Order your "50 Years of Hope"

Arnold Palmer’s storied career featured plenty of time on the courses of the Coachella Valley, including playing in and hosting the Bob Hope Classic last January.

For the first time, you can read all of Palmer’s exploits, as well as the rich traditions and behind-the-scenes stories of the Hope Classic, in a book written by The Desert Sun’s Larry Bohannan.

The hard-bound book, overflowing with rare photos and unforgettable stories, is ready in time for the holidays. Beat the rush and order now and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the book autographed by Palmer. Visit mydesert.com/hope to order this keepsake analysis of the first half-century of a desert icon, the Bob Hope Classic.

Johnson in Sprint

Former Desert Christian golfer Jennifer Johnson, now a freshman at Arizona State University, will be one of four amateurs from the United States to participate in the 2009 Sprint International Amateur Golf Championship starting today in Trinity, Texas. The four-day event at Whispering Pines Golf Club will feature teams from 20 countries. Two male and two female golfers will compete for each country. In three college tournaments for Arizona State this fall, Johnson has finished in the top 10 in all three events and is the top-ranked freshman player in the Golf Stat Cup.

Walton advances

Michael Walton of Indian Wells advanced out of a first-stage PGA Tour qualifying tournament in Lantana, Texas and will move forward to a second-stage event later this month. Walton, a former Palm Desert High School golfer now playing on the Canadian Tour, finished tied for 14th in a 68-player first-stage event at Lantana Golf Club. The top 22 scores and ties from the event moved on to second-stage action. In another first-stage event at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Bryan Newman of Bermuda Dunes withdrew after three rounds of the four-round event. Newman was 17-over par at the time. Six second-stage events will be played Nov. 18-21 across the country, including Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont.

Women's Golf Association holiday party

The Palm Springs/Desert Cities chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association will hold its annual holiday party on Dec. 6 at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage. Cost is $30, including buffet, no-host bar, drawings and prizes. Women' who join the EWGA that night will receive $10 in EWGA bucks, good for future association golf tournaments, plus entry into a grand prize drawing. EWGA is a not-for-profit organization that helps women learn about the game and the opportunities for business networking and camaraderie through the game. Registrations is on the association's web site at www.ewgadesert.com or e-mail Judi Hartmann at membership@ewgadesert.com by Nov. 30.

Palm Springs Celebrity Golf Classic

The 16th annual winter Greater Palm Springs Celebrity Golf Classic will be played Dec. 3-6 at Desert Princess Country Club in Cathedral City. Academy Award-winning songwriter Carol Connor will be the host of the event this year. Entry fee is $1,795 per player or $2,800 per couple, including two tickets to each of the event's three parties, one practice round at Desert Princess and two days of golf competition at the course. Proceeds benefit the Palm Springs Youth Charities. Information: 567-9968 or palmspringscelebritygolf.com.