Stay: The Westin Desert Willow Villas in Palm Desert provide exceptional value, especially if you’re on a couples or buddies trip. The 18-hole, par-3 North course answers the question: What happens when you crave bold bunkering, sparkling lakes, mountain panoramas and challenging golf, but only have two hours to play? Many will leave the driver at home, yet five holes on the back nine measure 186-218 yards. Architects Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley infused the 6,789-yard, par-71 South course with ample landing areas and minimal carries, but large, stylishly crafted bunkers give the course its character.

Shadow Hills GC in Indio was built for a Sun City retirement community, so it was never intended to be a beatdown. At $28-$37 per round, plus $10 replays, you might just wanna play here a bunch. With holes ranging from 110 yards to 240 and seven of them 160 yards or longer, you’ll use just about the whole bag. Having said that, The Lights at Indio GC in Indio is so entertaining - and inexpensive - you might just play here day and night. than many of the region’s top-ranked courses.ĭrive all the way to Palm Springs to play a par-3 course? You betcha - when that course is lit for night play, and you can tee it up elsewhere in the daylight if you choose. A 1950s throwback clubhouse adds to the appeal, as does its location, five minutes from the Palm Springs Airport and a half-hour closer to L.A. Lakes and streams adorn half the holes, notably at the reachable 502-yard, par-5 15th, though seldom are forced carries required.

There’s just enough challenge from its 7,173 yards and thoughtfully placed bunkers to keep the good player interested, but its sufficiently roomy fairways allow spray-prone golfers to bang away with the driver. Play: Now 18 years old, Escena GC in Palm Springs unfurls a Nicklaus Design replete with fun-to-play holes.

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