Where to stay & play on a Palm Springs golf trip

With an annual climate like the one found in Palm Springs, it comes as no surprise to realize the potential that this area of the country holds for year-round golf. Some of the world’s greatest course designers have left their mark in this stunning desert oasis, and while the temperature may be excruciatingly hot during peak season, golf in the winter provides a remedy for that issue.

Play amongst beautiful desert wastelands, staggering mountain landscapes and luscious green fairways on your next Palm Springs golf trip.

La Quinta is located 20 miles from Palm Springs, and the resort boasts lavish accommodation options, a tremendous collection of golf courses and alternative activities and amenities. There are 796 rooms in total on the premises, decorated in a Spanish style, and there are suites and villas available if you wish to upgrade.

PGA West is situated mere minutes away from this premium resort, and there are five golf courses part of the facility. The layouts are accessible for both residents and visitors alike, and they include three designs from Pete Dye – the Dunes, Mountain and Stadium Courses – the Nicklaus Tournament Course and the Greg Norman Course. The spa at La Quinta is the ultimate destination to unwind and relax as you prepare for the next day in golfing paradise.

Westin Rancho Mirage is situated only 10 miles from Palm Springs, and the five-star resort has over 500 rooms, where each one features a patio or balcony to encourage daily viewing of the gorgeous golf course or surrounding mountains. The on-site layout, the Pete Dye Resort Course, offers an appealing yet daunting experience, with rolling fairways and several water features dominating the round.

Next to the resort lies Mission Hills North Golf Club, which offers the stupendous Gary Player Signature Course – a design which has been praised for its difficulty and sensational views of San Jacinto mountains.

The Classic Club played host to the Bob Hope Classic in 2006 and 2007, and it is commonly referred to as one of the better courses in Greater Palm Springs. The golf course was designed by Arnold Palmer and it features more than 5,000 pepper, pine and olive trees – in addition to 30 acres of water and multiple stone bridges.

Due to the versatility of the tee markings, all abilities can enjoy the experience the Classic Club offers, but for the most skilled of golfers, the tips result in 7,200 yards of pure championship golf. There are numerous elevated tee positions and thus, surreal vistas of the surrounding mountains and Coachella Valley.

Indian Canyons is located at the foothills of the San Jacinto mountains, and the strong winds that are generated from the Coachella Valley are deterred by protection from the peaks. There are two golf courses situated on-site, the North and South Course, and the former is the lengthier of the two.

Designed by William Bell, the loop measures just short of 7,000 yards and there are several water hazards that bolster the course’s defense. The North is the more difficult of the two, but the South has recently grown in popularity with female golfers, who particularly enjoy the grand collection of par 5s. One thing is for certain, whatever loop you tackle, stunning scenery will be a highlight of your experience.

Home to 36 fantastic holes of golf, Indian Wells Golf Club is located 20 miles outside of downtown Palm Springs in Indian Wells, CA. The golf courses are situated across the street from the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, a superb 4-star luxury resort that combines for a nice stay & play. Nicknamed “Beauty and the Beast”, the Celebrity and Players Courses at Indian Wells have hosted numerous events on the courses namely “Big Break” on the Golf Channel and the final two PGA TOUR Skins Game in 2007 and 2008.

The Celebrity Course tops out at a little over 7,000 yards from the tips and has undulating fairways and numerous water hazards throughout. The Players Course is a little bit longer at close to 7400 yards from the tips and can be described as true desert golf with wastelands lining the fairways to catch errant tee shots. Make sure you play both of these great layouts on your next trip to Palm Springs.

Situated among the Santa Rosa Mountains, SilverRock Golf Resort is an 18-hole Arnold Palmer design right down the road from PGA West. Former host of the PGA TOUR’s Bob Hope Classic from 2008-11, the course measures at a lengthy 7239 from the tips with picturesque views on every hole and is one of the newer courses to the area, built in 2005.

The course was built at the base of a mountain range, so the terrain is very undulating with a good amount of wildlife throughout the course. The fairways are very generous and the bunkers are strategically placed to capture any mishits. Water hazards also come into play throughout the course with multiple forced carries over water, especially on the par-5's.