Palm Springs: Golf Elevated by Desert Beauty.
Palm Springs is where mature palms, rugged canyons, and water features create striking backdrops for every round. The region offers a refined mix of traditional tree-lined layouts and modern desert-links designs, all framed by the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains. With its compact geography and excellent course variety, Palm Springs delivers an effortless, all-in-one golf getaway with minimal time spent in transit.
Featured Golf Courses
Architect: Jack Nicklaus / Nicklaus Design (2005)
Set against the San Jacinto Mountains, Escena pairs a clean, modern aesthetic with wide corridors, sculpted bunkers, and smooth, thoughtfully contoured greens. The course feels open and serene, rewarding smart angles and confident approaches. The 180-yard par-3 16th, guarded by water left and bunkers right, delivers Escena’s most memorable moment.
Escena Golf Club - Palm Springs, CA
Architect: North Course by William F. Bell (1961); South Course restored by Casey O’Callaghan / Amy Alcott
Situated at the base of the local canyons, Indian Canyons features two distinct layouts framed by palms, gentle water features, and sweeping mountain views. Mid-century modern elements, from the clubhouse to the original design touches, give the resort an authentic Palm Springs character. Both courses are friendly and scenic, with the North Course’s 9th hole and its Walt Disney fountain serving as a standout highlight.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort (North & South Courses) - Palm Springs, CA
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort - Palm Springs, CA
Architect: Legend Course by William F. Bell (1959); Resort Course by Ted Robinson (1995)
Framed by the dramatic rise of the San Jacinto Mountains, Tahquitz Creek offers two contrasting layouts in the heart of Palm Springs. The Legend Course provides a classic, tree-lined design with traditional green complexes, while the Resort Course introduces Robinson’s signature water features and desert-links shaping. Together, they offer variety, approachability, and strong visual appeal just minutes from downtown.
Plan Your Next Trip the Right Way
See how the courses, hotels, and areas sit relative to each other in Palm Springs.
Insider Notes:
Early morning tee times: Bring cooler temperatures, calmer conditions, and quicker rounds.
Sunrise rounds: Often produce the classic Palm Springs “color-wash” sky as the mountains light up, one of the region’s most memorable first-tee moments.
Golf with local experiences: Mid-century modern architecture tours, outdoor dining, or short scenic desert walks to round out your trip.
Airport Access:
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is exceptionally convenient for golf travelers.
Tahquitz Creek: just a few minutes
Escena: ~10 minutes
Indian Canyons: ~12–15 minutes
Driving Times:
Palm Springs is also an excellent drive destination in Southern California:
Los Angeles: ~1 hr 45 min
Orange County: ~1 hr 30 min
San Diego: ~2 hr 15 min
Escena Golf Club - Palm Springs, CA Reviews
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“Scenic views at every turn and a great course with a mix of bunkers, waste areas and water to challenge your game. Greens are always in nice shape and roll true. Convenient location to the airport and a very hospitable staff keeps me coming back every year.”
-Jordan
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"Good golf course in excellent condition with a distinct Palm Springs flair. Staff are great and the restaurant looks very good but I didn’t sit down for a meal.”
-Scott
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"What a fantastic track! The course was in great shape and place of play was on par at 4 hours. We loved the lay out of this golf course and we found the greens to be forgiving and pleasant to play."
-KTD
Indian Canyons Golf Resort (North & South Courses) - Palm Springs, CA Reviews
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"Indian Canyon is a nice golf course that is located in Palm Springs. It is a desert type golf course, so there grass and vegetation is situated for this environment and one may not be used to these.”
-Mike
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"Please don’t let the shoddy satellite photos from Google Maps throw you! It’s beautiful! Great conditions with challenging approaches but resort style allows you to mainly keep it in play. Around 5-6 forced carry over water approaches keeps it interesting."
-Don
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"Beautiful grounds and friendly staff. One of the better golf courses in the area."
-Ernie
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort - Palm Springs, CA Reviews
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"Had a great time playing this course. Well worth the price. Greens rolled true and fairways were 7/10 with some dry spots but never had an awful lie once due to course conditions.”
-Britton
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"Tahquitz Creek Golf Course is an absolute gem in Palm Springs. The layout is fair but still keeps you thinking, with great course conditions and smooth, true greens. Pace of play was solid, staff were friendly, and the mountain views make every hole enjoyable."
-Dorian
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"Very friendly and helpful at the counter. Enjoyed playing 9 holes there with the family."
-Angela
