Courses, Travel & Tee Times

Gary Player delivers golfer-friendy design to Westin Mission Hills near Palm Springs

The Gary Player Signature Course at Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, Calif., is a versatile design that not only stretches out for the low-handicapper but also appeases the vacationer who seeks a resort-style game. It's a very pretty and fun course to play, but it won't beat you up, Judd Spicer writes.

The Classic Club in Palm Desert: Still making waves in the sand

The Arnold Palmer-designed Classic Club was built to be an annual host to the former Bob Hope Classic, but only did so for three years as it was given a windy reputation by PGA Tour pros. But the Classic Club refuses to sulk on what may have been. Rather, the facility presents one of the Coachella Valley's most all-encompassing golf and dining experiences, Judd Spicer writes.

New look Indian Springs Golf Club springs forth to satisfy

Indian Springs Golf Club in Indio, Calif. was once counted among the Coachella Valley's golf also-rans. But more than a million yards of dirt were moved to craft the grounds of today, and the result is a highly playable course that serves as a nice, little gem on the east end of the Valley. It truly is a course that will prove very playable for all levels.

Don't think long at skinny Pete Dye Resort Course at Westin Mission Hills

Think one word when you visit the Pete Dye Resort Course at Westin Mission Hills: skinny. The Rancho Mirage, California course charts just 6,700 yards from the tips, and the par-70 scorecard presents a mesh of Dye signatures and dart board shot-making requirements. Despite the lack of length and just two par 5s, the course can indeed prove a challenge to the inaccurate. A selection of water hazards, lengthy dune bunkering and tee shots into the prevailing wind await.

SilverRock Resort in La Quinta: PGA's Humana has left, but hope lives on

The PGA Tour's Humana Challenge may have moved on from SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, but the golf course still thrives. If you are placing tee into turf, remember SilverRock offers one of the area's most inspired and demanding canvasses of golf. And at nearly 7,600 yards from the tips, it's also one of the longest in southern California. With added course knowledge, the track will play far more favorably, and the brilliant surrounds will prove all the more rewarding.

Firecliff Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort The beautiful brute of Palm Desert California

Those who travel to the Palm Springs region to enjoy the spectacular grounds that make up the Desert Willow Golf Resort are in for a real treat. While both the Mountain View and Firecliff Courses impressively mirror the allure of the top-notch clubhouse, the Firecliff has to be counted among the Coachella Valley's most demanding venues, Judd Spicer writes.

Golf Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley on three budgets

Sporting a diverse playing terrain, the Coachella Valley in southern California charts among the most unique golf pockets in the United States. The area also has a plethora of diverse courses for any price range. Here's a breakdown of how to plan your Palm Springs golf vacation on three different budgets.

The Golf Club at Terra Lago A unique mesh of resort and rustic play near Palm Desert

With a spread of diverse and sprawling terrain, the two courses at The Golf Club at Terra Lago in Indio offer some of the most unique grounds in the Coachella Valley. Though the South charts as the tougher of the two courses, the North is the more engaging track, Judd Spicer writes.

Palm Springs Four great golf courses you can play

There's little wonder why "snowbirds" flock to the desert with clubs in hand come the New Year. With idyllic temperatures, little threat of rain and an impressive variance of courses, the Coachella Valley is aptly recognized among the top golf destinations in the country. And there's no shortage of tee times to be made at exceptional public facilities in the area. From Indian Canyons South Course to Desert Dunes Golf Club, here are four great public golf courses to consider for your itinerary.

Palm Course at JW Marriott Desert Springs in southern California "Drink" in some of the Coachella Valley s top water features

Initially designed by the late Ted Robinson, the Palm Course at JW Marriott Desert Springs has enjoyed a recent retouch courtesy of Ted Robinson, Jr. He didn't tweak his father's signature water features, however. Rather, the resulting refurbish was intended to return the mid-1980s design to its original intentions while adding new wrinkles to the popular Palm Springs-area resort track.