New Venue for the Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrity Invitational
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will host the enduring charity event

By Matt McKay

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, and Eagle Falls Golf Course situated next door, weren't around when Frank and Barbara Sinatra started the Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrity Invitational in 1988.

But one can easily imagine the Chairman of the Board giving the facility a hearty, metaphorical slap on the back and stamp of approval if only he could walk the common areas of the hotel and take a swing at the golf course that will host his namesake event this year.

The celebrity invitational, scheduled for Feb. 18-21, will be held for the first time at the resort complex, which opened in Indio, Calif., in 2004. The campus-style facility would seem to lend itself to making the tournament more attractive and more of a destination event for participants and celebrities.

This year's tournament has been streamlined, with only 27 groups playing the two tournament rounds, and it has been completely filled for some time now. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The Starkey Hearing Foundation is the title sponsor of the event.

“This annual event meant the world to Frank.  He would be immensely proud to see how it has grown and remains a major contributing source to the Children’s Center that he loved so much,” says Mrs. Sinatra.  “To our wonderful supporters all across the country and beyond, I offer my appreciation for helping us to do the valuable work that’s done at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.”
While we can only guess what Sinatra's reaction would be to the new digs, it's clear what the new hosts think about the event. The Cabazon band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the hotel, casino and golf course, actively pursued the tournament, motivated by the community spirit that permeates the event. That the hotel and golf course are exposed to a new clientele, and that existing (and potential future) guests are aware of the event, doesn't hurt.

“The tribe is a part of the community.  It always has been and always will be," says Paul Ryan, the resort’s general manager. "And this is an event that benefits everyone in the community." 
It's also quite conceivable that Frank Sinatra would have ended up each tournament evening at the new Penthouse wine bar and lounge at the top of the hotel. Formerly the Velvet Palm nightclub, the stunning space has been redesigned to create a sophisticated wine bar featuring 65 different labels and live jazz Friday and Saturday nights.

Tournament guests and participants can look forward to four days of entertainment, goodwill and superb golf. Robert Wagner will serve as co-host with Mrs. Sinatra, and Tom Dreesen, long-time friend of the Sinatras, will return as emcee of the event. Dick Van Dyke will serve as honorary spokesman, and Norm Crosby will be the on-course celebrity marshal. The two rounds of golf will be played Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20.

At the Thursday night pairings party, Gary Mule Deer will be on hand to provide his rare brand of comedy, while the Texas-based musical stylings of The Gatlin Brothers will be on offer during Friday night's dinner and auction. The Saturday evening black-tie gala will be headlined by the masters of 60's consciousness, the Smothers' Brothers. The nightly pilgrimage to the Penthouse is optional but supremely compelling. Give in and pay your respects to the Chairman with a nightcap, taking in the desert below and realizing just how good you've got it.

For Fantasy Springs, it's one of several huge 2010 events. Over the course of the spring season the Indio playland will play host to musical acts such as Paul Anka (March 13), Chicago (March 26) and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (March 20).

Gallery tickets for the tournament can be purchased at the golf course for $10 per day. For more information, call 760.674.8447.

Matt McKay is a contributing writer to Desert Golf Magazine