Palm Springs is the Best Domestic Desert Golf Oasis
Palm Springs started as a destination for Hollywood's rich and famous but now boasts some of the best public desert golf in the United States.
Initially a getaway for working actors and actresses from Hollywood who were required to stay in close proximity to the set, Palm Springs experienced significant growth and popularity in the 1950s and '60s. The rich and famous flocked to the Coachella Valley to escape the limelight of Hollywood. The area exploded in popularity in the 1980s, with some of the game’s best architects contributing to the growing list of great golf courses. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye all designed courses in the valley.
Perhaps that dramatic architecture was best displayed at Dye’s TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, which hosted the Skins Game from 1986 to 1991 and was the site of the Bob Hope Classic in 1987, before complaints from players led to the course’s removal from the PGA Tour event. The 20-foot-deep bunkers, island greens, and carries over 200-yard lakes were a far cry from the straight, palm tree-lined holes of the 1950s.
Many places in the country have desert golf, and many places boast courses designed by golf’s top architects in high density. However, the Palm Springs area stands out with its great courses, public access, and reasonable prices, making it one of the best destinations during the winter.
Unlike its closest rival, Scottsdale, Palm Springs has a small and simple airport, a much smaller metropolitan footprint, greater access to courses, and lower prices. The price differences are striking. PGA West's Dye Stadium Course in Palm Springs (home to the AMEX tournament) costs just over $300 three and a half weeks before the event. In contrast, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course can cost up to $500 around tournament time.
These pricing differences are even more pronounced when playing some of the less notable courses. Twilight and replay rates in Palm Springs often allow golfers to play 36 holes for less than $200 in most situations. With courses located close to one another, it's easy to play two rounds a day. During our recent trip, our average drive time to the course was 12 minutes from our centrally located Airbnb. A running joke in Scottsdale is that every drive takes 45 minutes. The island of Oahu in Hawaii has incredible public golf, but the higher cost of living (food, gas, and accommodations) makes the trip much more expensive than Palm Springs.
San Diego faces a different challenge. A lack of golf course density in the area makes it hard to find enough quality courses close enough to each other to play multiple rounds in a day. While golf is affordable, tee times are sparse due to heavy competition with locals for spots. Los Angeles is a traffic nightmare. Good luck making your tee time 17 miles away during rush hour. The one downside to Palm Springs? No ocean.
If ocean access and affordability are what you seek, both Florida and South Carolina are viable options. South Carolina offers cheap golf and great density in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, though you won't find much refuge from the cold temperatures. Florida’s winter temperatures can be unpredictable, with highs in Tampa and Orlando occasionally dipping into the 40s. Public golf on the west side of the state can be plentiful, accessible, and affordable, but many courses were built in an era of cul-de-sac-style development, making them feel a bit monotonous. The east side and South Florida boast great golf, but the best courses tend to be private.
If consistent warm weather, access to great affordable public golf, and easy commutes are what you’re looking for on your next golf trip, Palm Springs is the most likely destination.