My husband and I are going to go to Palm Springs weeken of 5/21; we live in Wisconsin but I'll be in Denver for my friends havniece's HS graduation and will meet him there. We want a decent place and want to golf. My husband is a good golfer; I am passable - good driver at least, and I know not to hold people up. He wants a TPC course; I'll agree to at least one day, then friends have recommended Taquitz or Eagles, to do some that are more reasonable. Any recommendations of places to stay and sites to maybe find some discounts. We work too many hours and are really looking forward to this but can't afford a 5 star hotel with TPC courses the whole time.

GolfNow.com offers discounts on a number of area courses in their daily e-mail listings (or you can access their website directly), and some with good discounts (50% or so), although the TPC courses listed are hardly discounted at all. The problem with GolfNow is that you can't book more than a week ahead, but we have booked with them maybe 6-8 times, with never a problem.

DW and I are heading for the area for a couple weeks, in mid-March, our first visit there. We plan to golf about every second day, so I will be looking for some deals. We are staying in Embassy Suites La Quinta, which seemed to give us good value, location, etc. (good location to us, is to NOT be in the middle of everything). I expect that we will be doing some rounds at Twilight times, on a couple of the better courses, to keep the cost down, and golf at some of the mid-range courses most of the time.
Good luck finding what you are looking for!

Agree, lots of good consolidators for discount golf tee times. No reason you should have to pay walk-up rates. May 21st is also past the end of the traditional season, so lower rates are likely. You might check out www.thedesertsun for ads on discount rates as well.

Have a great trip!

I've been using Standby Golf for many years.

Are you talking about Eagle Falls? I don't think that is really friendly to the average golfer, it takes a bit of course knowledge to enjoy it. Tahquitz is boring boring and kind of ugly.

Indian Canyons South (not North) is pretty good for an inexpensive course. Sign up for their email specials. You might also consider one of the Terra Lago courses if it isn't too hot.

I'd recommend looking at Indian Wells Golf Club too. Remodeled a few years ago and very nice resort play anchored by the Hyatt Grand Champions and Renaissance Esmeralda in Indian Wells. A bit of a drive from PS but not as far as Terra Lago, which is north of I-10 in Indio.

Indian Wells is NOT cheap.

Also, as far as layout, Indian Wells will always be a Ted Robinson design no matter what they do to it, narrow fairways, lots of forced carries, not really forgiving.

If you are going that direction for a second course ie expensive resort course I would go with La Quinta Mountain or PGA Greg Norman, the latter especially is more or less playable for an average golfer. I think Escena is another good choice in that higher end but still playable category.

Sorry for the multiple postings.

If you are going to play golf for the most part I would stay in Palm Desert to La Quinta which is closer to most of the nicer golf courses. Watch out for the resort fees. That Embassy Suites is not bad and there weren't resort fees the last time I stayed there. I believer the Shadow Ridge Marriott also has no resort fees and that is a nice course, although you do need to sharpen up the short game to do well there. It can be a challenge even for the better golfer.

I think in his remodel Clive Clark worked a lot on the playability issues as well as the aesthetic experience with the original Robinson design at Indian Wells. And it's a lot prettier of a track than the Norman Course, which was widely criticized for lack of visual interest in the landscape palette when KSL built it in the 90's and whacked the budget in the latter stages of construction. Besides the fact that the Norman brand has become known for designing some pretty schlocky golf courses. In any event, there are lots of good daily fee courses to play that rival the "country club experience" in other markets. And given the time of year I'd hardly say most of them, including IW, are expensive if one is a good shopper and looks at bargain tee time rates. That's the beauty of off-season in the desert.

I've played IW before and after. There is only so much lipstick you can put on a pig.

I've played Norman with a lot of out of towners using Standby and they all love it. I understand that the owners at PGA West would like to take it private so that they have exclusive access. I'm really not sure where you are getting your info from.

Suffice to say that I'm in the private club business and have been involved in the development of several high end golf communities in the area over the years. PGA West, as a brand was significantly diminished by the acquisition of the Landmark portfolio in the 90's and has a reputation as a golf factory where tee times are a challenge even for members to obtain during the peak of the season. Calling the IW course a "pig" is a disservice. I'm sure someone with an equal knowledge of area golf courses could apply the same subjectivity to the courses you like and come up with a similar opinion. To each his own.

Then I'd say you have a completely different perspective than an average golfer looking for a reasonable place to play.

My feedback is based on not only my own opinion but the consensus of several clubs with which I play in the Valley (both team play and recreational play), with a full range of handicaps.

What was the question again? LOL

It's been answered, did you have anything to contribute other than more snark? LoL.

***It's been answered, did you have anything to contribute other than more snark? LoL.***

No that was it. Thanks for asking though!

Hey guys! Didn't log on for a few days and now I see I have lots of posts. I sure appreciate it because I really have no idea. I'll be making my final plans in the coming month so this should really help! We thought of LaQuinta if we can get a decent deal.....so Tahquitz? Thanks for that! I would have no idea. Keep in mind anything in palm springs for golf will be better than the snow in Wisconsin! Will check out Embassy Suites and LaQuinta and then check daily sun for any coupons or anything. Thanks so so much!

and by Tahquitz, I meant to add that Tahquitz is boring? I want to have a nice weekend, not something we do a lot; would like it to be special but not over the top.

Someone recommended LaQuinta or Palm Desert. And someone else suggested Embassy Suites which would cost less, but I will have to look up all three over the weekend!

I am making our reservations this weekend. Just having a hard time deciding if I should stay towards LaQuinta/Indian Wells or downtown Palm Springs. They have some cute sounding places downtown, and we're going to have to have a car, anyway.....Would like to stay away from the big big resorts. Plan to golf a few times, go out to eat, and maybe talking him into checking out downtown Palm Springs.

Any suggestions on the best place to have a nice quiet, maybe even romantic times as well as golf? I've looked at so many places and read so many reviews I can't think any more!!