The Coachella Valley has more golf courses per square mile than almost anywhere in the country, and Indio sits in the middle of it. Our home backs onto one of them. Here's how to think about a golf trip based here.
Start at home: Indian Palms Country Club
Indian Palms is a 27-hole championship layout — three nines you can combine — and it's open to the public. Unlike most desert courses, the fairways are lined with mature trees, and the course has genuine history: it began as Jackie Cochran's ranch in the 1940s and hosted Eisenhower and Kennedy. Greens fees are a fraction of the valley's marquee courses, and if you're staying at Palms Place the first tee is minutes from your door. Book tee times through the club.
The bucket-list rounds
- PGA West — TPC Stadium Course (La Quinta, ~15 min). The Pete Dye design famous for its island green and the punishing "Alcatraz" 17th. Home to the PGA Tour's American Express. Expensive and worth it once.
- PGA West — Nicklaus Tournament Course (La Quinta). The other Tour course on the property; more forgiving, still spectacular.
- SilverRock Resort (La Quinta, ~15 min). An Arnold Palmer design set against the Santa Rosa mountains, a former Bob Hope Classic venue. Municipal ownership keeps rates reasonable for the quality.
- Indian Wells Golf Resort (~15 min). Two courses, the Players and the Celebrity, with a clubhouse and practice facility that regularly rank among the country's best public facilities.
Excellent and easier on the wallet
- Desert Willow Golf Resort (Palm Desert, ~20 min). Two municipal courses — Firecliff and Mountain View — that play like private clubs. Local favorite.
- Shadow Hills Golf Club (Indio, ~10 min). Two courses, including a shorter North layout that's ideal for a quick round or mixed-ability groups.
- Terra Lago (Indio, ~10 min). Two 18s on the north edge of town with wide fairways and big views.
When to play
November through April is peak season: perfect weather, immaculate conditions, and peak pricing. May and October are the value months — hot in the afternoon but glorious at 7 a.m., with rates well below winter. June through September is for early birds and bargain hunters: many courses drop rates dramatically and some overseed in the fall, so check conditions before booking.
Tips for a group trip
- Book tee times two to four weeks ahead in season; some marquee courses release times 30 days out.
- Twilight rates (usually after 1 or 2 p.m.) cut costs significantly and the light is better anyway.
- A house with a kitchen and a pool is the right base for a golf group: big breakfasts before early tee times, and a place to cool off after.
- Ask about replay rates — several courses offer a discounted second round the same day.
Stay on the course
Palms Place backs onto the Indian Palms fairways — 5 bedrooms, private pool and spa, and room for the whole foursome (and their families).
Check availability