8 Palm Desert Golf Courses Suitable for Beginners

If there’s any one symbol that could stand for the Coachella Valley and Palm Desert in particular, it would be hard to top the image of the golfer. Golfing and Palm Desert have gone hand in hand for decades, and the golf course communities in Palm Desert, CA help make this city a spectacular place to live and visit.

Indeed, there are so many top tier golf courses in the area that it can be hard to pick out the right one for you if you’re unfamiliar with what’s on view here. This is especially true if you’re looking for a course for a beginner to the game. Below, we’ve outlined the top eight beginner-friendly courses to try in Palm Desert. Let’s tee off!

One of the most visually striking courses in Palm Desert, the nationally recognized Cimarron Golf Resort Pebble Course is a great location to learn the game of golf and get a taste for all the varieties of holes you’ll encounter in more challenging courses. This par 55 pebble course features 17 par threes and one par four, so it’s easy to complete at a good pace while basking in the natural wonder that is the San Jacinto Mountain Range.

Internationally renowned golf architects Schmidt-Curley put a little something extra into the design of the beginner’s North Course at Shadow Hills. Here, you can test your mettle on the 10 hole course that’s perfect for beginners and intermediate players. A breezy course that won’t take all day to complete, Shadow Hills is only 3,000 yards long so it’s perfect for a leisurely day in the desert.

A California tradition, Arnold Palmer-designed Classic Club Golf isn’t only a great place for beginner golfers to level their game up — it’s also a beauty of a course. It regularly tops the statewide lists for “Courses You Can Play” from California Golf & Travel and Golfweek.

The sprawling water features and impressive palm trees that line this course give it a distinctively deluxe feel, and visitors will certainly come away from a day here with memories to last a lifetime. The greens at Classic Club Golf are of the highest standards and the atmosphere is crisp and delightful. Be sure to reserve a trip here for special occasions. It’s one of the few great courses in the country that are actually playable for beginners.

The longtime host course of the Bob Hope Classic, SilverRock Resort’s nationally recognized course isn’t only known for its high environmental standards and top notch restaurant. It’s also a pleasantly easy course to score well on, making it an obvious choice to visit if you or your guests like to take it a little easy on the greens. With dozens of accolades ranging from Top 10 New Golf Courses to Best Municipal Course in California, you’re sure to have a great time at SilverRock Resort.

Golf Digest named this course “One of the best places to play” in all of the U.S., and there’s good reason to believe Tahquitz Creek may just be the best course in the Palm Springs area. What’s even better is that the difficulty of the course isn’t outside the ability of most players. Beginners will have an enjoyable time on the immaculate greens of Tahquitz Creek, then afterwards spend a few hours at their state of the art 50 stall driving range or snacking on deluxe hors d'oeuvres at the top of the line Traditions Cafe.

One of the city’s premier golf destinations, The Golf Center offers beginners a challenging but rewarding nine holes. The so-called “First Tee of the Coachella Valley,” The Golf Center at Palm Desert has it all: a pristine par 3 course, practice bunkers, greens, and a special chipping area to help you nail down your midrange game. The atmosphere is fun and inviting and The Golf Center is a great place to bring the kids or a group for a relaxing day in the sun.

Another classic desert golfing hotspot, nearby Indio’s Heritage Palms course may not top all the statewide charts when it comes to difficulty. But it certainly makes up for it with small town charm and comfort, thanks to its beginner friendly 5,800 yard course that’s managed by an expert PGA certified staff. Located right beside some of the loveliest Palm Desert homes for sale, the view at Heritage Palms is second to none. The bunkers and greens are expertly designed to serve as the perfect challenge for beginner to intermediate skill players, but the course is so fun to tour that anyone will enjoy spending an afternoon here.

For a little more of a challenge than you might expect from the other courses on our list, try Hawk’s Landing Golf Club. It’s a perfect location to visit if you’re feeling that the other beginner-friendly courses just aren’t scratching that itch anymore and you’re in need of something with more distance.

The design of the ranges at Hawk’s Landing is circular, so you can head out with a group for a short 12 hole game or circle back around to complete the entire 18 hole course. Though the total yardage is a bit longer than some other beginner courses, young or new golfers will be sure to have a blast at this Palm Desert classic.

There you have it: an insider’s guide to the best beginner golf course communities in Palm Desert, CA. If you’d like to learn more about Palm Desert homes for sale, reach out today! Contact Canavan Coit & Associates for more information.