The 10 Best Golf Courses Near Palm Springs (2026 Guide)

The best public golf courses near Palm Springs are the PGA West Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course and the La Quinta Resort Mountain Course. All three sit in La Quinta, about 20 miles away. For a city-owned pick, Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert offers 36 holes about 10 miles from downtown.

The list at a glance

| # | Course | Location | Access | Distance | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | PGA West Stadium Course | La Quinta | Resort, public tee times | about 20 mi | A famous Tour test | | 2 | PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course | La Quinta | Resort, public tee times | about 20 mi | Tour golf, kinder driving | | 3 | La Quinta Resort Mountain Course | La Quinta | Resort, public tee times | about 20 mi | Pete Dye by the mountains | | 4 | Desert Willow Golf Resort | Palm Desert | Municipal | about 10 mi | Mixed-ability groups | | 5 | Indian Wells Golf Resort | Indian Wells | Municipal resort | about 15 mi | 36 holes near hotels | | 6 | Eagle Falls at Fantasy Springs | Indio | Public (casino resort) | about 20 mi | Golf plus a resort stay | | 7 | PGA West Greg Norman Course | La Quinta | Resort, public tee times | about 20 mi | Strategic bunkering | | 8 | Escena Golf Club | Palm Springs | Public | in town | Staying downtown | | 9 | SilverRock | La Quinta | Municipal | about 20 mi | A former Tour venue | | 10 | Indian Canyons Golf Resort | Palm Springs | Public resort | in town | Mid-century history |

How we chose

Every course here takes public tee times, confirmed on each course's website in October 2026. We ranked them by Golf Digest, Golfweek and GOLF rankings, design pedigree and the visitor experience, mixing resort, municipal and in-town options. Distances are straight-line from Palm Springs to each course's city, so drives run longer; private clubs are listed separately.

1. PGA West Stadium Course

Location: La Quinta, CA · Access: Resort (public tee times) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Pete Dye · From downtown: about 20 miles

This is the valley's highest-ranked public course and a co-host of the PGA Tour's American Express. It is No. 13 on Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play in California (2026) and No. 36 in Golf Digest's state ranking (2025-26).

The finish is famous: a risky par-5 16th, the island-green 17th called "Alcatraz" and water down the 18th. Tim Liddy, who worked with Dye for nearly 30 years, restored the course in 2024 with TifEagle Bermuda greens. It suits confident ball-strikers.

Around the greens: Golf Digest reviewers report firm, fast conditions, so land chips just onto the green and read the Bermuda grain.

2. PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course

Location: La Quinta, CA · Access: Resort (public tee times) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Jack Nicklaus · From downtown: about 20 miles

The Nicklaus Tournament Course shares American Express hosting with the Stadium Course and sits at No. 18 on Golfweek's California list (2026). Two island greens give it a distinct look.

PGA West calls it forgiving off the tee but demanding around the greens. That makes it a smart second round for mid-handicappers who found the Stadium Course punishing.

Around the greens: Scoring happens around these greens, so pick a specific landing spot on every chip instead of aiming at the flag.

3. La Quinta Resort Mountain Course

Location: La Quinta, CA · Access: Resort (public tee times) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Pete Dye · From downtown: about 20 miles

Pete Dye's Mountain Course belongs to La Quinta Resort and is also booked as a PGA West resort course. It is No. 78 on GOLF's Top 100 Courses You Can Play (2024-25). Several holes run beside the rock walls of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

At 6,666 yards from the back tees, it rewards precision over length. The par-3 16th drops from an elevated tee to a green set in a natural rock cove.

Around the greens: Golf Digest notes plateau greens above moat bunkers, so a miss usually needs a lofted pitch that carries the edge.

4. Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff and Mountain View)

Location: Palm Desert, CA · Access: Municipal (city-owned daily fee) · Holes: 36 (two courses) · Designer: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, with John Cook · From downtown: about 10 miles

The City of Palm Desert owns Desert Willow, and KemperSports manages it. Firecliff tied for No. 25 on Golfweek's Best Public-Access Courses in California (2026). It reopened in December 2024 with new Mini Verde Bermuda greens and rebuilt tees.

With two city-owned courses on one property, Desert Willow is the best all-round pick for a mixed group.

Around the greens: Firecliff's Mini Verde greens are still young, so roll a few chips on the practice green to learn their pace before you set landing spots.

5. Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players and Celebrity)

Location: Indian Wells, CA · Access: Municipal resort (public tee times) · Holes: 36 (two courses) · Designer: John Fought (Players, 2007); Clive Clark (Celebrity, 2006) · From downtown: about 15 miles

The City of Indian Wells built both courses, and Troon manages the resort. The resort has hosted the Skins Game, and four hotels sit within walking distance.

The Players Course is the longer test at 7,376 yards from the back tees. It suits visitors who want two courses close to their hotel.

Around the greens: Bermuda greens in the desert can grab or release depending on grain, so check which way the grass is growing before you pick a landing spot; see our slope and grain guide.

6. Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs

Location: Indio, CA · Access: Public (casino resort) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Clive Clark · From downtown: about 20 miles

Eagle Falls tied for No. 23 on Golfweek's 2024 list of the best courses you can play in California. Clive Clark built it to 6,715 yards beside Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

It suits travelers who want golf, dining and a hotel in one place. The course lists a fall reseeding closure through November 1.

Around the greens: Fresh fall turf can change pace quickly, so ask the shop how fast the greens are running before you set landing zones.

7. PGA West Greg Norman Course

Location: La Quinta, CA · Access: Resort (public tee times) · Holes: 18 · Designer: Greg Norman · From downtown: about 20 miles

PGA West says this is the only Greg Norman design in the Coachella Valley. It plays about 7,200 yards, with water on nine holes and 102 bunkers.

It makes a useful third round on a PGA West trip.

Around the greens: With 102 bunkers in play, sand saves are the key short-game skill, so hit a few practice bunker shots first.

8. Escena Golf Club

Location: Palm Springs, CA · Access: Public · Holes: 18 · Designer: Nicklaus Design · From downtown: within Palm Springs

Escena is a Nicklaus Design course inside the city limits. It was named in Palm Springs Life's Best of the Best for 2024, and tee times open online 30 days ahead.

It is the easy choice if you are staying in town. The course is closed for overseeding until Friday, October 30, 2026.

Around the greens: Run through a pre-round routine for a new course and roll a few practice chips to calibrate pace.

9. SilverRock

Location: La Quinta, CA · Access: Municipal (City of La Quinta) · Holes: 18 · From downtown: about 20 miles

The City of La Quinta owns SilverRock, which stretches to 7,239 yards. It hosted rounds of the PGA Tour event now called The American Express from 2008 to 2011. All tee times are prepaid online, with a separate portal for residents.

The back nine closed from May 18 to August 28, 2026. Overseeding closes the course October 12 to 30, with cart-path-only play until November 24.

Around the greens: After a summer closure and fall overseed, turf can play differently from week to week, so test a chip on the practice green before trusting your usual landing spot.

10. Indian Canyons Golf Resort

Location: Palm Springs, CA · Access: Public resort · Holes: 36 (North Course par 72) · Designer: William F. Bell (North Course) · From downtown: within Palm Springs

Indian Canyons opened in 1961 as Canyon Country Club on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. Walt Disney donated a fountain that still stands on the property.

The South Course was remodeled in 2004 by Casey O'Callahan with Amy Alcott. The North Course lists an October 30 opening after its fall closure.

Around the greens: With 36 holes and a fall reopening, the two courses may roll at different speeds, so ask the shop which is quicker before you set landing zones.

Private clubs worth knowing

• Eldorado Country Club (Indian Wells): Hosted the 1959 Ryder Cup on a Lawrence Hughes design. Member invitation required.
• The Vintage Club (Indian Wells): The last collaboration of George Fazio and his nephew Tom Fazio. Member invitation required.
• The Madison Club (La Quinta): A Tom Fazio design built for developer Michael Meldman. Member invitation required.
• The Quarry at La Quinta (La Quinta): A Tom Fazio course that starts and finishes inside a landscaped gravel quarry. Member invitation required.

Tips for playing golf near Palm Springs

• Play from late fall to spring. Summer highs regularly top 110°F, while winter afternoons reach the 70s and often the 80s. The population roughly triples from November to March, so book peak-season mornings early.
• Plan around overseeding. As of October 2026, Escena, SilverRock, Indian Canyons and Eagle Falls all list fall closures or reopening dates on their websites.
• Expect Bermuda greens. The Stadium Course uses TifEagle, and Firecliff uses Mini Verde, so read grain as well as slope.
• Book as a visitor. City-owned SilverRock and Indian Wells run separate resident booking, so use the standard tee-time pages.
• Widen the trip. See the best golf courses in California, or add the best golf courses near Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best public golf course near Palm Springs?

The PGA West Stadium Course in La Quinta, about 20 miles from downtown, is the area's top-ranked public course. Golfweek ranks it No. 13 among California courses you can play (2026), and Golf Digest ranks it No. 36 in the state. Book it through PGA West's online tee-time system.

What is the best municipal golf course near Palm Springs?

Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert is city-owned and offers two courses. Firecliff is the tougher layout, while Mountain View suits all skill levels. Indian Wells Golf Resort, built by the City of Indian Wells, and La Quinta's SilverRock are strong city-owned alternatives.

Can the public play the PGA West Stadium Course?

Yes. The Stadium Course is one of the PGA West resort courses that take public tee times online. Though it began as a private course, it now co-hosts the PGA Tour's American Express with the Nicklaus Tournament Course.

When is the best time to play golf in Palm Springs?

Late fall through spring is prime season. Winter afternoons usually reach the 70s, while summer highs regularly exceed 110°F. Many courses close for a few weeks each fall to overseed, so check each course's calendar before booking an October trip.

How do I handle unfamiliar green speeds on a new course?

Ask the pro shop for the day's Stimpmeter reading, then roll a few chips on the practice green before you tee off. Faster greens need landing spots closer to you; slower greens need the ball carried farther. Our green speed guide explains how to adjust.

Find your landing zone on every green

From firm TifEagle greens at PGA West to freshly overseeded surfaces each fall, courses around Palm Springs roll at very different speeds. Green speed changes where every chip should land, and it changes from course to course. ELZS (Essential Landing Zone Systems) turns three inputs, your distance to the hole, your club and the green speed, into the number of paces to land the ball so it rolls out to the hole. It was built by former teaching pro Chaz H. Smith and comes as an app for iOS and Android and as a waterproof pocket chartbook. Before your next round, ask the pro shop how fast the greens are running, then look up your landing zone and chip with a plan.

Download ELZS for iPhone · Get ELZS on Android · Learn how landing zones work