath Queens - $1660 ($830 per Golfer)
3. One      Golfer/One Non-Golfer w/King - $1136 
4. Golf      Only (Accommodations handled by You) - $524

YIPSS Legend Package (Includes Firecliff Green Fee & Buy-In; Optional Sunday Round)

1. Single      Golfer w/King Suite - $1245 
2. Two      Golfers w/2Bed/2Bath Queens - $1998 ($999 per Golfer)
3. One      Golfer/One Non-Golfer w/King - $1305 
4. Golf      Only (Accommodations handled by You) - $693

All options above include Sunday reception, Wednesday luncheon, prizes and commemorative item.

WHATS NEXT?

Deposits request – January 2025
Deposits due – Friday, February 9th 2025
Full payments due no later than Friday, March 14th 2025

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, MAY 4th (or Saturday) arrival, register at hotel or independent accommodations. 

Official check-in time for Lodging is typically 4:00 PM. Early check-in may be available upon request.

For those choosing to participate in the optional Sunday round Desert Willow’s Firecliff course, our tee times begin at 1220PM. Many of the players who opt-in for this round may choose to arrive Saturday evening (not included in package price). 

The Sunday evening reception will be hosted at the Marriott Residence Inn; in the Mariposa Ballroom @700PM. This will be a brief meeting to get acquainted with YIPSS 2025 participants, game/rules, logistics and to receive your commemorative item. The aim of this happy hour is both informative and fun. It’s also a great time to establish any side wagers.

MONDAY, MAY 5TH

Golf at PGA West/La Quinta Dunes Course, w/tee times starting at 1133AM. Pace of play, no more than 4 hours and 30 minutes. Replay rounds are available here at a discounted rate depending on your choice of course (individually paid/coordinated, not part of our package).  Afternoon and evening on your own.

TUESDAY, MAY 6TH

Golf at SilverRock w/tee times starting at 850AM. Pace of play, no more than 4 hours and 30 minutes. Replay rounds are available here at a discounted rate (individually paid/coordinated, not part of our package). Afternoon and evening on your own.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7TH

Check-out (if leaving Wednesday) of Hotel in time to arrive at Indian Wells Country Club by no later than 730AM. (700AM check-out/departure strongly suggested). We will be playing either the Classic Course with a shotgun start at 800AM. Pace of play, no more than 4 hours and 30 minutes. After golf, the closing luncheon to be hosted in the restaurant/lounge at the Indian Wells Country Club meeting room, recap of event and awards. Travel home or stay an additional night.

WHO MAY ATTEND?

Anyone!

While the name implies that this is an "invitation-only" event, it is actually open to anyone that the attendees invite. That’s right, it is literally open to anyone that you invite.
Please invite your golfing friends to attend. 

GOLF/COMPETITION FORMAT
Stroke play will be our playing format. Net Stableford will the primary competition format; Stableford is a point based scoring system that converts “result-to-par” to a point value and reduces the impact of a double bogey or worse on your overall competition. Each player’s competition handicap will be established for the given course/tee box combination and used to net-out each hole’s result.
 

Dbl Bogey or worse = 0, Bogey =1, Par = 2, Birdie = 3, Eagle = 4, Albatross = 5 and Condor = 6

After Monday’s tournament round, we will split the field into two flights based on Net Scores (For example, if there are 24 players in field, the top 12 net scorers will become Flight A and the bottom 12 net scorers will become Flight B; tie breakers determined by performance on hole difficulty). You will only be competing with your flight for the aggregate 3 round Net Stableford score. Top 3 players in each flight will be awarded prizes.

In addition to Net Stableford, we will also pay daily Net Skins. The total skins pot will be divided by the number of skins won and each skin winner will be paid out the value of each skin won. For example, if Net Skins pot totals $160 and 10 skins are won, the value of each skin becomes $16; a player with 1 skin, wins $16. A player with 3 skins, wins $48)

Low Aggregate Gross Stableford will also be awarded prize. 

CTP’s (2 per day on shortest par 3 front/back nine).

No Long Drive/Long Putt competitions this year.

GOLF ETTIQUETEE & PACE OF PLAY
Proper attire is required at all courses. No denim, wear long pants or walking shorts, must wear collared shirts and no steel cleats (soft spikes only). No tank tops, T-shirt, athletic shorts or cut-off jeans. No outside food/beverage allowed; proceed at your own risk(!)

Let us make Pace of Play our groups top priority; It will improve the experience for everyone and ensure we can get invited back to these beautiful venues.

Helpful pace of play tips:

· Always play ready golf, do not play honors; encourage partners to do the same 

· Keeping up with the group ahead of you is the priority; the group behind you doesn't matter

· Shorter hitters should always tee off ahead of longer hitters when fairway is open 

· Putt through the green (once you begin your putting, continue until you have holed out) 

· Drive cart to the farthest point behind the green within reason. Do not park short of/parallel to green

· When on opposite sides of the fairway at similar distances, its acceptable for 2 players to hit simultaneously 

· If you've lost your ball and the hole is NOT open ahead of you, you can continue to look for the ball until the hole is open

· If you've lost your ball and the hole IS open ahead of you, drop and hit immediately/take penalty 

IS TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED IN COSTS?

Sorry, no. But there are driving and flying options.  

Driving:

About 8 hours from SF Bay area

About 4-1/2 hours from the Las Vegas area

About 4 hours from Phoenix area

Palm Springs has an airport

ARE MEALS INCLUDED?

The Sunday evening reception is included for all participants. Wednesday luncheon is included for all participants.

Several restaurants within 10 minutes of hotel are available for other meals. 

DOES THIS EVENT HAVE A SPONSOR?
No sponsors or sanctions by any company or organization. This event is solely for the enjoyment of the participants/attendees.

CAN YIPSS BE CANCELED?
Yes, if enough payments are not received by the due dates; 2/7/2025 (deposits) or 3/14/2025 (final), we may have to cancel. We do not anticipate this being an issue, but be informed. If this occurs, you will be notified by email and pre-payments will be returned. If we have incurred any upfront costs, remaining funds will be distributed proportionally. 

CAN THE EVENT BE SOLD OUT?
We typically have enough interest/commitments by DEC/JAN to move forward with the event and try to secure lodging/tee times based on the number of interested parties. It’s vary rare that we need to turn players away…However, we do have limited capacity based on availability; hotel and golf courses in the area tend to book full at this time of year. If the demand is greater than our capacity, the earliest postmark will prevail.

ALL PARTICIPANTS NOTICE:

YIPSS and/or Joel Cazzell are not responsible for any errant golf shots, damage to golf course, course equipment, other persons or equipment, hotel properties or surroundings. You are solely responsible for any damages, results from improper conduct or liabilities you may cause. By submitting payments and signing up for this event, you and all in your party agree to this stipulation.