Top 3 Golf Courses in the Southern California Desert as Voted By YOU!

You nominated, you voted. You chose your favorite North County golf courses, and you even selected your favorite San Diego golf courses. Now, take a look at your favorite desert golf courses! Here are the top 3 desert golf courses—as chosen by FINE Magazine readers—in Southern California. Enjoy, marvel and give them a visit the next time you're in the Palm Springs area!

PGA West Golf Course

PGA West is located in La Quinta, a 2,000 acre golf and lifestyle community that is situated in the greater Palm Springs area. Surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains, this course can boast that it's home to the Career Builder Challenge golf tournament (formerly the Bob Hope Classic). La Quinta is a beautiful community with Old Spanish Revival architecture. Morgan built a nine–hole golf course on hotel grounds which became the valley's first golf course, and now it has become a huge destination. Many high–profile celebrities and presidents have enjoyed their time there. 

At PGA West there are 109 holes on six courses with three amenity–filled clubhouses and a private fitness facility with 19 tennis courts and a racquet club. The great thing about this club is that you do not need to be a member to partake in their services. The golf academy is open to the public, as well as the Greg Norman clubhouse. You can also dine at Wallaby’s where the chefs take a twist of old favorites in ranch–style decor. This venue can also accommodate 40 to 120 guests if you choose to hold an event here. 

Desert Island Country Club

Located in Rancho Mirage, California, Desert Island Country Club offers a championship golf course surrounding a 25 acre lake. The course was designed by Desmond Muirhead, who composed the course so that the desert area could be viewed from every hole. The absence of housing–lined fairways makes for a peaceful setting. The setting may be what sets it apart from other courses, but the membership does offer something to be desired as well. The fees are very reasonable for a course of this caliber and the staff is top notch. It doesn’t matter what kind of golfer you are or if you are just seasonal, they will find the right membership for you. 

Indian Wells Golf Resort

Located in Palm Springs, this 36 hole golf course is easy to love. With its location only being minutes away from the Palm Springs International Airport, you don't have any excuse not to go. There are two courses, and both have been ranked as top 25 "Best Municipal Courses in the United States" by GolfWeek magazine. It is also great for tournaments, group outings and weddings due to its location within walking distance of the luxury hotel in Indian Wells. The course is designed by John Fought and features sculpted bunkers. They've kept the trees found on the original property with the new design in order to keep it unique. Many hole are oriented so that players can take in the full view of the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and San Bernardino mountain ranges.

Any one of these three golf courses would give you a chance to get away without missing out on any golf or relaxing activities!