The Top Golf Resorts in Palm Springs are rivaled by none and might be home to the best collection of golf courses in the country. Of course, such a sentiment might be subjective.
But nearly everyone agrees on this: what sets golf courses in The Coachella Valley apart from others is the condition of the courses. Greens-keepers, club pros, and GM’s keep one eye on their own course and one eye on the neighboring courses. As a result, Palm Springs fairways are as pristine as South Pacific seas, bunkers as well conditioned as Olympic athlete, and greens as well manicured as Beverly Hills housewives.
Top 10 lists as to which golf courses are the best are a dime a dozen – which is why our list is not a “Top 10” list per se (to begin with, there’s not even ten); instead, it’s a list of the top golf courses in the area, very unscientific, very subjective, and very debatable.
However, the courses you’ll find below are bound to be found on a Top 10 list somewhere. If not, then being on this list must count for something, right?
Here they are and in no particular order:
Desert Springs
Set against the spectacular Santa Rosa Mountains, the Desert Springs course at JW Marriott Resort & Spa stands out with its immaculate fairways and luxurious surroundings. The Palm course is par 72 at 6,761 yards while the Valley Course is par 72 at 6,627 yards. Find out more at www.desertspringsresort.com.
Gary Player Signature Course at Mission Hills
The only Gary Player course in the desert, this demanding course features 20 acres of lakes and 4 waterfalls. It’s a par 72 course on 6,643 yards. For more information, please visit www.westinmissionhillsgolf.com.
Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Located in Rancho Mirage, Rancho Las Palmas is a 27-hole semi-private masterpiece with tee times available to the general public. With rolling terrain in and around six lakes at the base of Mount San Jacinto, golfers have a choice of three different 9-hole course: North Course, South Course, and West Course – over 9,000 yards of golf. Find out more at www.rancholaspalmas.com.
PGA West
Of the six courses at PGA West, Greg Norman’s par-72, 6,671-yard course might have the best grounds crew. It lies in a seabed 40 feet below sea level surrounded by beautiful mountains and teeming with nine ponds and a dizzying array of white, purple, and yellow wildflowers.
The most famous course at PGA West might be the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course, a par-72, 6,753-yard monster that has even the best in the world shaking at the knees. It was the original home of the Skins Game, and its 16th hole is the killer: a 571-yard beast that features a massive bunker lying greenside – 18 feet below the green.
For more information about these two, as well as the other four, at PGA West, please visit www.pgawest.com.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Indian Canyons features two different courses: the South Course is a par-72, 6,582-yard course that features four large lakes and over 850 palm trees; the North Course is a par-72, 6,943-yard course, flanked by modern homes, dotted with six water hazards, and thousands of palm and olive trees, among others. Please visit http://www.indiancanyonsgolf.com for more information.
Escena Golf Club
A spectacular public golf course that has all the beauty and panache of a private championship course. It’s a par-72, 7,233-yard course is a Nicklaus Design course that features a myriad of water features to challenge even the best of golfers – don’t be fooled by the minimalist features. Visit http://www.escenagolf.com for more information.
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Another multicourse Palm Springs facility, Desert Willow Golf Resort offers a top-notch golfing experience. The Mountain View Course is a 6,900 yard, par-72 classic with long, uneven fairways with native California flora and fauna to take into account.
The Firecliff Course challenges even the most confident of golfers, with 7,056 yards on a par-72 course replete with more than 100 bunker and hazard areas.
For more information, visit www.desertwillow.com.
If you don’t see a course here that you’ve heard about or that you feel should be on this list, please visit www.palmsprings.com/golf.html and find your favorite course or courses and create your own Top 10 – or Top 9 – list.
Regardless, enjoy your next Palm Springs golfing adventure.