The Best Golf Courses in the California Desert

The desert is renowned for its harsh landscapes and cruel environment, but these words easily slip the mind when you step onto the lush golf courses that spot the Californian desert. Visitors are often taken by the transformation of the golf courses from September through November; they develop an appreciation for the greens’ superintendents and their staff for the amazing feat they perform in taking the courses from dominant Bermuda grass to winter rye, and in some cases, bentgrass. From November well into the summer months, residents and visitors alike enjoy the privilege of playing on some of the best-kept and most beautiful golf courses in the world. Readers of FINE Magazine that live on the coast, from San Diego to Santa Barbara, have but a short drive to get to this golfing mecca in Coachella Valley.

PGA WEST

PGA Boulevard, La Quinta, Ca.

800-598-3828

pgawest.com

When you think of PGA West, it is the TCP Stadium Course that first comes to mind. Rated one of the Top 100 Courses in the World by Golf Magazine, there may be no greater challenge or excitement in the game of golf. A Pete Dye golf course, TCP STADIUM delivers multiple adrenaline rushes throughout the round. On the other side of the property is the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, a true ball-striker’s course; in typical Nicklaus form, you will find it both very forgiving off the tee and extremely demanding around the greens. Without a doubt, these two are obligatory destinations for not only a great test of golf, but for their magnificent settings, as well. Don’t miss the clubhouse, rich in history and memory of the greats that have played there over the years, or the PGA West Golf Academy, which houses some of the finest golf instruction in the desert. The other courses that make up the PGA West family include the Greg Norman Resort Course, which is open for public play, and the three private courses, all designed by their namesakes, the Tom Weiskopf, the Jack Nicklaus and the Arnold Palmer.

CLASSIC CLUB

75-200 PGA Boulevard, La Quinta, Ca.

760-601-3600

classicclubgolf.com

Certainly a must-play when coming to the desert is the Classic Club, located just off Interstate 10 and Cook Road. This course, designed by Arnold Palmer, served as the host site of the Bob Hope Classic for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Visitors will play on rolling terrain and wide landing areas and putt on expansive greens- possibly the best in the desert. There are five sets of tees to accommodate any golfer, mountain views in all directions, and a straight-forward course design that is fun to play at any level. The course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary that has water in play on 13 holes and a landscape rife with olive and pine trees. You will be treated like a member for a day when you arrive at the expansive clubhouse as the valet parks your car and escorts your clubs to your golf cart. 

DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT

38-995 Desert Willow Dr., Palm Desert, Ca.

800-320-3323

desertwillow.com

Two of the best courses in the desert are right here on one piece of property in Palm Desert. The challenging Firecliff course has been rated by Desert Golf Magazine as the number one public course in the Coachella Valley since 2012. Firecliff is a true test of ability, where players must navigate their way around extensive natural areas, 100 bunkers and multiple water hazards. Step out onto the Mountain View course and you will find a slightly more forgiving green with wider fairways but 98 well-placed bunkers. Prepare to be mesmerized here with the desert’s natural beauty: a forest of flowers, waterfalls and mountain views second to none. The staff is exceedingly friendly and makes you feel welcome, whether you are a resident or visitor to the desert.

THE WESTIN MISSION HILLS RESORT & SPA 

71333 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage, Ca.

760-328-3198

westinmissionhills.com

This well-known resort features two courses to challenge you, a Pete Dye layout and a Gary Player signature design. Both are always in top condition as is typical of Troon Management courses. The Pete Dye course features the designer’s hidden pin placements, carries over water, pot bunkers, elevated tees and railroad ties. The Gary Player Signature Course, which opened in 1991 and is the only Gary Player Signature Course in Southern California, is regarded as one of the best courses in Coachella Valley. The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa is home to The Barry Clayton Golf Academy. Barry has been voted by his peers as the 2003, 2006, and 2007 Desert Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year. Barry can be reached at: barry.clayton@westin.com. 

MARRIOTT’S SHADOW RIDGE RESORT & GOLF CLUB 

9002 Shadow Ridge Rd., Palm Desert, Ca.

760-674-2700

marriott.com/ctdsr

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Prepare to step out on one of the desert’s best courses. It was voted 22^nd Best Course You Can Play in the state of California by Golfweek Magazine in 2014. Course designer Nick Faldo says, "the fairways are typically generous, but our bunkering style is impressively bold."  Another well-conditioned golf course with a friendly staff and a well-appointed pro shop, Shadow Ridge also has one of the best clubhouses and grill rooms with outstanding food and a patio with a view of the course and mountains. Shadow Ridge also houses one of the best club-fitting facilities in the desert.

DESERT DUNES GOLF CLUB 

19300 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, Ca.

760-251-5370

desertdunesgc.com

This is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. masterpiece! The only RTJ, JR course in the desert is located just off Interstate 10 at the Desert Hot Springs exit. Desert Dunes is a marriage of links style and desert golf. Winding through natural sand dunes and surrounded by an abundance of native vegetation, this layout is making more of a name for itself every day. While on the course, you’ll experience several elevation changes while enjoying ever-changing mountain views completely absent of residences and traffic noise. During a round of golf, it is not uncommon to see rabbits, roadrunners, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, owls and an occasional desert kit fox. The staff here is anxious to greet you and see that you enjoy your day. 

SilverRock Resort 

79-179 Ahmanson Lane, La Quinta, Ca.

760-777-8884

silverrock.org

Owned by the city of La Quinta and managed by Landmark Golf Management, SilverRock Resort’s Arnold Palmer designed course is a challenging 7,578 yards from the back tees with massive native bunkers and stunning water features set against the backdrop and natural beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Here you will find pristine course conditions on this layout that was once home to the Humana Challenge. The friendly staff here will make your visit a pleasurable one no matter what you score that day.

INDIAN WELLS GOLF RESORT 

44-500 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, Ca.

760-346-4653

indianwellsgolfresort.com

This city-owned facility has two of the best courses you can play in the desert. The Celebrity course, designed by the celebrated Clive Clark, features undulating fairways and flowing water in the form of streams, brooks and split-level lakes connected by striking waterfalls. It can be hard to concentrate here with the beauty of the course and mountain views. The sister course to the Celebrity is the Players course, a John Fought design that opened in 2007. This well-bunkered layout will challenge the player from any of the tees. Both courses play around the property’s two hotels, the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells and the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa. Spend some time in the two-level clubhouse and dine on the patio with some of the best views in the desert.

ESCENA GOLF CLUB

1100 Clubhouse View Drive, Palm Springs, Ca.

760-778-2737

escenagolf.com

Escena is one of the best deals in the desert. This Nicklaus designed course has some of the best mountain views around. The towering San Jacinto Mountains and the blue desert skies frame the flight of every tee shot.  Abundant palm trees, native desert landscaping, and dramatic waterscapes add to the sensory feast as you wind your way through this stunning oasis. You will find it to be eminently player friendly with just enough water to keep things interesting. Escena Golf Club is very near the airport, so you may want it to be your last stop on the way out of town. Before you leave, enjoy a meal at the clubhouse, where the views are spectacular.