Palm Springs Golf Guide: Your Complete Golf Getaway Overview
Some of the worlds finest golf courses are located in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. People travel from all over the world to experience the joy of golfing in the beautiful surroundings that Palm springs offers. In this guide, we’ll take you through the basics of how to plan the ultimate golf getaway to sunny Palm Springs and the surrounding cities of the Coachella Valley.
Silver Rock Resort in La Quinta — About 45 Minutes from Palms at Park
Best Time of Year to Golf in Palm Springs
All times of the year offer something special for Palm Springs golfers. One of the wonderful things about the Palm Springs area is that it has seasons unlike many areas of Southern California. As detailed in our guide to Palm Springs weather, the summers can be hot and dry with long, warm nights while the winter months can be sunny and cool, perfect for a light sweater around the fire pit when the sun goes down. So what does this mean for golfers?
October through April are the best golf months in Palm Springs.
Many would consider the best months for golfing to be between the months of October and April when the weather is sunny but cool most days.
Summer mornings and evenings also make for excellent golfing.
However, the summer can also be a great time to enjoy hitting the course in sunny Palm Springs. It’s true that Palm Springs weather is typically very hot during summer days with temperatures often hitting 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more. However due to the desert climate, what you may not know is that the summer months make for absolutely beautiful and warm mornings and evenings. So, if you’re planning on golfing in Palm Springs during the summer, it is best to play as early in the day as possible, bring lots of liquids with you and we highly recommend wearing a golf hat.
Summer Golf Tip: Call ahead. Some golf courses may be closed for a 3 to 4 weeks between September and early November for over seeding.
Where to Stay on a Golf Trip
If you're planning a golf trip to Palm Springs, staying in a large luxury vacation rental home can provide the perfect home base for your trip. At Palms at Park, all of our large, luxury vacation rental homes were built from scratch to be the best in the city, situated in the heart of Palm Springs' historic mid-century neighborhood. This means that you'll be able to experience the best of Palm Springs while still enjoying all the comforts of home. Palms at Park is located near all of the top-rated golf courses in the area, making it easy for you to hit the links. When you're not out on the course, you can relax in your luxury villa and enjoy all the amenities it has to offer, such as a private pool, hot tub, fire pit and indoor/outdoor entertaining.
Overall, staying in a luxury vacation rental home at Palms at Park is the perfect choice for a golf trip to Palm Springs. When you book Palms at Park directly with the owners, you’ll skip the hefty ‘service fees’ that the big vacation rental sites charge.
Top 10 Golf Courses in the Palm Springs Area
It’s not hard to see why Golf Magazine rated Palm Springs as one of the best destinations for golf in the country. Golfing while experiencing the beauty of the San Jacinto mountains is something that everyone must try at least once. There are countless golfing opportunities in Palm Springs proper as well as throughout the beautiful Coachella Valley. Some courses are in country clubs but there are also plenty of public courses and the prices are surprisingly fair. Palm Springs area golf courses offer both nine hole and eighteen hole courses.
#1 — Escena Golf Club Palm Springs
Escena Golf Club — 5 Minutes from Palms at Park
Public Golf Course in Palm Springs
A Little Pricey but Worth It
All About the Views
One of the best public courses in Palm Springs is Escena Golf Club right in Palm Springs. This is an 18 hole Niklaus-designed course that is located on a spectacular space surrounded by mountains and a beautiful community of new homes. Escena is one of the closest courses to your villa at Palms at Park or 5 Palms Estate, just a 5 minute drive east past the Airport.
After golfing at a Escena we recommend hanging out in their lounge and having a happy hour martini or a glass of wine and enjoying the spectacular views that the course and surrounding community of newly built vacation homes has to offer. If you forgot to bring your golf clubs with you, don’t worry one bit because you can rent golf clubs at the Escena clubhouse.
#2 — Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells Golf Resort — 25 Minutes from Palms at Park
2 Public Courses in Indian Wells
Among 30 Best Municipal Courses in America
Book Well in Advance
If you make your way out to Indian Wells, about 25 minutes east of Palms at Park, we highly recommend playing one of the two heavily awarded courses available to the public at the Indian Wells golf resort. This duo of Palm Springs area golf courses has been consistently ranked among the best golf courses to play in Coachella Valley.
Two Courses to Choose From
The Indian Wells Golf Resort offers two courses to choose from, both incredible options.
#1 The Celebrity Course
Created by Clive Clark, November 2006 heralded the opening of the Indian Wells Celebrity Course. Panoramic mountain views and countless water features make this Par-72 course a beauty to behold. Book early as the Celebrity Course was ranked No. 27 in Golfers Choice and is one of the most popular golf courses in the Coachella Valley.
#2 The Players Course
Opening just after the Celebrity Course, The Indian Wells Players Course features a classic design by John Fought that seamlessly integrates original trees and sewn bunkers to give the feeling of a traditional American designed facility with all the benefits of a modern Palm Springs golf course. The views of the San Jacinto mountains from this course in particular are simply stunning and this is no mistake, it’s by design. That’s part of why Golf Magazine awarded The Players Course as one of the 30 Best Municipal Courses in America.
Recently, the Players Course underwent a major redesign to enhance sustainability and playability. Check the resort’s website for the latest updates on course conditions and to reserve your round
. Book a Tee Time at Indian Wells Golf Resort
#3 — PGA West
Public
9 Courses to Choose From
Long Drive
PGA West — About 45 Minutes from Palms at Park
For more than 35 years, professionals have played at PGA West, a golfing powerhouse with no fewer than 9 courses to choose from. With courses designed by all of the greats — Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf and Pete Dye — PGA West is worth a visit for players of all skill levels. Here are a few of the courses to consider:
#1 Course at PGA West - The Greg Norman Course
No fewer than forty feet below the sea level sits the majestic rolling fareway of PGA West’s Greg Norman Course, surrounded by the beautiful mountains that draw so many golfers to the greater Palm Springs area. Play surrounded by native vegitation and, if you’re lucky, a wildflower bloom that is a sight to behold. 18 acres of course across 60 tight fareways dotted with 9 ponds make this course a formidable foe for even the most experienced golfers, yet a fantastic experience for all skill levels.
#2 - The Nicklaus Tournament Course
Designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus, this world-famous course at PGA west has been the setting of PGA’s Tour Qualifying School and the Grand Slam of Golf Tree Tour Challenge. The fairways are contoured and deep sand bunkers make for challenging play. Bent greens, elevated ties and long water shots serve as hallmarks and enhance play.
Related Link: Book Palm Springs’ Best Vacation Rentals for your Golf Trip
#3 - Pete Dye TPC Stadium Course
Designed by Pete Due and listed among Golf Magazine’s 100 Greatest Courses in the U.S, you have to see this challenging course to believe it. Sidehill lies, sand, water and pot bunkers abound, not to be outdone by the 571-yard, par-5 16th hole widely considered to be one of the most challenging there is.
#4 — Seven Lakes
Desert Willow Golf Resort features two award-winning public courses: the challenging Firecliff Course and the more forgiving Mountain View Course. The Firecliff Course recently reopened after a multi-million-dollar renovation that enhanced its greens and bunkers, while the Mountain View Course offers a more relaxed experience with stunning views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Desert Willow is also a popular venue for weddings and special events, thanks to its picturesque setting in Palm Desert.