Honoring Bob Hope ahead of the desert’s 65th PGA tournament
The American Express PGA Tournament returns to PGA West on Thursday.
This marks the 65th Anniversary of the PGA event in the Coachella Valley.
The tournament dates back to 1960. It was originally called the Palm Springs Golf Classic.
In 1962, Bob Hope and Arnold Palmer won the pro-am portion of the Palm Springs Desert Classic. In 1965, the event was renamed the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
Bob Hope was the face of the tournament and was notorious for attracting star-studded athletes and celebrities to the desert for the tournament.
Beyond his influence on the golfing scene, Hope was renowned for his philanthropic endeavors, contributing significantly to the Coachella Valley through charitable initiatives for the Eisenhower Medical Center and various other organizations.
Today, the PGA tournament does not include Bob Hope’s name in its title, but his legacy is felt throughout the event.
Watch News Channel 3 tonight at 6:00 PM to hear from the Executive Director of PGA West about Bob Hope’s legacy going into The American Express Tournament.
