Golf Buddy Trips - The Best Places to Golf, Eat and Stay in the Palm Springs, California Area
Championship golf. Desert sunshine. Mountain views. Great restaurants.
The Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area is one of America’s premier golf-trip destinations, with more than 100 courses spread across Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio. For a buddies trip, you can combine bucket-list golf with excellent restaurants, resorts, casinos and warm winter weather—all within a relatively compact area. Here are some of the area’s best public-access golf courses.
⛳ WHERE TO GOLF IN PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA ⛳
1. Classic Club — Palm Desert
Arnold Palmer design • Par 72 • Palm Desert • www.classicclubgolf.com
Classic Club is an outstanding opening round for a Palm Springs golf trip. The Arnold Palmer-designed course stretches to more than 7,300 yards and differs from many traditional desert layouts with thousands of pine, pepper and olive trees, extensive water features and dramatic mountain views.
The upscale Tuscan-style clubhouse makes Classic Club particularly good for a buddy trip—arrive early, use the practice facilities, play 18 and stick around afterward for drinks and food.
Why play it: Beautiful conditioning, excellent clubhouse, memorable water features and a layout that gives you a different look than most Coachella Valley courses.
Where to stay: HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection is an excellent Palm Desert base with easy access to El Paseo restaurants and nightlife. For a more intimate option, Mojave Resort is a highly rated adults-only boutique property.
2. Desert Willow Golf Resort — Palm Desert
Firecliff & Mountain View COURSES (36 HOLES)
36 holes • Two championship courses • Exceptional desert scenery • www.desertwillow.com
Desert Willow gives you two distinctly different rounds at one facility.
Firecliff is the tougher championship test, with more than 100 bunkers, water hazards, native desert areas and strategic shot-making throughout the round. The course has also recently undergone renovation work.
Mountain View is wider, more forgiving and more relaxed, but still delivers spectacular Santa Rosa Mountain scenery, water features and beautifully landscaped desert terrain.
Buddy Trip Pick: If you only have time for one, play Firecliff. If you're planning a 36-hole day, play Mountain View in the morning and Firecliff in the afternoon.
Where to stay: Palm Desert works particularly well for the first part of the trip. HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection provides a more upscale, walkable base, while Casa Larrea Inn is a smaller highly rated option close to El Paseo.
3. SilverRock Resort — La Quinta
Arnold Palmer design • 7,239 yards • Santa Rosa Mountain setting • www.silverrock.org
SilverRock might deliver the most dramatic mountain backdrop of the entire trip.
The Arnold Palmer Classic Course sprawls across more than 200 acres beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains, incorporating huge native bunkers, water features and striking elevation contrasts. SilverRock also hosted the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic/American Express tournament from 2008–2011.
One current planning note: SilverRock has been completing a 2026 turf renovation project. The course lists August 28, 2026 as the scheduled reopening date for full 18-hole play, so verify conditions when booking your trip.
Why play it: Scenery. Lots of it. This is one of those courses where your phone may get nearly as much use as your putter.
Where to stay: La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton is the premium resort choice. For golf groups looking for more space and value, Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta is highly rated. Embassy Suites La Quinta is also one of the highest-rated hotels close to SilverRock, roughly 1.5 miles away.
4. Eagle Falls Golf Course — Indio
Clive Clark design • Indio • Fantasy Springs •
Eagle Falls is a great addition to a buddies itinerary because it combines an enjoyable desert golf course with the entertainment at Fantasy Springs.
The course uses rolling terrain, waterfalls, lakes and desert landscaping to create a visually impressive round without feeling excessively punitive.
Buddy Trip Advantage: Golf followed by dinner, drinks, gaming or entertainment without having to travel far.
Where to stay: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is the obvious choice—you can essentially turn Eagle Falls into a golf-and-entertainment day. It's only about 0.3 miles from the course. For a condo-style alternative, WorldMark Indio offers larger accommodations and resort amenities.
5. PGA WEST — La Quinta
Five public resort courses. One legendary golf destination. •
For serious golfers, PGA WEST is the centerpiece of the trip.
Five resort courses are available for public play: Pete Dye Stadium, Pete Dye Mountain, Pete Dye Dunes, Nicklaus Tournament and Greg Norman.
The Pete Dye Stadium Course is the bucket-list choice. You'll face Dye's signature visual intimidation and the famous par-3 17th, Alcatraz, followed by the water-lined 18th.
The Mountain Course provides arguably the most spectacular scenery, running directly alongside the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The Nicklaus Tournament Course combines a more forgiving driving experience with demanding approaches and greens, while the Greg Norman Course uses just 68 acres of turf surrounded by desert, white crushed-marble bunkers and water.
Buddy Trip Pick: Stadium if you want bragging rights. Mountain if scenery is the priority. Nicklaus Tournament if you're looking for the best combination of challenge and playability.
Where to stay: La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton makes an outstanding luxury headquarters. Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta is another strong golf-group option and carries a 4.5/5 rating in current local search results. For groups wanting a house directly at PGA WEST, highly rated golf-oriented vacation rentals are also plentiful. For 5 to 7 day stays, The Villas at Indian Palms offer 2 bedroom, 750 sq ft villas and are a great option for location, amenities, affordability with great Stay & Play packages available with PGA West with no resort fees, no parking fees & no hidden charges
🍽️ WHERE TO EAT IN PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA 🍽️
A Palm Springs buddy trip shouldn't end when the last putt drops. Palm Desert, La Quinta and Indio all have good post-round options.
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar & Grill in Palm Desert is a lively choice for Mexican food, margaritas and a casual group dinner after Classic Club or Desert Willow.
Pacifica Seafood Restaurant sits above El Paseo and is an excellent sunset dinner choice, with seafood, cocktails and rooftop mountain and valley views.
Ristorante Mamma Gina is a longtime Palm Desert institution for a more upscale Italian dinner.
In La Quinta, La Quinta Cliffhouse is one of the more distinctive dinner settings in the valley, built into the rocks with a waterfall-lined entrance, patio and steak-and-seafood menu.
For something more casual after SilverRock or PGA WEST, Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill in Old Town La Quinta offers pizza, burgers, steaks, seafood and a sports-bar atmosphere.
Breakfast before an early tee time? Louise's Pantry is a popular La Quinta breakfast institution known for big portions, pancakes, Benedicts and omelets.
And if Eagle Falls is on the schedule, El Mexicali Cafe offers a casual, longtime local Mexican option in Indio.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA 🏨
For 5 to 7 day stays, The Villas at Indian Palms offer 2 bedroom, 750 sq ft villas and are a great option for location, amenities, affordability with great Stay & Play packages available with PGA West with no resort fees, no parking fees & no hidden charges and close to PGA WEST, Desert Willow Golf Resort and Indian Wells Golf Resort
For a three-day golf trip, La Quinta is probably the best overall home base. It puts SilverRock and PGA WEST close by while keeping Desert Willow, Classic Club and Eagle Falls within reasonable driving distance.
For a premium golf-resort experience, choose La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton. The historic hacienda-style property sits beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains and offers pools, spa services and multiple dining options.
For groups prioritizing restaurants and nightlife, HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection is a compelling Palm Desert alternative because of its location near El Paseo.
For suites, kitchens and a more practical buddy-trip setup, Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta is one of the stronger options.
And if Eagle Falls and casino entertainment are major parts of the itinerary, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino eliminates most of the logistics for that portion of the trip.
✈️ SAMPLE 3-DAY GOLF BUDDY TRIP FROM MINNEAPOLIS ✈️
DAY 1 — Minneapolis → Palm Springs | Classic Club + Palm Desert
Morning: Fly from Minneapolis–St. Paul to the Palm Springs area, pick up a rental SUV and head toward Palm Desert.
Afternoon: Kick off the trip at Classic Club. It's a strong first-day course because of its convenient location and excellent clubhouse.
Evening: Check into Hotel Paseo or continue south to your La Quinta hotel. Head to Fresh Agave for a casual opening-night dinner and margaritas, or Pacifica Seafood for an upscale sunset dinner.
Golf: 18 holes
DAY 2 — Desert Willow + SilverRock | 36-Hole Day
Morning: Breakfast and an early tee time on Desert Willow Firecliff.
Afternoon: Drive south to La Quinta and play SilverRock beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Evening: Head into Old Town La Quinta. Have drinks and dinner at La Quinta Cliffhouse, Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill or another Old Town favorite.
Golf: 36 holes
Buddy Trip Total: 54 holes
DAY 3 — PGA WEST + Eagle Falls
Morning: Finish the trip's marquee round on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA WEST. Make sure somebody records the group's shots on No. 17 at Alcatraz.
Afternoon: If your group wants maximum golf, drive to Indio for a second 18 at Eagle Falls. For a less aggressive schedule, skip the second round and enjoy lunch, the pool or some downtime.
Evening: Dinner and drinks at Fantasy Springs. Stay in Indio if your flight schedule makes sense, or return to La Quinta/Palm Desert.
Golf: 18–36 holes
Three-Day Total: 72–90 holes
THE IDEAL PALM SPRINGS BUDDY TRIP course recommendations
For a first trip, prioritize the courses in this order:
1. PGA WEST Stadium — Bucket-list experience
2. Desert Willow Firecliff — Outstanding overall public golf
3. SilverRock — Best mountain scenery
4. Classic Club — Excellent course and clubhouse experience
5. Eagle Falls — Great golf + entertainment combination
Bonus: PGA WEST Mountain or Nicklaus Tournament if you have time for another round
With sunshine, dramatic desert landscapes, five-star resorts, excellent restaurants and an enormous concentration of quality golf, Palm Springs deserves a spot near the top of any golfer's buddy-trip list.
Golf. Eat. Stay. Repeat.
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