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Golf in Palm Springs

Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley are one of California's major golf destinations. The area offers public courses, resort courses, municipal golf, executive layouts, driving ranges, instruction, and championship-level courses. Many courses are surrounded by the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, giving golfers dramatic desert scenery.

For visitors staying in Palm Springs, these are some of the best options.

1. Escena Golf Club

Escena Palm Springs

Escena Palm Springs Web Address: 1100 Clubhouse View Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States Phone: +1 760-778-2737

Address: 1100 Clubhouse View Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 778-2737
Type: Public 18-hole championship course
Designer: Nicklaus Design
Par: 72
Length: Approximately 7,200 yards

Escena is one of the most recognizable public courses in Palm Springs. The course combines a Nicklaus-designed layout, desert landscaping, palm trees, water features, and views of the San Jacinto Mountains. It has four primary sets of tees plus combination tees, making it accessible to different skill levels. (Escena Golf)

The property also includes the Escena Grill, located in a midcentury-modern clubhouse. It is open to the public, so even non-golfers can visit for food and drinks. (Escena Golf)

Best for: Scenic golf, architecture, visitors wanting a classic Palm Springs experience.

Website: Escena Golf Club official website

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2. Indian Canyons Golf Resort

Indian Canyons Golf Resort-South Course

Indian Canyons Golf Resort-South Course Web Address: 1097 E Murray Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States Phone: +1 760-833-8700

Address: 1097 E Murray Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Phone: (760) 833-8700
Type: Public/semi-private golf resort
Courses: 36 holes

Indian Canyons is located in south Palm Springs at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The facility has historically been associated with celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Jackie Gleason. (Indian Canyons Golf Resort)

The South Course is an 18-hole, approximately 6,582-yard layout featuring wide fairways, water features, and numerous palm trees. It is generally considered a relatively playable desert course while still providing strategic challenges. (Indian Canyons Golf Resort)

The resort also offers practice facilities, a pro shop, dining, golf-cart services, and facilities for tournaments and private events.

Best for: Palm-tree-lined golf, mountain scenery, history, and a resort-style round.

Website: Indian Canyons Golf Resort official website

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3. Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort

Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort

Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort Web Address: 1885 Golf Club Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States Phone: +1 760-328-1005

Address: 1885 Golf Club Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Phone: (760) 328-1005
Type: Municipal/public golf facility
Courses: Two 18-hole courses

Tahquitz Creek is a particularly convenient choice because it is close to Palm Springs International Airport and downtown Palm Springs. The facility has two courses:

• Legend Course: Approximately 6,600 yards with tree-lined fairways and numerous bunkers.

• Resort Course: A desert-links-style course designed by Ted Robinson, with rolling terrain, water features and mountain views. (City of Palm Springs)

The facility also has an all-grass driving range, practice facilities, pro shop and Traditions Café.

Best for: Convenient golf, multiple course choices, intermediate golfers, and travelers staying in Palm Springs.

Website: Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort official website

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4. Cimarron Golf Resort

Cimarron Golf Resort

Cimarron Golf Resort Web Address: 67603 30th Ave #1, Cathedral City, CA 92234, United States Phone: +1 760-770-6060

Address: 67-603 30th Avenue, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Phone: (760) 770-6060
Distance: Approximately 15–20 minutes from central Palm Springs.

Cimarron offers 36 holes across two courses:

• Boulder Course: 18 holes, par 71, approximately 6,858 yards.

• Pebble Course: 18-hole executive course, par 56, approximately 3,164 yards. (Cimarron Golf)

Both courses were designed by John Fought and incorporate desert landscaping, white-sand bunkers and views toward the San Jacinto Mountains.

The property also has a full-service restaurant called On the Rocks, with a patio overlooking the golf course and mountains.

Best for: Golfers wanting two different levels of difficulty and groups with mixed abilities.

Website: Cimarron Golf Resort official website

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Nearby championship golf

If you're willing to drive roughly 30–45 minutes east of Palm Springs, the selection becomes even larger.

5. PGA WEST — La Quinta

PGA WEST Pete Dye Stadium Course

PGA WEST Pete Dye Stadium Course Web Address: 56150 Pga Blvd, La Quinta, CA 92253, United States Phone: +1 760-564-7101

PGA WEST in La Quinta is one of the most famous golf destinations in the Coachella Valley. The resort has multiple courses, including resort courses available for public tee times and private member courses.

The Pete Dye Stadium Course is the signature layout and is known for being a demanding, visually dramatic desert course with significant bunkering, water hazards and strategic target golf.

Other PGA WEST courses include the Nicklaus Tournament Course and Greg Norman Course.

Best for: Experienced golfers, bucket-list rounds, championship golf.

Website: PGA WEST official website

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6. Desert Willow Golf Resort

Desert Willow Golf Resort

Desert Willow Golf Resort Web Address: 38-995 Desert Willow Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260, United States Phone: +1 760-346-7060

Address: 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 346-7060

Desert Willow is a major public golf destination in Palm Desert with two 18-hole courses:

• Firecliff Course — the more challenging of the two and known for its desert character.

• Mountain View Course — generally more forgiving and recreational.

The resort has a large clubhouse, golf shop, practice facilities, instruction, restaurant and event facilities, with views toward the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Best for: Resort-style golf, groups, good facilities and mountain scenery.

Website: Desert Willow Golf Resort official website

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7. Indian Wells Golf Resort

Indian Wells Golf Resort

Indian Wells Golf Resort Web Address: 44-500 Indian Wells Ln, Indian Wells, CA 92210, United States Phone: +1 760-346-4653

Address: 44-500 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, CA 92210
Phone: (760) 346-4653
Courses: 36 holes

Indian Wells Golf Resort has two championship courses and a large 53,000-square-foot clubhouse. The resort has been associated with televised golf events and is known for its combination of mountain scenery, resort amenities and championship golf.

A particularly unusual activity is night golf, which uses illuminated equipment and provides a different way to experience the course.

Best for: Resort golf, groups, families and golfers looking for something different.

Website: Indian Wells Golf Resort official website

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Golf season and summer considerations

Palm Springs golf is especially popular during the cooler fall, winter and spring months. Summer temperatures can become extremely hot, so courses often schedule tee times very early in the morning and may have seasonal operating schedules.

For example, Escena currently lists very early summer tee-time windows, while its golf shop opens at 6 a.m. (Escena Golf)

If you're golfing during summer, early morning is strongly preferable. Always check the individual course's current schedule because aerification, overseeding and other maintenance can temporarily affect availability.

Best choices

Course	Best for
Escena	Best overall Palm Springs experience
Indian Canyons	Mountain scenery and classic desert golf
Tahquitz Creek	Convenient, affordable public golf
Cimarron	Two courses and different skill levels
PGA WEST	Championship/bucket-list golf
Desert Willow	High-quality resort golf
Indian Wells Golf Resort	Resort experience and night golf

For someone staying in Palm Springs, I would start with Escena, Indian Canyons, and Tahquitz Creek because they're the most convenient and provide three distinctly different Palm Springs golf experiences. For a special golf trip, add PGA WEST in La Quinta.