Coachella Valley is famous for being a festival hotspot in the desert but what most people don’t realize is that cities in the area, like Palm Springs, are worth gold to golfers. Many players can name their favorite Palm Springs courses off the top of their head but not everyone knows about the gems hidden here. Here’s a list of our favorite golf resorts in Palm Springs for an unbeatable golf getaway.
1. Silver Rock Resort
The Silver Rock Resort, located along the Santa Rosa Mountains, is home to the Arnold Palmer Classic Course. The course measures at 7,239 yards and it takes up no less than 200 acres. With massive bunkers and water coming into play with the use of various breathtaking water features, it should come as no surprise that the course used to be the home of the PGA Tour’s American Express Golf Tournament from 2008 to 2011.
To spruce things up at the resort, the managers, Landmark Golf Management, have started with the construction of two luxury hotels on-site. In the meantime, you can sit back and enjoy a mouthwatering breakfast or lunch at SilverRock Grill.
Check out the resort’s official website.
2. Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Back in 1961, this Coachella Valley hidden gem opened its doors to the public. However, it hasn’t always been the Indian Canyons Golf Resort that we know today, as it started as a private club known as Canyon Country Club. Today, the resort has hosted legends, from Hollywood A-listers like Frank Sinatra to US presidents, like Ronald Reagan. The 550-acre resort on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation is home to two courses, namely The North Course and The South Course.
William F. Bell is the designer responsible for The North Course, which he designed to measure 6,943 yards. The course features six water hazards and a breathtaking view of the San Jacinto mountains. Then, there’s the 6,582-yard South Course, which was remodeled in 2004 by Casey O’Callahan. Water comes into play with four ponds and the course is surrounded by a total of 850 palm trees.
Check out the resort’s official website.
3. Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
Tahquitz Creek is home to no less than two championship golf courses, known as The Resort Course and The Legend Course. Golf Digest has said that Tahquitz Creek is “One of the Best Places to Play” for golf resorts but we’ll let you be the judge of that. The resort amenities include a driving range and multiple putting greens. Plus, the Traditions Café is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy an ice-cold drink after a round of golf.
The desert links-style Ted Robinson golf course, The Resort Course, features glorious views of the mountains and waterscapes that’ll take your breath away. Then, there’s The Legend Course, which is a William F. Bell design that has been challenging players for more than sixty years.
Check out the resort’s official website.
4. WorldMark Palm Springs – Plaza Resort and Spa
At the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains, you’ll find this resort, located right next to the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course. The resort is pet-friendly so you can bring your furry friend along to show off your skills on the golf course. It’s also home to a fitness center, tennis courts, basketball courts, and swimming pools for you to stay fit and active during your holiday. Additionally, they have an arcade room and weekend activities to keep the kids busy.
Check out the resort’s official website.
5. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
This luxurious resort is home to multiple hotel rooms and suites and a day spa that is sure to get you into relaxation mode. They also have outdoor pools and tennis courts to keep the blood flowing before you sit down for a scrumptious meal at one of the various on-site restaurants. For corporate and personal events, you can use one of their indoor or outdoor event spaces, which take up no less than 234,000 square feet.
For your golfing pleasure, you can tee off at one of the two championship courses, named the Palms Course and Valley Course. Both courses feature 18 holes designed by Ted Robinson, each measuring over 6,600 yards. They also have an 18-hole putting course with waterfalls, fairways, and bunkers to challenge the entire family.
Check out the resort’s official website.
6. The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
In the Rancho Mirage mountains, you’ll find a 360-acre retreat called The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa. The resort is home to a championship course designed by the legend himself, Pete Dye. Golf Digest has included the course in their list of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in North America, It is a 6,706-yard par 70 course with 18 holes and a magnificent view of the desert mountains.
Furthermore, the resort has many other amenities to complete your stay. They have a pool with dual waterslides, a lounge that serves handcrafted cocktails, and duckpin bowling. To stay fit during your visit, they have a fitness studio and an on-site spa with a sauna. Lastly, you can host any event here, with a choice of 129,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Check out the resort’s official website.
The Westin Rancho Mirage is also on our list of the best golf resorts in Southern California. Check it out.
7. Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells is a premier golf resort just minutes away from the Palm Springs International Airport. The resort is home to a 53,000-square-foot clubhouse, which is home to two 18-hole courses, namely the Players Course and Celebrity Course. Both of these courses have been featured in Golfweek Magazine’s list of the top 25 best municipal courses in the United States.
The Celebrity Course is a Clive Clark design that opened in November 2006. The par 72 course is a paradise with various sparkling water features and magnificent mountain views. The Players Course is a John Fought design that opened just a year later, in November 2007. The course is a traditional American design with some hints of Dr. Alistair Mackenzie’s signature Australian masterpieces.
Check out the resort’s official website.
8. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs
The DoubleTree is at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains and it overlooks the Desert Princess golf course. The course features 27 holes in the form of three 9-hole courses that can be played in any combination, starting with The Vistas, which is a flat link-style course with rolling fairways and little shade. The Lagos is more complex, with water coming into play at six holes. Lastly, The Cielo has water features and it requires nice long shots.
For your relaxation needs, the resort has an Olympic size pool, loungers, and two hot tubs. For your workout needs, there is a fitness center and for your dining needs, there is a restaurant that serves California cuisine. If none of these amenities sound attractive, there is a putting green and bar that overlooks the golf course.
Check out the resort’s official website.
9. La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta has been stealing hearts with their 41 climate-controlled pools and 190,000 square feet of event spaces since 1926. Have I mentioned that the resort is home to a total of 5 golf courses with 18 holes each? The first course, The Stadium Course, is a Pete Dye design that has seen the best swings of many golf legends. The Mountain Course is another more challenging design by Pete Dye, which features unbeatable views of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The Jack Nicklaus Course, named after the designer, is a challenging course with a desert layout. Greg Norman’s design, the Greg Norman Course, is a challenging course with nine lakes and panoramic vistas. Lastly, the Dunes Course, designed by Pete Dye, is a rolling-links-style course with Scottish and Irish hints. This course has hosted the PGA Club Professional Championship and the California State Open.
Check out the resort’s official website.
10. Desert Willow Golf Resort
The last golf resort on our list is home to the Firecliff Course and the Mountain View Course. The Firecliff Course has been featured in Golfweek Magazine’s list of the top 200 resort golf courses in the US and GolfPass’ golfer’s choice best courses in California 2022. The course measures 7,056 yards and it has more than 100 bunkers to provide you with an unmatched challenge.
The Mountain View Course is more relaxed with rolling fairways and gorgeous flowing water features. The course gives you 8 tee selections and it is surrounded by a blanket of the most breathtaking mountain views. It measures 6,913 yards with a total of 98 bunkers to provide a slight challenge. The courses at Desert Willow Golf Resort were designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry.
Check out the resort’s official website.
Closing Words
If you aren’t feeling up to booking an entire stay for a single round of golf, a resort may not be the best option for you. A better choice would be a traditional course, which you can find in our list of the best golf courses in Palm Springs.
On the other hand, if you prefer making your trip worthwhile and getting absolute value for your money when booking a round of golf, you should consider a stay-and-play package. Have a look at our list of the best stay-and-play golf packages in Palm Springs for some ideas.
