Palm Springs

[Frank Sekulic]

I am heading over to Palm Springs on Thursday morning to play 18 and was looking for some help on which course I should look to play while I am there.
I thought about heading up to play Rustic Canyon but, I have to be back in San Diego by 6 and could never make it through the LA traffic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Jason Topp]

Depending on your preferences, here are my recommendations:

Private - Stone Eagle
Public High End - PGA West Stadium
Public more reasonable and walkable - Mission Hills Player Course

Have fun!

[Mark Kiely]

I'm typically not a fan of replies in the vein of "why don't you do X instead of what you asked about," but it sounds like you're in San Diego and driving to the Coachella Valley for the day, needing to return that same night. If that's the case, I might suggest playing Rams Hill in Borrego Springs rather than going to the Palm Desert area. It's great golf, closer to San Diego and likely in immaculate condition. Have you played it?

If you're going to Palm Springs/Desert regardless, I'm partial to the Mountain course at La Quinta Resort, which I believe just re-opened from overseeding yesterday. (Which should mean lush conditions but slower than normal greens.)

[Sean Leary]

I'm typically not a fan of replies in the vein of "why don't you do X instead of what you asked about," but it sounds like you're in San Diego and driving to the Coachella Valley for the day, needing to return that same night. If that's the case, I might suggest playing Rams Hill in Borrego Springs rather than going to the Palm Desert area. It's great golf, closer to San Diego and likely in immaculate condition. Have you played it?

If you're going to Palm Springs/Desert regardless, I'm partial to the Mountain course at La Quinta Resort, which I believe just re-opened from overseeding yesterday. (Which should mean lush conditions but slower than normal greens.)

Or Barona Creek, which is as good as anything public in Palm Springs.

[Frank Sekulic]

I play Barona a couple of times a month and absolutely love the course.


I decided to brave the traffic and go up and play Rustic Canyon, hopefully it lives up the advance billing.

[Bill_McBride]

I play Barona a couple of times a month and absolutely love the course.


I decided to brave the traffic and go up and play Rustic Canyon, hopefully it lives up the advance billing.

Let us know what you think of Rustic?

[Kalen Braley]

I too will be in Palm Springs in January on a somewhat limited budget.  I may have time for one round...

Which Public option is the best bang for your buck that time of year?

[Matt_Cohn]

I too will be in Palm Springs in January on a somewhat limited budget.  I may have time for one round...

Which Public option is the best bang for your buck that time of year?

Has anyone been to Desert Dunes recently? I haven't been there in about 20 years, but my memory is that it might fit the bill.

[Jordan Standefer]

I too will be in Palm Springs in January on a somewhat limited budget.  I may have time for one round...

Which Public option is the best bang for your buck that time of year?

Escena.

[Mark Kiely]

Kalen: I enjoy the two Schmidt-Curley courses at Terra Lago (formerly Landmark, hosted the Skins games several times) and discount rates are often available on TeeOff.com. If it's especially windy, I'd avoid Terra Lago, though, as its geographic location is very exposed to high winds.

Another budget option you might consider is Cimarron (Boulder). I played it in September and parts of it felt like "Rustic Canyon Lite" to me. Not nearly as interesting but vaguely reminiscent in spots. My photo album can be viewed here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24952137@N00/albums/72157655912771934/with/20560938823/

Generally January isn't a great time of year for budget golf in the Palm Springs area, but deals will be out there if you look.

[Kalen Braley]

Thanks guys,

I took a look around at a few courses and it appears there is quite a bit of price variability based on when and where one is willing to tee off.

My daughter is playing in a lax tournament at Coachella so I'm hoping to squeeze something in if I can.

P.S.  We stayed at the Cimarron resort last year and the course looked interesting, but didn't have a chance to get out.

[MClutterbuck]

The Terra Lago - Landmark courses are a lot of fun to play, at least they were about 15 years ago. Played all 36 in a day and wanted more.

[Bill_McBride]

I too will be in Palm Springs in January on a somewhat limited budget.  I may have time for one round...

Which Public option is the best bang for your buck that time of year?

Has anyone been to Desert Dunes recently? I haven't been there in about 20 years, but my memory is that it might fit the bill.

Might be the windiest course I've ever played.  The thousand wind turbines nearby are a tip off!

[Kalen Braley]

I too will be in Palm Springs in January on a somewhat limited budget.  I may have time for one round...

Which Public option is the best bang for your buck that time of year?

Has anyone been to Desert Dunes recently? I haven't been there in about 20 years, but my memory is that it might fit the bill.

Might be the windiest course I've ever played.  The thousand wind turbines nearby are a tip off!

Perhaps I lucked out, but last year when we went down in January it was a banner weekend.  Bright sunshine, 65-70 degree temps and not a breathe of wind.

[Bill Brightly]

If you can get on Stone Eagle, you'll play one of the coolest desert courses ever built. 

[Dave McCollum]

I have to agree with Jason Topp’s recommendations.  However, my cheap golf buddies have made me well acquainted with affordable options in Palm Springs.  Unfortunately, most are out in the Indio area and housing courses.  One modest stand-alone with no houses is Eagle Falls, a casino course, for example.  Nothing great, but OK for rusty golfers.  I agree Terra Lago is fun.  PS is all about resort golf, as it should be:  a pleasant round with the wife.   BTW, Kalen, I’ll be there in January as well.

[Kalen Braley]

I have to agree with Jason Topp’s recommendations.  However, my cheap golf buddies have made me well acquainted with affordable options in Palm Springs.  Unfortunately, most are out in the Indio area and housing courses.  One modest stand-alone with no houses is Eagle Falls, a casino course, for example.  Nothing great, but OK for rusty golfers.  I agree Terra Lago is fun.  PS is all about resort golf, as it should be:  a pleasant round with the wife.   BTW, Kalen, I’ll be there in January as well.

Sounds good Dave...which weekend?  I'll be there the 15-17.

P.S.  If I don't have time for a round, which is very likely, I'm hoping Stone Eagle would let me come out and take a look around.

[Doug Wright]

Kalen,

I was out in Palm Springs last week and after looking around the GCA.com discussions decided I was was going to play Escena, a public course near the airport. However. I ended up playing with a client at Indian Wells CC. I've also enjoyed PGA West Stadium--challenging but surprisingly playable (especially after an initial play when you get over the intimidation factor) and the courses at Desert Willow.

[Matthew Schulte]

Frank:


Stone Eagle really is as good as it gets in Palm Springs. 


PGA West - Stadium and the La Quinta - Mountain Course are both worth a play.  Both are more playable than they would first appear.


I was disappointed by both of the two public courses at the Indian Wells golf resort.  Both courses and their routings felt shoe-horned into arguably too small a property.


Desert Willow - Firecliff is visually dramatic (although highly artificial) and fun.


SilverRock has a few very odd holes, but overall is one of the better and memorable public options in the area.


Escena is a very popular option as it is both reasonably priced, strategic and flattering to rusty snowbird's games.


Shadow Ridge is worth a play but is a rung below the above options.


Cimarron is one of the better values in the valley.


Terra Lago (both courses) have some fun risk reward holes in a unique, stark setting.

[Joel_Stewart]

I was in La Quinta last month and played the Mountain course.  I came away a bit disappointed, to me it's a very tired Pete and mostly Perry Dye course with flat greens.  To me it hasn't stood the test of time.  A good portion of the back 9 plays in between condos and homes.  The 16th and 17th are signature holes playing against the mountains.


I'm going back in a few months and scheduled to play the Quarry which is a top 100 course on Golf Digests list.  I'm also invited to play The Tradition which my host says is the best Palmer course he's seen.  Built in 1997, I'll assume Ed Seay was involved.

[Tim Leahy]

If you havent played Stone Eagle dont miss it. It is everything you hoped for at La Quinta and more.

[Frank Sekulic]

I have played Stone Eagle a handful of times over the past few years and I echo what everyone here says about the course, it is a true gem.

[Mark Kiely]

I was in La Quinta last month and played the Mountain course.  I came away a bit disappointed, to me it's a very tired Pete and mostly Perry Dye course with flat greens.  To me it hasn't stood the test of time.  A good potion of the back 9 plays in between condos and homes.  The 16th and 17th are signature holes playing against the mountains.

I'd contend 14 and 15 also deserve mention for the "mountain" holes and are actually better holes than 16 & 17. The green site at 15 – tucked in that rocky cove of the mountain – is one of my favorite par 5s I've ever played.

[Jason Topp]

I was in La Quinta last month and played the Mountain course.  I came away a bit disappointed, to me it's a very tired Pete and mostly Perry Dye course with flat greens.  To me it hasn't stood the test of time.  A good portion of the back 9 plays in between condos and homes.  The 16th and 17th are signature holes playing against the mountains.


I'm going back in a few months and scheduled to play the Quarry which is a top 100 course on Golf Digests list.  I'm also invited to play The Tradition which my host says is the best Palmer course he's seen.  Built in 1997, I'll assume Ed Seay was involved.

I was also very underwhelmed by this course.  For the most part I cannot remember much about it.

[Bill_McBride]

Has anyone played the Jerry Pate course at La Quinta?  I like the courses he's done that I've played, including the new Pensacola Country Club and the Preserve in Gautier, Mississippi.