What are the best public golf courses in Palm Springs for groups?

Desert Willow, PGA West, Indian Wells, Classic Club, Escena, SilverRock, and Tahquitz Creek are the top public golf courses in Palm Springs for groups. They offer a balance of challenge, beauty, and value.

Which Palm Springs course is best for mixed-skill groups?

Indian Wells Golf Resort and Desert Willow’s Mountain View Course are ideal for mixed-skill groups thanks to wider fairways, excellent conditioning, and group-friendly service.

What is the most challenging public golf course in Palm Springs?

The Stadium Course at PGA West is the most challenging public course in Palm Springs, with a slope of 150 and tournament-grade design by Pete Dye.

Are Palm Springs golf courses open year-round?

Yes, Palm Springs golf courses are open year-round. Peak season runs November through April, with overseeding closures typically in September and October.

Which Palm Springs golf courses are closest to downtown?

Escena Golf Club and Tahquitz Creek are closest to downtown Palm Springs, both within a 10-minute drive of most hotels and nightlife.

Palm Springs

Best Public Golf Courses in Palm Springs for Groups

These Palm Springs public courses deliver elite design, desert beauty, and value for golf groups planning their next buddies or bachelor trip.

October 8, 2025 · 9 min read

Palm Springs doesn’t whisper luxury, it glows with it. From the pink-mirage sunsets over the San Jacinto Mountains to the crisp crack of tee shots echoing across desert valleys, this California golf haven delivers an experience that’s both cinematic and social. For groups, the appeal is simple: more than 100 courses, perfect winter weather, and layouts that balance beauty with playability.

Whether your crew is chasing classic desert challenge or modern resort style, Palm Springs has public golf that ranks among the best in America for buddies and bachelor trips alike.

Quick Answer: Best Public Golf Courses in Palm Springs for Groups

The best public golf courses in Palm Springs for groups combine scenic desert architecture, quality conditions, and value across all skill levels.

Desert Willow’s Firecliff leads the pack with its strategic layout and flawless conditioning, while PGA West’s Stadium Course offers a bucket-list challenge straight from PGA Tour lore. Indian Wells Golf Resort adds a social-friendly vibe and night-lit practice complex, making it ideal for group logistics.

Factor in group pricing, tee-time windows, and après-golf energy, and Palm Springs stands out as one of the top three group golf destinations in the U.S.

Desert Willow Golf Resort: Firecliff and Mountain View

Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, Desert Willow captures the full desert experience, lush fairways framed by native flora, mountain vistas on every tee, and layouts that stay firm and fast even in midseason.

The Firecliff Course stretches 7,056 yards and plays to a slope of 138, testing shotmakers with over 100 bunkers and bold elevation changes. Golf Digest consistently ranks it among the top 25 public courses in California, crediting its “risk-reward routing and world-class visuals.”
The Mountain View Course, slightly softer at 6,913 yards, is perfect for mixed-skill groups. Its wider landing areas and gentler greens keep play moving, an underrated perk when you’re running a group of 8–16.
The Palm Desert weather advantage, dry, sunny, and breezy by afternoon, makes early morning tee times golden for groups who like post-round pool time. Grab post-round cocktails at The Nest or a poolside margarita at The Pink Cabana to cap the day.

Best if: Your group wants a “must-play” balance of beauty, challenge, and desert identity.

Pros: Flawless conditioning, easy group logistics, dual-course flexibility
Cons: Higher weekend rates, Firecliff can be punishing in the win

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PGA West

Few destinations carry more cachet for golf groups than PGA West in La Quinta. Designed by legends Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman, this trio of public-access courses anchors Palm Springs’ golf reputation.

The Stadium Course (7,300 yards, slope 150) is iconic, home to “Alcatraz,” the island 17th that defines desert shot drama. It hosted multiple PGA Tour events, and according to the American Express tournament data, it ranks as one of the most photographed par-3s in California.
The Nicklaus Tournament Course softens the bite slightly with wider fairways but still requires precision on greens guarded by Dye-style mounding. Groups appreciate its more playable pace, especially on consecutive 36-hole days.
The Greg Norman Course channels an Australian sandbelt vibe with flowing bunkers and open desert corridors, visually stunning during golden hour rounds.

Best if: Your group wants a “Tour-level” experience and has a mix of single-digit players ready to take on Dye’s devilish design.

Pros: Bucket-list architecture, tournament prestige, multiple group options
Cons: Stadium’s difficulty may frustrate high handicaps, pricey in high season

Indian Wells Golf Resort: Players and Celebrity

Located in the heart of the Coachella Valley, Indian Wells Golf Resort is public-access luxury at its most polished. Designed by John Fought and Clive Clark, the twin courses provide pure resort conditioning and an atmosphere that’s especially good for mixed-experience groups.

The Players Course (7,376 yards) is a modern classic, with wide fairways, elevated greens, and premium conditioning that GolfPass users consistently rate 4.8/5.
The Celebrity Course, crafted by Clive Clark, plays to 7,050 yards and offers more visual drama, with water on nine holes and floral landscaping that glows at sunset.
Groups love the Shots in the Night experience, an illuminated driving range and putting course that runs until 10 p.m., perfect for post-round hangouts and nightcap contests.

Best if: Your group values vibe, comfort, and flexibility as much as golf.

Pros: Top-tier service, social energy, on-site dining, and entertainment
Cons: Rates spike during festivals and peak weekends

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Classic Club

A rare desert layout with no surrounding housing, Classic Club delivers an open, grand feel framed by mountain silhouettes. Arnold Palmer designed it for the Bob Hope Classic (now The American Express), and its 7,305-yard routing rewards solid driving and imaginative short play.

The course uses water brilliantly; 11 lakes weave through fairways without feeling punitive.
Golf Digest lists it among “Top 50 Resort Courses” for its balance of challenge and playability, a rare combination that’s perfect for mixed-skill buddies trips.
The wind can add complexity, especially on holes 8 through 10, so aim for earlier tee times during spring and fall.

Best if: Your group appreciates traditional shot values and wide-open vistas.

Pros: Tournament pedigree, stunning scenery, no housing distraction
Cons: Wind exposure, green speeds can be slick for casual groups

Escena Golf Club

For groups based closer to downtown Palm Springs, Escena Golf Club offers the most accessible and underrated experience. Designed by Jack Nicklaus II, the layout features minimalist desert design with strategic bunkering and panoramic mountain backdrops from nearly every fairway.

The 7,173-yard course rewards positioning over power, making it fun for all handicaps.
Greens roll pure year-round, with conditioning that rivals private clubs thanks to reclaimed-water management and great local pride.
Escena’s mid-century modern clubhouse and open-air patio make it one of the best 19th holes in the valley for group lunches or scorecard bragging.

Best if: Your group is flying in and wants a first-day or getaway-round option near Palm Springs Airport.

Pros: Central location, scenic simplicity, strong value
Cons: Limited shade, fewer on-course amenities

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SilverRock Resort

Designed by Arnold Palmer and owned by the city of La Quinta, SilverRock Resort stands out for its scale, 7,578 yards set against the Santa Rosa Mountains, with a back nine that feels like it spills into the wilderness.

Formerly part of the Bob Hope Classic rotation, SilverRock features wide landing zones perfect for groups, plus generous greens that keep pace of play steady.
The course’s mix of desert and parkland character gives it a unique identity among Palm Springs layouts.
City ownership keeps greens fees fair (around $160 peak season), and the pro shop regularly accommodates large-group bookings.

Best if: Your group wants wide fairways and mountain drama without PGA West pricing.

Pros: Scenic drama, municipal accessibility, long layout
Cons: Limited shade, desert wind pockets on the back nine

Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort

A local’s favorite with history dating to the 1960s, Tahquitz Creek offers two distinct public tracks designed by William Bell and Ted Robinson, affordable, fun, and friendly for group play.

The Resort Course blends mid-century charm with updated greens and plenty of water, while the Legend Course plays slightly tighter, emphasising shot control.
With weekday rates often under $80 and twilight specials in abundance, it’s a value play that fits perfectly into extended group itineraries.
Its central Palm Springs location makes it easy to pair with nightlife or arrival-day rounds.

Best if: Your group wants to stretch the budget while staying close to downtown.

Pros: Budget-friendly, classic design, easy access
Cons: Basic amenities, variable conditioning in shoulder season

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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.

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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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