What is the cheapest golf course in Palm Springs?

Indio Municipal is typically the cheapest, offering low rates and night golf for excellent group value.

Which affordable Palm Springs course has the best scenery?

Desert Dunes offers the best scenery among budget options thanks to its Robert Trent Jones Jr desert dunes setting.

What is the best budget course for groups?

Cathedral Canyon delivers the best mix of affordability, scenery, and group friendly routing.

Are budget Palm Springs courses still good in peak season?

Yes, courses like Tahquitz Creek, Desert Dunes, and Cathedral Canyon maintain solid conditioning even during winter peaks.

Palm Springs

Best Budget-Friendly Golf Courses in Palm Springs

Play Palm Springs golf on a budget with this guide to the best affordable courses that still deliver quality layouts, mountain views, and smooth group pacing.

November 16, 2025 · 9 min read

Palm Springs is famous for resort-level golf, but the valley also hides a deep roster of budget-friendly courses where you can still score big mountain views, reliable conditions, and smooth group pacing without burning half your trip budget.

Early morning light hits even the most modest layouts with that warm desert glow, and if you know where to look, you can play memorable golf for half the cost of the marquee names.

This guide pulls together the best public options that deliver high value, solid architecture, and plenty of group friendly flexibility.

Quick Answer: Best Budget Friendly Golf Courses in Palm Springs

If you want the best cheap golf in Palm Springs, start with Indio Municipal, a Tom Jackson par 3 design that delivers lit up night golf and shockingly low rates, making it one of the valley’s best group warm up rounds. Next is Desert Dunes, a Robert Trent Jones Jr desert modern layout with striking natural corridors and strong wind shaped strategy for under typical resort prices.

Finally, Cathedral Canyon offers a palm filled classic design originally shaped by David Rainville and Billy Casper, giving you a resort feel at municipal pricing. According to Visit Greater Palm Springs tourism data, budget-conscious golfers increasingly prioritize courses with easy booking windows and walkable layouts, which all three of these deliver.

For groups, it means you can tighten your trip budget without compromising scenery or variety.

For timing and rate strategy, see Best Time of Year to Golf in Palm Springs, and for broader planning, Ultimate Guide to Golf in Palm Springs.

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Indio Municipal Golf Course

Rates are among the lowest of any public course in Palm Springs, often under fifty dollars depending on the season. That is a major win for bachelor groups balancing golf with nightlife.
The par 3 design stretches 3,004 yards but plays fast, letting groups fit in an evening round before dinner. The real hook is night golf, making it a rare desert experience that keeps the fun going under the lights.
Despite its simplicity, the routing uses palms and small water features creatively, and group photos pop because of the glowing fairways during night play. Locals consistently praise it in TripAdvisor reviews as the best low-cost activity in the valley.

Best if your group wants budget-friendly fun and playable warm-up rounds.

Pros: night golf, lowest pricing in the valley, quick rounds
Cons: no full-length par 4s or 5s, limited variety in hole distance

Desert Dunes Golf Club

Robert Trent Jones Jr carved Desert Dunes into natural desert corridors, making it one of the most authentic-feeling budget courses in the Coachella Valley.

Prices stay below typical resort tiers even in peak season, which is rare for an RTJ Jr design. The natural dunes and desert vegetation create strong visuals you usually find at higher-end venues.
At 6,876 yards, the layout offers firm fairways and wind-exposed holes that require creative shot shaping. That variety helps groups avoid repetition throughout the trip.
Desert Dunes earned strong marks in Golf Digest’s value-focused rankings, praised for its minimalist shaping and pure desert aesthetic. It is one of the few budget courses that still feels architecturally significant.

Best if you want affordable golf with a real design pedigree.

Pros: pure desert atmosphere, strong architecture, excellent prices
Cons: wind can elevate difficulty, and conditioning varies seasonally

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Cathedral Canyon Golf Club

Cathedral Canyon blends classic palm-lined fairways with rugged mountain backdrops, designed by David Rainville with input from Billy Casper.

The layout stretches 6,505 yards and uses water features creatively, giving it a relaxing resort-like feel at far lower prices than neighboring courses.
Groups appreciate the walkability and open spacing between holes, which keeps pace smooth even in the peak spring season.
Cathedral Canyon frequently receives budget praise in local golf publications thanks to its scenic value per dollar, especially for morning rounds when the mountains glow behind the palm stands.

Best if your group wants affordable resort energy without resort rates.

Pros: resort feel on a budget, easy pacing, strong mountain views
Cons: conditioning can fluctuate mid-summer, routing is more forgiving than strategic

Shadow Hills North Course

The North Course offers a fun, playable par 3 design by the team behind the main Shadow Hills layout.

Holes range from short wedge shots to mid-iron challenges, giving groups a low-stress warm-up option that won’t overwhelm higher handicaps.
Prices stay among the lowest in the valley, with conditions typically more consistent than other value tiers.
The compact routing and quick pace make it ideal for groups who want a second daily round without draining energy or budget.

Best if your group wants an affordable bonus round or afternoon filler.

Pros: fast rounds, excellent beginner-friendly routing, low pricing
Cons: not full length, limited scenery compared to mountain courses

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Tahquitz Creek Legends Course

At 6,600 yards, the routing offers a forgiving profile that suits mixed skill groups, especially bachelor trips.
Rates trend significantly lower than many centrally located Palm Springs courses, making it a strong value for groups staying nearby.
According to city golf data, Legends sees high repeat play from budget travelers because it offers just enough scenery and variety to feel like a complete desert round.

Best if your group wants central location convenience with good value.

Pros: forgiving layout, strong location convenience, classic styling
Cons: flatter back nine, fewer dramatic mountain-framed holes

Tahquitz Creek Resort Course

The Resort Course brings a slightly more challenging spin on Bell’s original design.

Yardage reaches 6,705 with more water influence and tighter landing areas than Legends.
Groups like the reliable conditioning and the fact that bookings stay easy, even in the peak March season.
The course offers mountain views from several fairways, especially early morning, making it a strong scenic value for the price.

Best if your group wants budget golf with enough challenge to stay engaging.

Pros: better scenery than Legends, fair strategic interest, consistent availability
Cons: less polished than top-tier resort courses

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Mission Lakes Country Club

A Ted Robinson Sr design that offers elevated tees and wide mountain vistas for some of the lowest prices north of Palm Springs.

The high desert setting gives this course a different atmospheric feel compared to central valley courses, with long-range views and quieter surroundings.
At 6,737 yards, the course plays firmer and faster due to its north valley climate, adding variety for multi-course group trips.
Mission Lakes is frequently recommended by local golfers as the best “drive for value” option because it delivers big scenery for surprisingly low rates.

Best if your group wants scenic value and doesn’t mind a short drive.

Pros: sweeping views, firm ground play, quiet atmosphere
Cons: farther from main resorts, wind can impact scoring

Executive Bonus: Palm Desert Country Club

A traditional executive style layout with a friendly price point.

Holes combine short par 4s and approachable par 3s, giving mixed groups lots of scoring chances.
Rates remain among the valley’s most reliable bargains, especially during shoulder seasons like May and October.
For groups trying to stack 36 holes in a single day, Palm Desert CC is one of the easiest value adds thanks to its short routing and accessible design.

Best if your group wants a simple, affordable good time.

Pros: great for casual players, ideal for 36-hole days, low cost
Cons: limited variety in challenge, minimal desert shaping

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When you build your itinerary, budget courses make it easy to extend the trip by a day without stretching the group wallet. The desert rewards exploration, and these value rounds let you see more of it.

Author

Ryan from 18Away Golf trip designer and editor

I help groups plan unforgettable itineraries across the top golf destinations in the U.S., blending real-golfer feedback with first-hand course research.

About the author · [email protected]

About This Palm Springs Guide

Every 18Away guide is independently written and updated by real golfers. We evaluate public access, group-friendly value, and proximity to top courses, referencing thousands of verified reviews, rate data, and on-site experience. Guides are refreshed regularly as conditions & pricing change over time.

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