Wanted: Two Humana Challenge Courses For 2016

Larry Bohannan reports in the Desert Sun on PGA West's decision to end its hosting duties after the 2015 Humana Challenge, leaving the event the loss of the Palmer and Nicklaus private courses. It sounds like they'd be happy to see the event move to the development's two resort courses.

He writes:

Members at PGA West have received a newsletter from officials of the six-course complex saying that the tournament will not be played on the Palmer Private or Nicklaus Private courses after next January's event.

"PGA West has told us they are not in a position to continue with support of the tournament going forward," said Bob Marra, CEO and tournament chairman for the Humana Challenge.

The Palmer Course has been part of the tournament since 1988, with the exception of a three-year absence from 1995 through 1997.

Bohannan also writes a column suggesting this is a blow for a tournament enjoying momentum and having to contemplate a return to the maligned Silverrock (but The Classic Club only gets a brief mention, not a nomination for a return).

It may not be full-on scramble mode at the Humana Challenge offices, but certainly they have a new priority to deal with.

Speculation on the new courses will center on SilverRock Resort in La Quinta and the TPC Stadium Course, one of PGA West's resort courses. But the tournament might find a better fit with another desert layout that might decide holding a PGA Tour event is the right thing to do.

If the Palmer Private and Nicklaus Private courses truly are done after 2015, there will be laments about the disappearance of the Palmer Course. People will talk of David Duval's 59 on the course in 1999, or remarkable performance by Tom Kite and Joe Durant in years of the Palmer Course hosting the tournament, and of the bighorn sheep sightings on the course in the mornings of the event.