Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Golf Holidays
The desert golf capital of America, where more than a hundred courses sit under the Santa Rosa Mountains and the sun shines all winter. The Coachella Valley pairs the famous Pete Dye Stadium at PGA West with resort layouts by Nicklaus, Palmer and Norman, all minutes apart. Here is who it suits, the courses to build around and what to budget for 2026.
Photo: PGA West Pete Dye Stadium Course via Google.
Who it suits
Palm Springs and the wider Coachella Valley are the easy answer for a winter golf trip in the western United States: warm, dry, sunny and packed with golf, with more than a hundred courses strung along the valley floor beneath dramatic mountains. It suits the buddies trip chasing famous tournament courses, the couple wanting resort comfort and spa days alongside the golf, and the snowbird escaping the cold for a week of guaranteed sun.
The valley is compact and built for the car, so a base anywhere from Palm Springs to La Quinta puts dozens of courses within easy reach. The marquee is PGA West in La Quinta, a cluster of championship layouts led by the brutal and brilliant Pete Dye Stadium course, joined by SilverRock and a deep field of resort and daily fee courses. Pair the golf with the mid century glamour of Palm Springs, the restaurants and the desert scenery.
Courses to build around
PGA West · Pete Dye Stadium
The headline round, a 1986 Pete Dye design and one of the most challenging courses in the country, famous for the par 3 17th, Alcatraz, with its island green. A genuine tournament test and the bucket list round of the valley.
PGA West · Nicklaus Tournament
A Jack Nicklaus design at PGA West that blends generous landing areas with classic Golden Bear shaping, elevated tees, contoured fairways and true greens. Fair but testing, and a great complement to the Stadium.
PGA West · Mountain
A second Pete Dye course at PGA West, set against the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains and prized for its playability and visuals, with pot bunkers, rock formations and elevated tees.
SilverRock Resort · Arnold Palmer
The standout public round, an Arnold Palmer design in La Quinta set against the Santa Rosa Mountains, one of the longest and most scenic daily fee courses in the valley with wide fairways and big bunkering.
Greg Norman Course at PGA West
The only Greg Norman design in the Coachella Valley, with manicured turf, distinctive white marble bunkering and water in play across the back nine. A polished, modern addition to a PGA West week.
Beyond the course
The valley pairs golf with the mid century architecture and pools of Palm Springs, the aerial tramway up Mount San Jacinto, the restaurants and bars, Joshua Tree National Park and the spas of Rancho Mirage.
Designers, years and course features verified June 2026 from the clubs and recognized course databases. The PGA West Stadium and Mountain courses are by Pete Dye, the Tournament course by Jack Nicklaus and SilverRock by Arnold Palmer; the Greg Norman course is the only Norman design in the valley. Access and green fees change, so always confirm with each course before booking.
A sample desert golf week
Arrive in the valley
Fly into Palm Springs, settle into a resort around La Quinta or Palm Desert, and open with dinner and the first bets.
SilverRock
Ease in on the scenic Arnold Palmer public course beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains, then the pool in the afternoon.
PGA West Nicklaus or Norman
A championship resort round to warm up the legs, with a long lunch and a downtown Palm Springs evening.
PGA West Stadium
The big one, the Pete Dye Stadium course and the island green at Alcatraz, then the prize giving dinner.
Rest or extra round
A day off for the tramway, Joshua Tree or a spa, or a fifth round at one of the valley's many daily fee courses.
Golf and home
A final relaxed round, a morning by the pool, then the short drive or flight home.
The valley's courses sit within roughly 15 to 30 minutes of each other along Highway 111, so a hire car keeps the driving short and the days flexible.
Indicative costs and when to book
| Item | Indicative 2026 |
|---|---|
| PGA West Stadium green fee | premium, winter peak, confirm |
| SilverRock or resort green fee | moderate to high, winter peak, confirm |
| Resort room, per night | indicative, peaks in winter, confirm |
| Hire car and extras | indicative, recommended, confirm |
| Package per head, golf week | indicative, low to mid thousands, confirm |
Best time to book: the cooler season, November to April, is the peak and the reason to come, so book 3 to 5 months ahead for the marquee tee sheets and the best winter resort rates. Tee times via our trip enquiry; where to stay via our recommended hotels and resorts.
Plan a Palm Springs golf holiday
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and who is in the group, and a concierge will build a Coachella Valley trip around PGA West and the best of the desert courses, costed to the head, with no obligation.
Palm Springs golf holiday questions
Which are the best golf courses in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley?
The headline is PGA West in La Quinta, with the Pete Dye Stadium and Mountain courses, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament course and the only Greg Norman course in the valley. SilverRock Resort, an Arnold Palmer design, is the standout public round, alongside dozens more desert layouts across the valley.
How much does a Palm Springs golf holiday cost?
Coachella Valley green fees swing hard by season, from premium in the winter high season to bargain rates in summer. A winter week with several rounds, a resort base and a car typically runs in the low to mid thousands per head. Figures are indicative for 2026; always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time for a Coachella Valley golf holiday?
The cooler season, roughly November to April, is the peak and the reason to come: warm, dry desert days while much of the country is cold. Summer is very hot, with green fees to match the early tee times you will want. Treat any figure as indicative for 2026 and confirm before booking.
How do you get to Palm Springs for golf?
Fly into Palm Springs International, or into Los Angeles or San Diego and drive about two hours. The valley is compact and built for the car, with the resort towns of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta strung along Highway 111 and the courses minutes apart.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026; green fees and package figures indicative for the 2026 season, always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.