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

The Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort is widely considered the most scenic public course thanks to its canyon holes pressed directly against the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Which Palm Springs golf course has the best mountain views?

Indian Wells Celebrity and SilverRock offer the most consistent full panorama mountain views across the entire round.

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

Sunrise and late afternoon tee times offer the best light, making the mountains glow and producing more dramatic photographs.

Which scenic Palm Springs courses are best for groups?

SilverRock, Escena, and Desert Willow Firecliff combine great scenery with wide landing areas and smooth pacing ideal for group play.

Palm Springs

Most Scenic Golf Courses in Palm Springs

The most scenic public golf courses in Palm Springs are ranked for groups who want dramatic mountain views, polished conditioning, and memorable layouts.

November 13, 2025 · 8 min read

Palm Springs is one of those places where the landscape does half the selling before you even tee your first shot. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains rise so abruptly that they look painted into the sky, and when the early morning light slides across them, the entire desert floor glows.

That contrast between lush green turf and rugged stone is why the region has hosted everything from the old Bob Hope Classic to countless celebrity photo shoots.

For groups, it means you can chase dramatic golf and memorable views on every swing, without needing access to private clubs.

Quick Answer: Most Scenic Golf Courses in Palm Springs

If you want the most scenic public golf courses in Palm Springs, start with the Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort, designed by Pete Dye, where rugged canyons press right against elevated greens for a cinematic desert backdrop.

Follow it with Indian Wells Celebrity, a Clive Clark design that layers water, palms, and mountain silhouettes in a way that feels almost tropical at sunset. Desert Willow Firecliff rounds out the top tier, blending modern desert architecture with colorful plantings that explode with seasonal blooms.

According to Visit Greater Palm Springs tourism reports, courses with strong mountain visibility rank highest in traveler photo engagement, and these three dominate those lists year after year. For groups, the visual drama keeps the energy high even when the scorecard doesn’t.

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Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort

Pete Dye’s Mountain Course is the definition of Palm Springs drama, with holes carved into the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

The closing stretch, especially holes 14 through 17, pushes right into natural rock canyons. Those cliffs create a film set quality that groups love because every tee box becomes a photo moment. The contrast of tight canyon walls and wide Dye shaping gives it a uniquely rugged personality.
Yardages run 6,756 yards from the tips, but what matters more for groups is the forced carries and elevated greens that feel like mini stages framed by stone. The setting naturally creates pacing moments where groups stop to take pictures, which keeps the day feeling more like an experience than a grind.
According to Golf Digest resort rankings cited for the region, La Quinta consistently places among the top picturesque public options, largely due to how close the routing gets to the mountains. That proximity is rare among public access courses.

Best if you want a desert round that feels like a natural amphitheater for groups and bachelor trips.

Pros: unmatched canyon drama, signature Dye contouring, memorable finishing stretch
Cons: narrow in spots, not ideal for beginners, afternoon shade can create tricky reads

Indian Wells Celebrity Course

Clive Clark’s Celebrity Course leans heavily into water, flowers, and resort polish while still showing off the mountains in every direction.

More than twenty water features run throughout the routing, creating reflective surfaces that double the mountain views. On group trips, this is one of the easiest courses for great photos because the ponds mirror the peaks beautifully at sunrise.
Yardage stretches to 7,050 from the back tees, but most groups play it around 6,200 to 6,500, where the carries and angles are most enjoyable. The conditioning is consistently ranked among the best in the valley, supported by Indian Wells’ strong reputation on TripAdvisor review aggregates.
The mix of palms, flower beds, and sculpted bunkering gives the course a botanical garden feel. It pairs well with groups who prefer a visually soft, highly landscaped style over a rugged desert.

Best if your group wants lush beauty and polished resort energy.

Pros: extremely photogenic water features, resort-level conditioning, wide variety of shot visuals
Cons: can be pricey in peak season, resort-level routing penalizes offline shots

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Desert Willow Firecliff

Firecliff, designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, captures modern desert architecture at its best with strategic bunkering and colorful native plants.

Firecliff measures 7,056 yards, but for groups, the standout is how the bunkers shape sightlines. The rose tinted sand pops against the native plant palette, especially early morning when the shadows stretch across the fairways.
Seasonal blooms along the desert floor trigger year-over-year social media engagement, according to Visit California tourism data, which notes Firecliff as one of the region’s most photographed courses.
Architecturally, Firecliff leans toward a player’s course, but groups can choose shorter tees and still enjoy the scenery without taking on unnecessary difficulty.

Best if your group wants a colorful, strategically rich layout with abundant photo moments.

Pros: vibrant plant life, modern desert style, strong visual contrast
Cons: demanding bunkering, can feel long for higher handicap groups

SilverRock Golf Resort

Arnold Palmer’s SilverRock sits on expansive land that frames the Santa Rosa Mountains perfectly, giving groups unobstructed views on nearly every hole.

At 7,578 yards from the tips, this was once a host site for the Bob Hope Classic. That tournament pedigree matters because it validated the course’s scenery on national broadcasts.
The fairways are among the widest in the valley, which is excellent for mixed ability groups. The openness also means the mountain backdrop never feels blocked or crowded by development.
Evening rounds are special here because the mountains catch the late orange light cleanly, making this one of the best twilight plays for bachelor trips.

Best if you want big sky scenery with generous fairways.

Pros: huge mountain views, wide, friendly landing areas, tournament history
Cons: can play windy, long distances may intimidate some groups

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Escena Golf Club

Nicklaus Design’s Escena blends mid-century modern clubhouse architecture with open desert views.

The routing uses wide angles and low-profile shaping, which keeps the mountains visible on almost every shot. It feels minimalist in a way that complements Palm Springs’ architectural culture.
At 7,173 yards, it offers strong strategic interest without feeling punitive. Groups consistently note that the visual clarity from tee to fairway reduces stress on higher handicap players.
Escena is typically praised in traveler reviews for its clear mountain panoramas, often comparing them favorably to more expensive resort options.

Best if your group wants a panoramic setting with a relaxed pace.

Pros: clean mountain sightlines, mid-century ambiance, forgiving tee shots
Cons: fewer desert plantings, openness can expose rounds to wind

Indian Wells Players Course

The Players Course offers a more open, classic desert layout compared to Celebrity, but still carries strong scenic value.

Designed by John Fought, the course uses wide corridors to showcase the mountains throughout the round. The clean shaping appeals to purists who value unobstructed views.
Yardage sits at 7,376 from the tips, though most groups enjoy it around 6,500, where strategic bunkering becomes interesting without being punishing.
The property’s position in the valley produces excellent morning light on the surrounding peaks, making early tee times extremely rewarding visually.

Best if your group wants open desert golf with reliable scenery.

Pros: broad mountain views, traditional desert shaping, smooth pace of play
Cons: less landscaped than Celebrity, can feel straightforward

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Classic Club

The Classic Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, features rolling terrain and numerous water features that create scenic corridors throughout the course.

The elevation changes are subtle but meaningful, lifting tee boxes just enough to expand the mountain backdrop.
At 7,305 yards, this former Bob Hope Classic host displays tournament-level framing, and groups appreciate how the visual spaciousness reduces decision pressure.
Classic Club often earns high marks for aesthetic appeal in Golf Advisor aggregated ratings, praised especially for its sunrise lighting and polished lake edges.

Best if your group wants grand-scale scenery with a tour-ready finish.

Pros: refined aesthetic, tournament pedigree, strong elevation variety
Cons: longer forced carries on select holes, premium pricing in high season

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To wrap up your trip, remember that Palm Springs rewards groups who choose tee times based on light rather than convenience. Aim for sunrise or twilight, and the mountains will do the rest.

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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