Summer golf in Palm Springs.....best course for best price?

I'm wanting to go play another course in Palm Springs and looking for that unbelievable price for unbelievable quality you can generally find there this time of year....I'm looking for a real 'desert' style course with rolling fairways and very few trees...etc...no Links style please!

What course(s) would you suggest?

Thanks!

Yeah, it's definitely hot all day. I just played that Escena course yesterday. We tee'd off around 10am, it only got to 102 degrees and we had the course to ourselves...only saw one other group all day long. We'd play an awesome hole, turn around and go play it again. We finished our "18 hole" round, pulled up to the clubhouse and the manager walked out and said; :You guys all done?" We thought we were in trouble for playing some holes twice. We said; "Yeah, we finally finished." He says: "You guys are welcome to keep playing if you want...no extra charge." So we played another 18...that made for a long day!  About 20 Coors Lights and 10 waters later we were done playing golf...all for $20! Only in Palm Springs...

What. that may be worth the gas money. I havent played out there yet but I may have to. I can deal with some heat for 36 holes and only 20 bucks.

The money you'll save playing there will usually cover your extra fuel costs...but the real value in the quality of the course you get to play. Courses that are $150 - $300 in their peak season.

so how did you like that course that you played? escena?

Did you have to book through golf now or some other site?

It's a very fun course...large landing areas so you can be aggressive off the tee...yet, protected greens with lots of bunkers...makes the approach interesting.

The fairways could have been in better shape though...there was some dead spots here and there...not a huge problem though

No, I booked straight through their site..it was cheaper. If you download an iphone app you even get another $10 off your total booking.

http://www.escenagolf.com/sites/courses/escena.asp?id=876&page;=49227

Pretty much any course in Palm Springs will pay you to come play this time of year

I used to have a summer time share in Palm Desert for just that reason.  There's never anything wrong with great golf experiences on a budget.  One of my favorites is Desert Willow.  I played the requisite Mission Hills, PGA West, La Quinta, etc., but I really like Desert WIllow's courses.  When the first course was being built it made the cover of Smithsonian because of its ecologically friendly status and water conservation capabilities.

What is it about this place?  Every time I hear a recommendation for golf in Palm Springs, this is one of the first names out.  I obviously have to try it out next chance I get.

(I believe that one of my friends recommending it also said they have some discount deal - a 'desert card' or something IIRC?? - where you can play for reasonable prices all the time)

They couldn't pay me enough ......

You know what, it's really not that bad..for me I guess. Im really not that bothered by the heat..I've played out there when it's 115*...I do go prepared  though...spray bottles, misters, lots of drinking water and ice are a must. I keep a small hand towel on ice at all times and wrap it around my neck for a minute or so once in a while... If you're in descent shape and don't dwell on the heat you'll have a blast...guaranteed...heck, I take my 67 year old father in law with me all the time...he loves it. Something's got to give I guess; the only reason you can play a $200 course is because it's hot...Once in a while you'll get lucky..it was only 102* on Monday when I played and yesterday the high there was only 88*...the same in LA...and 19* below their average.

Yeah, I grew up in Fresno, and although it never got to 115, we always had a few weeks a summer in triple digits.  For me, the heat was never a problem while playing sports, because I didn't mind sweating.  But when several of your friends think its a good idea to have afternoon outdoor weddings, that's when the heat becomes a problem.

I'm thinking I might go play here for $59

http://www.laquintaresort.com/golf/pete_dye_mountain_course/

another BIG vote for desert willow.   you asked about a 'desert-style' course, and that's what they got.  lots of desert vegitation, the firecliff course has no condos along the fairways (though it does get close to a neighborhood on about 2-3 holes).  you'll see lots of roadrunners, jackrabbits, ravens and/or crows (i can't always tell, but large a** black birds).   everyone recommends it for a reason.

as for savings, check out standbygolf.com (or call them up).  sometimes golfnow will have a super-special rate (i played desert springs for $15 one day), that you can get the day of or maybe the night before, usually for a specific tee time - though like most courses, if you show up early for your tee time, they'll let you out.

also, you should check out greenskeeper.org.   they have a top-courses section, but they also have aeration alerts, so you can know ahead of time if the course got punched, or even closed (some are).   plus you can see recent reviews about how the course conditions are.  that pic you posted above of la quinta, i guarantee its from the winter.  most of these courses use different grass during the summer and isn't always so green.