Which Palm Springs golf course has the best views?

SilverRock is widely considered the best for views thanks to its position directly beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains.

What Palm Springs course has the best mountain scenery?

Desert Willow Firecliff and Indian Wells Celebrity both offer constant mountain backdrops throughout the round.

Are scenic Palm Springs courses beginner friendly?

Yes. Courses like Escena and Indian Wells Celebrity combine great views with forgiving layouts.

What time of day is best for scenic golf in Palm Springs?

Early morning and late afternoon provide the best lighting for mountain and desert views.

Palm Springs

Best Palm Springs Golf Courses with Amazing Views

Explore the Palm Springs courses with the most unforgettable golf views.

December 15, 2025 · 9 min read

Palm Springs golf is inseparable from its scenery. Fairways cut through natural desert corridors, mountains rise sharply in every direction, and the light changes by the hour. Early mornings glow soft and pastel, mid days turn sharp and dramatic, and sunsets paint the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto ranges in deep orange and purple.

For golf groups, these views are more than background. They shape the energy of the round, the photos everyone posts, and the stories remembered long after the trip ends.

This guide focuses on public Palm Springs golf courses where the views are a defining feature, not just a bonus.

Quick Answer: Best Palm Springs Golf Courses with Amazing Views

The Palm Springs golf courses with the best views are SilverRock, Desert Willow Firecliff, Indian Wells Celebrity and Players, Escena, Terra Lago North, and PGA West Stadium.

These layouts deliver constant mountain backdrops, elevated tee shots, and wide desert panoramas that define Coachella Valley golf. SilverRock sits directly beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains, Desert Willow offers sweeping desert vistas, and Indian Wells frames every hole with resort-level scenery.

These courses are consistently praised for scenery in golfer reviews, plus their routing keeps mountain lines visible on most holes. For a broader look at scenic layouts, see Most Scenic Golf Courses in Palm Springs.

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How to Choose Views

Best sunrise lighting: Escena, SilverRock
Best mountain proximity: SilverRock, Desert Willow
Best elevated panoramas: Terra Lago North, PGA West Stadium

SilverRock Resort

SilverRock offers some of the most dramatic golf views in Southern California.

The Arnold Palmer design runs directly beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains, creating towering backdrops on nearly every hole.
Wide desert corridors open toward rocky ridgelines, especially striking on the front nine.
Morning rounds feel quiet and cinematic as shadows stretch across the fairways.
This course pairs naturally with Best Desert-Style Golf Courses in Palm Springs.

Best if your group wants jaw-dropping mountain scenery all around.

Pros: unmatched mountain proximity, wide open visuals, memorable photo opportunities
Cons: windy afternoons, longer walks between some holes

Desert Willow Golf Resort: Firecliff Course

Firecliff blends manicured resort golf with expansive desert views.

Elevated tees offer long sightlines across the desert floor and mountain edges.
The Firecliff Course, designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, uses strong desert framing and elevated tees that open up huge sightlines.
Late afternoon light brings a strong contrast between the fairways and the native desert.

Best if your group wants polished conditions with big scenery.

Pros: consistent views, strong conditioning, scenic practice areas
Cons: premium pricing during peak season

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Indian Wells Golf Resort: Celebrity Course

The Celebrity Course is built to showcase Palm Springs resort scenery at every turn.

Wide fairways sit below dramatic mountain ridges that stay visible throughout the round.
The routing flows naturally through open terrain that feels spacious and calm.
Water features reflect mountain silhouettes during early and late rounds.
This fits well with trip planning advice in Best Places to Stay for a Palm Springs Golf Trip.

Best if your group wants postcard-worthy resort golf views.

Pros: constant mountain framing, elegant design, great group pacing
Cons: less rugged than pure desert layouts

Indian Wells Golf Resort: Players Course

Players offer slightly more dramatic shaping with the same visual payoff.

Elevated tee boxes reveal wide valley panoramas early in the round.
Strategic bunkering creates visual depth without blocking mountain sightlines.
Sunset rounds highlight the contrast between green fairways and desert surroundings.

Best if your group wants resort golf with added visual drama.

Pros: elevated views, smooth routing, beautiful finishing holes
Cons: can feel busy during peak resort traffic

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Escena Golf Club

Escena delivers clean, modern desert golf with constant mountain framing.

The Nicklaus Design layout emphasizes open sightlines toward the San Jacinto Mountains.
Minimal housing keeps the focus on natural scenery rather than development.
Morning light enhances the texture of native desert areas around greens.
This layout aligns well with pacing insights from Best Palm Springs Golf Courses for Fast Rounds.

Best if your group wants modern desert views close to downtown.

Pros: uncluttered scenery, mountain presence, strong pace of play
Cons: less elevation change than outer valley courses

Terra Lago Golf Club: North Course

Terra Lago North delivers bold visuals from elevated desert terrain.

Elevated tees create panoramic views across the Coachella Valley.
Desert lakes reflect surrounding mountains during calm mornings.
The Schmidt Curley design embraces scale and openness.

Best if your group wants big elevation-driven views.

Pros: long sightlines, dramatic elevation, unique angles
Cons: more demanding for higher handicaps

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PGA West: Stadium Course

While known for difficulty, the Stadium Course also offers some of the valley’s most striking scenery.

Mountain walls rise abruptly around the course, especially near the finishing holes.
Water hazards reflect sky and mountains, amplifying visual intensity.
The Pete Dye design uses contrast between bright fairways and rugged desert.

Best if your group wants iconic visuals with tour pedigree.

Pros: iconic setting, dramatic finishing stretch, unforgettable views
Cons: very challenging, slower pace for casual groups

Terra Lago Golf Club North and South

Terra Lago offers a functional practice setup that suits groups wanting quick but effective warm-ups before bold desert golf.

The range is designed with elevated targets that help players visualize landing zones.
Short game areas support bunker and pitch practice that mimic Terra Lago’s rugged desert shaping.
Putting greens run firm and quick, matching course conditions closely.

Best if your group wants a fast, practical warm-up before desert-style layouts.

Pros: practical layout, strong target setup, desert realism
Cons: Practice spaces can feel compact during peak hours

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Palm Springs views turn good golf into unforgettable golf, and these courses deliver scenery that defines the entire trip.

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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