Scottsdale vs Palm Springs for Golf
The two great winter golf escapes of the American Southwest, a desert tale of saguaro cactus against the San Jacinto mountains. Scottsdale brings polished, upscale resort golf and a buzzing Old Town. The Coachella Valley around Palm Springs answers with sheer volume and PGA Tour history. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: TPC Scottsdale Champions Course, Garrett Smith, via Google
The verdict
For a curated, upscale golf week, Scottsdale edges it. The desert golf is dramatic and beautifully kept, the headline public courses are genuinely strong, from the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale to the Coore and Crenshaw Saguaro at We-Ko-Pa and the Weiskopf and Morrish layouts at Troon North, and the Old Town scene of restaurants and bars is the best after golf in the desert. It feels luxurious and easy.
But for sheer choice and value, the Coachella Valley wins. Greater Palm Springs packs well over 100 courses into a compact valley, anchored by the PGA Tour pedigree of PGA West and its fearsome Pete Dye Stadium Course, and the prices and pace are gentler than Scottsdale at the top end. It is also an easy two hour drive from Los Angeles. Pick Scottsdale for a polished, lively trip with a handful of marquee rounds. Pick Palm Springs for endless choice, tour history and a touch more value. Both are superb desert golf.
Head to head
| Scottsdale | Palm Springs | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | TPC Scottsdale, Stadium, home of the WM Phoenix Open; We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro and Cholla; Troon North, Monument and Pinnacle; Grayhawk; Boulders | PGA West, Pete Dye Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament; La Quinta Resort, Mountain and Dunes; Mission Hills, the Dinah Shore course; Indian Wells; Desert Willow |
| Tour pedigree | The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, the famous par 3 sixteenth Coliseum, the rowdiest hole in golf | The American Express on the PGA Tour, rotating PGA West and La Quinta; long the home of the Bob Hope Classic and the LPGA's old Dinah Shore |
| Depth and choice | A deep field across the Phoenix metro, around 200 courses, but the marquee public names are spread out | Well over 100 courses in one compact valley, one of the densest golf concentrations in America |
| Green fees, peak | Indicative early 2026 winter peak roughly 200 to 400 plus US dollars at the marquee courses; strong resort options 100 to 200 | Broadly similar at the top, with the Pete Dye Stadium Course a premium; generally a touch better value across the field |
| Off the course | Upscale and lively: Old Town Scottsdale dining and nightlife, spring training baseball, spa resorts | Retro and relaxed: mid century Palm Springs style, the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals, easy LA access |
| Best season | November to April, peak January to March; brutally hot in high summer with dawn golf only | Identical rhythm, November to April, peak winter and spring; equally hot in summer |
| Who it suits | Groups wanting a polished, upscale trip with a few bucket list public rounds and a lively base | Players wanting maximum choice, tour history and value, and an easy drive from Southern California |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026; fees swing sharply by season, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Scottsdale if
You want the most polished desert golf trip and a lively base to enjoy it from. The headline public courses are dramatic and immaculate, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is a genuine bucket list round, and Old Town Scottsdale is the best after golf scene in the Southwest. It suits a group that wants a curated handful of marquee rounds wrapped in good food, good weather and a buzz.
Pick Palm Springs if
You want endless choice, tour history and a gentler price. The Coachella Valley's 100 plus courses sit close together, PGA West brings real PGA Tour pedigree led by the fearsome Pete Dye Stadium Course, and the whole valley is an easy two hour drive from Los Angeles. It suits a group that wants to play a lot, mix marquee and value rounds, and keep the trip relaxed.
Plan your desert golf trip
Scottsdale, Palm Springs or a Southwest road trip taking in both. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Scottsdale vs Palm Springs questions
Is Scottsdale or Palm Springs better for a golf trip?
Both are great American desert golf destinations. Scottsdale offers a more polished, upscale resort experience with marquee public courses such as TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, We-Ko-Pa and Troon North, plus a lively Old Town scene. The Coachella Valley around Palm Springs counters with sheer volume, well over 100 courses, the PGA Tour pedigree of PGA West, and easy access from Los Angeles. Choose Scottsdale for buzz and a curated trip, Palm Springs for choice, value and tour history.
How many golf courses are there in Palm Springs?
The greater Palm Springs area, the Coachella Valley, has well over 100 golf courses across cities such as Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage, one of the densest concentrations of golf anywhere in the United States. Scottsdale and the wider Phoenix area also have a deep field, with around 200 courses across the metro, but the Coachella Valley packs its number into a smaller, very walkable radius.
How much does golf cost in Scottsdale and Palm Springs?
Both swing hugely with season. In the peak winter and spring window of early 2026, marquee public courses such as TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course or the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West can run from around 200 to over 400 US dollars, while plenty of very good resort courses sit in the 100 to 200 range. Summer rates collapse by half or more in the desert heat. These are indicative figures, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in the Arizona and California deserts?
Roughly November to April in both, with the sweet spot from January to March when daytime temperatures are warm and comfortable and the courses are at their best. This is also peak season for crowds and price. High summer, June to September, is dangerously hot, often well above 40 degrees Celsius, so golf is played at dawn and green fees drop sharply. Both deserts share this rhythm.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Desert golf, the winter value windows and the courses worth the airfare. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.