Palm Springs Area Courses

[LauzGolfer]

Played Silverrock in November. Had the benefit of a La Quinta resident card. But not as cheap as it used to be. They have also switched around a number of the holes. It is still a beast of a course though.

My favorite in the area is the Nacklaus Tournament Course at PGA West. Hard, but beautiful. Stadium course is just stupid hard.

Second the vote for Desert Willow, the Firecliff course is the better of the two, IMO.

Escena is awesome, but a hike from where you are.

Classic Club is an awesome layout, but the winds can make it unplayable. It was fired from the Bob Hope rota for that reason.

I don’t think the water park in Palm will be open when you are there(kid stuff)

Thanks Duffer! Appreciate the recommendations!

I didn't find the Stadium and Norman courses to be overly difficult. Maybe it was just the expectation of thinking it would be ridiculously hard courses. I shot under 90 for both rounds. Doubt I'd be able to do that now, playing a lot less now since having the kid. But one thing that was so impressive was that I have never one-putted so much in my life before playing PGA level courses. The greens are in such great shape, the ball will never deviate off the chosen line.

Will definitely look into the ones you recommended. Thanks again!

[duffer_mcmulligan]

Thanks Duffer! Appreciate the recommendations!

I didn't find the Stadium and Norman courses to be overly difficult. Maybe it was just the expectation of thinking it would be ridiculously hard courses. I shot under 90 for both rounds. Doubt I'd be able to do that now, playing a lot less now since having the kid. But one thing that was so impressive was that I have never one-putted so much in my life before playing PGA level courses. The greens are in such great shape, the ball will never deviate off the chosen line.

Will definitely look into the ones you recommended. Thanks again!

The Norman course is good, but not on the same level of difficulty as the Stadium course. I think the Stadium course is the highest slope of any course in California, maybe top 10 in US. So to shoot 90 there is one heck of an accomplishment. Well done. The greens on the Norman course are much flatter, whereas the Stadium course are all built like Volkswagon Beetles, with runoffs in all directions and ridiculous bunkers everywhere, none more insane than the monster along the left of the fairway/green on 16. Took me 3 shots to get out of that monster. It didn't help that I played in in early May, 105*F in she shade. We were soaking the little towels in the cooler boxes and tying them onto our heads like Monty Python idiots to keep some semblance of cool. My brother had a decent idea, that if we ever play it again, we do it as a two man scrambles in a 4 some. But if I never play that course again it will be too soon.

https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/top-25-toughest-golf-courses-in-the-u-s-according-to-your-reviews

Another course to try out is the Gary Player Course in Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage. Avoid the Pete Dye course, it is dye-a-bolical as a brother says, but I just don't like Pete Dye period.

The PGA Store in Palm desert is worth a stop, and Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis on 111 in Palm desert is also a good stop. Pete carries current and a generation or two old equipment and good deals can be had. I am trying to get the name of the good golf stares in La Quinta as I don't really know them. Roger Dunns Golf in Indio has great selection of used equipment.

Food:

Seafood: Fisherman's Market Grill in Palm desert and one in downtown Palm Springs. Great value.
Mexican: Guillermo's at the west end of El Paseo in Palm Desert, in a strip mall. The Filete De Camaron Al Cuervo is a shrimp wrapped in bacon like a pancake and fried and OMG is so good. Like to die for, which given the level of cholesterol in it, is a likely occurrence. Great margaritas as well
Pizza: Old Town La Quinta: Stuft. So good, cool patio.
Steak: Arnold Palmers is a cool environment, the photos and golf memorabilia. Very pricey, but kinda cool
Cliffhouse is also good, but pricey.

[WhiteWalker]

The happy hour on the rear patio at Jacalope on 111 east of Jefferson should not be missed. Arrive early as its extremely popular.
PS...Roger Dunns is across the street.
PGA Superstore is at Fred Waring and 111. Huge store but on the pricey side.

Try Trio in Palm Springs. Excellent American fare.

Le Donne Cuccina on 111 across from Westfield Mall is a local favourite. Great pasta. Portions are large so either get a half portion or share a full portion. My favourite is the Fettucine Matriciana...pancetta, onion, and tomato. So friggin good.

[duffer_mcmulligan]

Oh yeah, for fun people watching, if you can get away for an evening without the bambino, you and your wife should check out The Nest. Hwy 111 in Indian Wells. It is the cougar bar to take all cougar bars, but the people in there can be exceedingly .... colourful ..... might be the word. That being said, it was legendary when I was there three years ago for the Oldchella concerts, but when we tried to get in, at 730 on a Friday night in mid- November last fall, it was lined up out front around the corner of the joint. We bailed and went to the Beer Hunter in La Quinta to watch the Flames hockey game. They might have 150 TVs. It is at 111 and Washington. Two beers and three scotches and the bill came to $20....with change left over I think.

[sikoram]

I second the Stuft Pizza in La Quinta. The Nest is quite the show. Another show is sitting in the Starbucks at Portola and El Paseo and watching the Botox walk by. Take a side trip to Temecula. Great trip up the Palms to Pines Highway. Wear a diaper.

[WhiteWalker]

Highly recommend a day at Joshua Tree National Park. It's an hour from Palm Springs and simply amazing.

[sikoram]

Joshua Tree is closed at the moment but always a great choice when open.

[LauzGolfer]

The Norman course is good, but not on the same level of difficulty as the Stadium course. I think the Stadium course is the highest slope of any course in California, maybe top 10 in US. So to shoot 90 there is one heck of an accomplishment. Well done. The greens on the Norman course are much flatter, whereas the Stadium course are all built like Volkswagon Beetles, with runoffs in all directions and ridiculous bunkers everywhere, none more insane than the monster along the left of the fairway/green on 16. Took me 3 shots to get out of that monster. It didn't help that I played in in early May, 105*F in she shade. We were soaking the little towels in the cooler boxes and tying them onto our heads like Monty Python idiots to keep some semblance of cool. My brother had a decent idea, that if we ever play it again, we do it as a two man scrambles in a 4 some. But if I never play that course again it will be too soon.

https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/top-25-toughest-golf-courses-in-the-u-s-according-to-your-reviews

Another course to try out is the Gary Player Course in Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage. Avoid the Pete Dye course, it is dye-a-bolical as a brother says, but I just don't like Pete Dye period.

The PGA Store in Palm desert is worth a stop, and Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis on 111 in Palm desert is also a good stop. Pete carries current and a generation or two old equipment and good deals can be had. I am trying to get the name of the good golf stares in La Quinta as I don't really know them. Roger Dunns Golf in Indio has great selection of used equipment.

Food:

Seafood: Fisherman's Market Grill in Palm desert and one in downtown Palm Springs. Great value.
Mexican: Guillermo's at the west end of El Paseo in Palm Desert, in a strip mall. The Filete De Camaron Al Cuervo is a shrimp wrapped in bacon like a pancake and fried and OMG is so good. Like to die for, which given the level of cholesterol in it, is a likely occurrence. Great margaritas as well
Pizza: Old Town La Quinta: Stuft. So good, cool patio.
Steak: Arnold Palmers is a cool environment, the photos and golf memorabilia. Very pricey, but kinda cool
Cliffhouse is also good, but pricey.

Thanks for the Kudos re my Stadium course score. Was pretty pleased with myself. I played in late October and it was still scorching hot. Funnily enough, I did the same cool towel trick as you and your buddies. I actually even started doing that while driving around in the rented Mustang convertible (pre-baby of course).

Have actually played both the Player and the Dye courses on my first trip to PS. Not a great showing that time. It was right when I started to really get into golf and was still posting high 90's on average. Was trying out a new driver on that trip and hated it. Don't think I broke 100 more than twice in 11 rounds that week.

Have been to both the PGA Store and Pete's. Never been to Roger Dunns so I'll have to check that out since I'm staying in Indio.

Thanks for the food recommendations, that shrimp wrapped bacon sounds delicious. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks again! Appreciate the input!

[LauzGolfer]

Highly recommend a day at Joshua Tree National Park. It's an hour from Palm Springs and simply amazing.

Yes! Thanks for the recommendation, but I was fortunate enough to do this on my second trip to PS. Glad I did as it sounds like I won't be able to go this time around with it being closed.

My wife and I actually flew to Vegas, rented a Mustang convertible and drove to Palm Springs in October 2016. However, instead of taking the fastest route, we detoured and drove through the Mohave National Preserve, through some small towns and then detoured again to the Northern most entry to Joshua Tree and drove through it to the South entrance to get to Palm Springs. Coming down from those "mountains" in a Mustang with the top down was amazing. I have some dash cam footage of me having to perform a high speed evasive manuever on an S-turn cause an elderly gent didn't see me coming (honestly not his fault, I was speeding - hard not to in a Stang going downhill)! Highly recommend that drive if anyone else has the opportunity, maybe take the speed limit though.

[bogey5]

Wife is visiting with a friend on the west coast late March and I'm thinking of maybe spending a few days in Palm Springs while they hang out.

Never been there so wondering how busy courses are around that time and what's the best way to book for a single. Should I pre-book, use Golfnow or book directly with courses week before/day before? Generally not gonna be overly fussy about tee times or courses. Maybe a couple of nicer ones and a couple of mid range tracks will do.

[WhiteWalker]

Golfnow or Teeoff.com the day before should be fine.

[duffer_mcmulligan]

Wife is visiting with a friend on the west coast late March and I'm thinking of maybe spending a few days in Palm Springs while they hang out.

Never been there so wondering how busy courses are around that time and what's the best way to book for a single. Should I pre-book, use Golfnow or book directly with courses week before/day before? Generally not gonna be overly fussy about tee times or courses. Maybe a couple of nicer ones and a couple of mid range tracks will do.

Yeah, as a single, day before should be easy peasy. The other day before alternative is Standbygolf.com. He has been operating in the valley for decades and seems to get good late day deals for next day. He also has club rentals on his site as well. Our family has used him since we began going to the valley consistently 15 years ago or more.

If you are only going for two or three days, think about staying close to downtown Palm Springs for more “flavour” in the visit. If walking distance to the main drag, there is a great variety of places to eat and people watching is awesome. You will need a car to get to courses. Other resorts are typically driving distance to anywhere.

Places to eat:

Lulu’s. Get a table on the patio and watch the people walk by. California/Italian cuisine, great margs, but the peeps are the key. Lots of bars for beers and such.
Fisherman MArket Grill: value priced seafood. Very good.
Tyler’s Burgers. I think just for lunch. Awesome stuff.
Bills Pizza gets good reviews as well.

Main drag is closed every Thursday night for “Villagefest”. Basically an open air market. Lots of fun. Loads of vendors. People watching extraordinaire.

Forgot to mention for the previous questioner, but there is an enormous Saturday AM market every Saturday at the Colledge of the Desert campus in PAlm Desert. It is ‘uge. And they sell everything under the sun. New, used, clothes, golf balls, clubs, tennis gear, shoes, cooking stuff, hats, right up to luxury used cars.
If you play poker, most folks I know prefer the Aqua Caliente casino in Palm Desert, HWY 10 and Bob Hope Drive.
Again, sunset cocktail at the Ritz Carleton Patio in Rancho Mirage. Hwy 111 to Frank Sinatra Drive, turn right up the hill to the hotel. They will valet park for you. The view of the setting sun on the mountains behind the San Andreas Fault is incredible.

Uber is everywhere and best way to get around at night, IMO.

[WhiteWalker]

There is also a great Farmer's Market every Sunday morning in Old Town, La Quinta.

[bogey5]

Yeah, as a single, day before should be easy peasy. The other day before alternative is Standbygolf.com. He has been operating in the valley for decades and seems to get good late day deals for next day. He also has club rentals on his site as well. Our family has used him since we began going to the valley consistently 15 years ago or more.

Good info. Will certainly try to use the local booker.

[LauzGolfer]

Wife is visiting with a friend on the west coast late March and I'm thinking of maybe spending a few days in Palm Springs while they hang out.

Never been there so wondering how busy courses are around that time and what's the best way to book for a single. Should I pre-book, use Golfnow or book directly with courses week before/day before? Generally not gonna be overly fussy about tee times or courses. Maybe a couple of nicer ones and a couple of mid range tracks will do.

Both times that I went down and played on my own, I just called the course the day before or the morning of. The PGA West and La Quinta resorts have dynamic pricing so be on the lookout for that. Just last week, when I looked to book the mountain course 2 days ahead, prime rate (10:03 tee time) was $239 and when I called just one day ahead, it dropped down to $129. I have been able to play the Stadium, Norman course and after last week the mountain course - all of which were booked by phone no more than two days ahead.