American cancer card golf society

BARBARA AND DAVE RODWAY are avid golfers who live in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Like many Western golfers, they make a yearly pilgrimage to California's Coachella Valley, home to almost 85 golf courses. Despite the variety there, the Rodways usually end up playing only one or two rounds. Even then, green fees for the couple can soar into the hundreds of dollars--if they can get a tee time. "A lot of the courses we play book only a day or two in advance," says Dave. "Sometimes we just can't get on."

But the Rodways--and lots of other frustrated golfers--do have options that can cut costs and guarantee tee times.

GETTING STARTING TIMES

Many of the most popular Coachella Valley resort courses--such as Hyatt Grand Champions, La Quinta Resort and Club, and Marriott's Desert Springs--allow advance bookings if you are planning to stay at the resort. Nonguests are more restricted, depending on which course they want to play. However, a few companies can assure tee times at these courses and others from 4 to 90 days in advance. In most cases, you pay the same as or less than if you had made the reservation yourself, but you must pay in advance and you forfeit your fee if you cancel with less than 48 hours' notice.

The best of these companies, Golf a la Carte (619/324-5012), can guarantee bookings on 32 desert courses, including Mission Hills Resort (south course), Rancho Mirage Country Club, and Desert Dunes. Desert Golf Reservations (341-2662) is a good bet if you are planning a visit with a large group. Palm Springs Golf and Tours (346-3331) can also make reservations, as well as help you with transportation, lessons, and clinics.

Even if you can't get a tee time at your favorite course through one of these companies, you can almost always get on if you're willing to hang around a bit. "Every course has cancellations and no-shows," says Robert Gibson, who runs Golf a la Carte. He suggests that you just show up early and be patient. Singles and twosomes are more likely to get on than foursomes, he says.

FLEXIBILITY EQUALS DISCOUNTS

Getting a tee time is one thing. Playing cheaply (well, less expensively, anyway) is quite another. But even during high season (January through mid-April), many courses give discounts to golfers willing to play early or late in the day. Desert Dunes, Mesquite Country Club, and Palm Springs Country Club, among others, discount green fees about 20 percent if you tee off before 7:30 A.M. Many more clubs offer twilight rates, which usually run about half the normal fee and start around 1:30. The catch? You might get in only 12 to 15 holes before it gets dark.

At the other end of the spectrum are rates that allow avid golfers to play a second round on the same day for the price of the cart rental. For example, green fees at Mission Hills Resort (south course) can run as much as $120, but if you have the stamina, you can play a second round for just $35.

Another option is to call one of two local companies that sell discounted tee times. Stand-by Golf (321-2665) determines which tee times have not been sold for the following day, then sells those times for 20 to 30 percent off after 5 P.M. Tee Times Unlimited (322-2244) sells times up to two days in advance.

A number of charitable organizations raise money by selling golf passes or coupon books good for reduced rates that usually begin in May. Discount-coupon books run from $35 to $50 and allow you to play a round for as little as $25, even on private courses such as PGA West. You usually won't be able to play on a weekend, but the savings are significant.

One of the best deals is the Golf Advantage Card (324-4546), which offers discounts at more than 40 desert courses, as well as one day's free admission to this month's Nabisco Dinah Shore golf tournament. Passes are also sold by the American Lung Association (341-6795) and the American Cancer Society (568-2691). All are available at golf stores in the valley.