As one of America’s most experienced golf course explorers, I am frequently asked for my recommendations for golf spots in many different cities. As a matter of principle, I don’t publicly declare my opinion until I have completely scoured the landscape for all available golf options.
The time has come for me to release the ultimate guide to public golf in Palm Springs.
Since there is a tremendous amount of golf to be played in the Palm Springs scene, this list only focuses on the most noteworthy public golf courses in the area. Each course is broken down into 5 categories and assigned points on a 10 point scale.
All of the golf courses featured here are excellent options for golf in Palm Springs and a minimum score of 30 was required to be nominated for this list. Just like the Oscars, it shall be considered an honor just to receive a nomination.
Unlike many other golf lists on the internet, none of the golf courses listed below have compensated me in any way and there is no compensation for any tee times booked through this site. This list is my unbiased opinion.
Quality: How good is the overall golf course, I take conditioning, shot options, and challenge all into consideration in just one category.
Character: How unique is the golf course? Many Palm Springs golf courses have a similar vibe. Courses score points here for being original and unique.
Value: Golf in Palm Springs has gotten expensive. A course may be excellent but it also might set you back $400. Is it worth it?
Fun: In this category I will assess the vibe. Is the course welcoming? Is the course enjoyable to play?
Beauty: As a golf course photographer, I have an eye for the visually striking aspects of the game. I put a number on it here in this category.
Silver Rock Golf Resort - Golf Score: 30
We start of with a golf course that doesn’t quite live up to it’s potential. With construction looming over the resort for years, there should be improved scores down the road. However, there are several stretches of golf at Silver Rock that really make it worth a visit. A fun option for desert golf and a solid start to the list.
Escena Golf Club - Golf Score: 31
This Jack Nicklaus design flies under the radar in Palm Springs but the course ranks high in the value category. Located right across the street from the Palm Springs Airport, It’s a perfect course to add onto the beginning or tail end of a golf trip.
Mission Hills North - Gary Player - Golf Score: 31
A solid option for golf in Palm Springs. You aren’t getting anything outstanding here on all sides of the vote. The Player course is just a standard solid option for desert golf.
I played the back nine in a full scale dust storm on the RGV Tour 2.0 and nearly died. Near death experience was not factored into the score.
Tahquitz Creek - Golf Score: 31
36 holes of golf await the golfer at Tahquitz. So if you are planning to pack in the golf at a reasonable price, this is a great option for you. The conditions and quality are all at a solid level but nothing noteworthy. However, the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular.
The Lights at Indio - Golf Score: 31
If you don’t have The Lights on your list, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. With 18 holes ranging from 110 to 240 yards, The Lights is the oddball on this list. The course illuminates at night and makes for a great option after the sun goes down. The reasonable greens fee and the friendly vibes help this course to score extremely well in the fun and value categories.
Cimarron Golf Resort - Golf Score: 31
With 18 holes of championship golf (Boulder) and a short course (Pebble) there is plenty of golf to be enjoyed at Cimmaron. Fun fact: the championship course boasts the lowest score on 2023’s RGV Tour. Even with my scorching hot 67, the judges here managed to remain unbiased and delivered a fair and firm score of 31. The short course does a great job of boosting Cimarron up in the fun category.
Shadow Hills Golf Club - Golf Score: 31
The 31 score is representative of a truly solid option for public golf and Shadow Hills is definitely that. In addition to the 18 hole golf course, there is an outstanding par 3 golf course as well. Shadow Hills is managed by Troon which almost guarantees a certain quality standard.
Desert Falls - Golf Score: 32
Desert Falls Country Club is our first member of the 32 club and a solid yet seldom discussed option for quality golf. The greens are something special at Desert Falls which gives the golf course an edge in the character category. The result is a fun round of golf at a reasonably priced rate.
Terra Lago - North & South - Golf Score: 32
There are 36 holes of golf at Terra Lago and somehow the course does a splendid job of staying off of the golf radar. The south course in particular has several golf holes that are downright inspirational from a setting perspective. The North course is probably my favorite of the 2 options, but it’s a coin flip.
On a sad personal note: This golf course was the last official flight for Robert Trent Drones. RTD was responsible for many of the photos that you will find here on pjkoenig.com. There was no crash landing, I simply wore down the engines on the legendary golf bird. RIP RTD.
Marriott’s Shadow RIdge - Golf Score: 32
Solid classic golf awaits the visiting golfer at this 32 point gem. Shadow Ridge scores solid marks in just about every category here. When I polled Instagram and Twitter this was one of the most popular courses mentioned in the comments. Shadow Ridge is a true fan favorite.
Desert Island Country Club - Golf Score: 32
This Desmond Muirhead golf course has changed names over the years as it flies under the radar. A solid 32 point score here might not put it back on the map, but it certainly is a great option for Palm Springs golf. According to their website, Desert Island “celebrates the unusual, the glamorous eccentricities and whimsical indulgence of life less ordinary.” Which I think is a fancy way to say that the vibe is one of the best in town.
Westin Rancho Mirage - Golf Score: 32
Another member of the 32 club comes in with a solid springs golf offering. Pete Dye gives us a fine desert offering with his usual bag of tricks. There is little out of the ordinary but the golf here is quite enjoyable. The Westin also has a great resort complete with waterslides.
JW Marriott Desert Springs - Golf Score: 33
The party heats up at Desert Springs as we break out of the 32 point crew and into elite territory. The 33 line is a demarcation point for me, everything from here on out is a serious contender for a high quality Palm Springs golf adventure. There are 36 holes from Ted Robinson and all categories are dialed in at Desert Springs. The Palm Springs vibes are in full effect and the experience is always excellent.
PGA West - Pete Dye Dunes - Golf Score: 33
The often overlooked Dunes course at PGA West is one of my sneaky favorite spots in the desert. If you are a fan of Pete Dye and his designs, I would highly suggest adding this beauty to your Palm Springs golf trip.
Indian Canyons - Golf Score: 34
There are 36 holes of golf at Indian Canyons. Both courses are solid but I am particularly fond of the South Course. The views and fun go up a notch on the south side of the road. Indian Canyons is one of my sleeper options in the desert, it doesn’t get talked about too often, but I found it be very enjoyable.
Eagle Falls Golf Club - Golf Score: 35
Eagle Falls is the best golf course in the Coachella Valley that nobody talks about. A score of 35 on these rankings is telling you that you should definitely not ignore this course. The Clive Clark design is one of the strongest values in the Coachella Valley. With no homes surrounding the golf course, Eagle Falls also scores high in the beauty category. The combination of these two should should earn Eagle Falls a spot on your Palm Springs itinerary.
PGA West: Stadium Course - Golf Score: 36
We head into the 36 pointers and big time heavy hitters with perhaps the most well known golf course in The Coachella Valley. The Stadium Course is the finest test of golf in town, but it is quite challenging for most players and not always enjoyable at every skill level. As a regular stop on The PGA Tour, the price tag is also a hefty one. However, every golfer should pay a visit to Alcatraz at least once.
Desert Willow - Firecliff & Mountain View - Golf Score: 36
There are 36 holes of golf at Desert Willow and I give the nod to the Firecliff course over the Mountain View course. The resort is consistently ranked at the top of the pile for public options in Palm Springs. I am here to confirm that the ranking is well deserved. Its fun to play, scenic, and always in top tier conditions. The price tag is on the higher end, but worth a visit.
PGA West: Nicklaus Tournament - Golf Score: 36
Situated right next door to the Stadium Course at PGA West, the Nicklaus Tournament Course gets overlooked quite often. It might just be my favorite of the bunch. The course winds it’s way through houses but also features some excellent terrain that makes the course interesting to play and visually fun to navigate.
PGA West: Pete Dye Mountain - Golf Score: 36
Some of the most memorable golf holes in Palm Springs come next to the mountain side on the Mountain course. If you like the drama, you will want to book your time against the jagged rocks of the San Jacinto Mountains. Pete Dye has his hands all over the Coachella Valley and this is one of his finer desert creations.
Classic Club - Golf Score: 38
The official pjkoenig guide to Palm Springs golf puts the penultimate palm party at The Classic Club. This Troon managed property is almost always in top notch conditions. The absence of housing enhances the beauty and The Classic Club experience is as good as the desert can offer. This Arnold Palmer signature design hosted the Bob Hope Classic from 2006-2008 and it is an excellent candidate to host your next Palm Springs golf trip.
Indian Wells - Players & Celebrity - Golf Score: 39
We have arrived at the pinnacle of public golf at Palm Springs. Indian Wells fires on all cylinders and provides dramatic views that rival many of it’s private counterparts. The golf resort manages to achieve a private club feel that is available to the public. The fun vibe is also on full display with a miniature putting course and fun range games for the night crew. Both the Celebrity and Players courses feature more than a handful of holes that are quite memorable. Whenever the opportunity arises, I always go back to Indian Wells.
Ranking golf courses is a wildly subjective task. Many golfers would have different numbers in these categories. Many golfers would have different categories entirely. The numbers below represent my experience in visiting and playing over 1600 golf courses across the world. I am confident that you will find these opinions to ring true.
Please enjoy my official guide to public golf in Palm Springs. I hope you find it useful.
