California desert
The best courses you can play in Palm Springs
Averaging over 350 days of sunshine each year, Palm Springs' predictable warm, dry and sunny conditions make it a very popular destination for golfers, especially in the winter months. The only worry when you're planning your trip is just how hot it will be.
More than just near-perfect weather, the California desert offers tremendous views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Unlike Arizona’s desert golf, where cacti-ridden sand captures nearly every shot that misses the fairway, Palm Springs’ take on the style is slightly more generous. Though the desert is present, the landing areas are often wider, with rough and bunkers grabbing wayward shots.
To help you plan your next golf getaway to the desert, we’ve selected the best courses you can play in Palm Springs. This guide of must-plays includes past and present PGA Tour hosts, a unique under-the-lights muny and multi-course resorts that offer stay-and-play packages.
Scroll on for the complete list of the best courses you can play in Palm Springs. Be sure to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography and reviews from our course panelists. We also encourage you to leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … so you can help other golfers like you make an informed opinion on where to play!
![PGA West: Stadium Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/PGAWest_StadiumC17.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.615.suffix/1649450725844.jpeg)
![PGA West: Nicklaus Tournament](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/PGA%20West%20Nicklaus%20course.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1637202138208.jpeg)
![PGA West: Greg Norman Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/PGAWest_GregNormanCourse10.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.646.suffix/1649450666947.jpeg)
![Indian Wells Golf Resort: Celebrity Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/indian-wells-golf-resort-celebrity-768.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1663290220125.jpeg)
![Classic Club](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/The%20Classic%20Club%202%20..JPG.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1649538979367.jpeg)
![PGA West: Pete Dye Mountain](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/PGAWESTPeteDyeMountainCourse.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1649450734022.jpeg)
![Desert Willow Golf Resort: Firecliff](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/1/Desert%20Willow%20Firecliff%20Credit%20Chris%20Miller%20Imagine%20Imagery.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1641926015926.jpeg)
![Indian Wells Golf Resort: Players Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/indian-wells-golf-resort-players-767.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1663290388303.jpeg)
![Escena Golf Club](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_3.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514464.png)
Conveniently situated next to the Palm Springs airport, Escena Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus design with tremendous views of the San Jacinto Mountains. There are a variety of holes moving in each direction with generally wide fairways and large, gently sloping greens. The strikingly modern clubhouse is the perfect place for a post-round drink and meal overlooking the mountain backdrop.
![SilverRock Resort](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/silverrock-resort-23661.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1663263951983.jpeg)
SilverRock, formerly in the rotation for the Bob Hope tour event from 2008-2011, is set hard against the Santa Rosa Mountains in La Quinta. Water comes into play on more than half the holes on this desert layout, requiring quality ball striking. The close proximity of the mountains and the picturesque water hazards make SilverRock a uniquely scenic course.
![PGA West: Pete Dye Dunes](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/PGAWEST_PeteDyeDunesCourse.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1649450713648.jpeg)
![Mission Hills North: Gary Player Signature](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_4.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514620.png)
![The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa: Pete Dye Resort](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_2.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514302.png)
![Indian Canyons Golf Resort: South Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/indian-canyons-golf-resort-south-pond-23664.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1655745204875.jpeg)
![Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf Club](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_1.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514118.png)
![Heritage Palms](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/heritage-palms-17721.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.431.suffix/1663593678864.jpeg)
![Shadow Hills Golf Club: South](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_2.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514302.png)
![Desert Willow Golf Resort: Mountain View](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/desert-willow-golf-resort-mountain-view-17756.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1663703706946.jpeg)
![Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort: Resort Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/1/budget-trips/Tahquitz%20-%20Resort%20Course%20hole%207%20-%20Palm%20Springs.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1641927098821.jpeg)
![The Lights at Indio Golf Course](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/the-lights-at-indio-golf-course-moon-769.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.861.574.suffix/1655755203066.jpeg)
![Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa: North/South/West](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/placeholder-images/Placeholder_1.png.rend.hgtvcom.861.485.suffix/1652210514118.png)
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