Founded in 1960, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was known back then as the Palm Springs Golf Classic. It's a PGA Tour event that is well known for its celebrity pro-am and its unique format that consists of tournament play that is held on four different courses during a five-day period.
Televised for the first time in 1961, some of the first stars who participated in the celebrity pro-am were Kirk Douglas, Desi Arnaz, and Bing Crosby. Dwight Eisenhower would be the first president to join the tournament that year. The 1970's brought in celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Gleason, and Gerald Ford became the second president to join the tournament during that time. The 1980's brought a new course, the PGA West, and the Chrysler name was added to the tournaments name. The 1990's produced some the tournaments best games in its history. Tom Kite finished 90 holes in 35 under par, but the biggest news of the 90's was when the current president, Bill Clinton, and former Presidents George Bush and Gerald R. Ford teed off on the tournaments opening round making it an historic time in a PGA Tour event. The 2000's haven't slowed the tournament down since Joe Durant immerged as a new star and ended up beating Tom Kites record by a single shot.
Although the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic produces some the of the best tournament play in the PGA Tour, it also presents the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Ball that has helped donate practically $42 million to local charities in the Coachella Valley for over 46 years. This golf tournament is certainly a favorite and a classic among golf fans from around the world. There is no better way to enjoy the game of golf than watching golf's professional players tee it up with some of the entertainment industry's and Hollywood's most famous celebrities.
