Palm Springs

Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley pack more resort golf into a short drive than almost anywhere in California. This destination gathers four of its resorts: La Quinta Resort & PGA West, where Pete Dye left his deepest desert mark across five championship courses; JW Marriott Desert Springs, with two Ted Robinson water courses off its gondola-lined lobby; Desert Willow, the City of Palm Desert's public pair by Hurdzan and Fry; and Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, Ted Robinson's friendly 27-hole resort course.

The headliner is still Dye's Stadium Course at PGA West, home of the PGA Tour's American Express and its island-green 17th, 'Alcatraz.' But the pleasure here is range—ten distinct courses framed by the Santa Rosa Mountains, reliable winter sun, and a choice of home bases from a 1926 hacienda to a modern spa resort. Each resort books its own tee times, so pick a base and branch out.

Firecliff Course

Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & John Cook · par 72 · Desert Willow's championship course—7,056 yards, 100-plus bunkers, greens rebuilt in 2024. Par 72.

Reserve →

Mountain View Course

Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & John Cook · par 72 · Desert Willow's friendlier course: rolling fairways, water features and eight tee sets. Par 72 at 6,913 yards.

Reserve →

Palm Course

Ted Robinson Sr. · par 72 · The accessible Ted Robinson water course at JW Marriott Desert Springs—palms and the island-green 17th, par 72 at 6,761 yards.

Reserve →

PGA West Greg Norman Course

Greg Norman · par 72 · Greg Norman's naturalistic desert routing—native washes and a 617-yard par 5.

Reserve →

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course

Jack Nicklaus · par 72 · Jack Nicklaus's resort-playable PGA West course—water and mounding, a fair fight.

Reserve →

PGA West Stadium Course

Pete Dye · par 72 · Pete Dye's Stadium—the American Express host and its island-green 17th, 'Alcatraz.'

Reserve →

Rancho Las Palmas Country Club

Ted Robinson · par 71 · Ted Robinson's 1977 27-hole resort course—six lakes, three nines and an easygoing round below the San Jacintos.

Reserve →

The Dunes Course

Pete Dye · par 72 · Dye's rolling, links-flavored resort course—the gentler of the two at the hotel.

Reserve →

The Mountain Course

Pete Dye · par 72 · Pete Dye's first La Quinta course—holes pressed against the Santa Rosa rock.

Reserve →

Valley Course

Ted Robinson Sr. · par 72 · Robinson's tougher Desert Springs course: more water off the tee, deeper sand and contoured greens, par 72 at 6,679 yards.

Reserve →

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

36-hole Palm Desert resort with spa and gondolas · from $253/nt

Check rates →

Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

Spanish-style Rancho Mirage resort with 27-hole golf and a water park · from $250/nt

Check rates →

The Westin Desert Willow Villas

All-suite villas beside the Desert Willow courses · from $229/nt

Check rates →

La Quinta Resort & Club

Historic 1926 Spanish-hacienda resort (Curio Collection by Hilton) · from $199/nt

Check rates →