Finding summer golf courses in the desert
Finding summer golf courses in the desert
From the sky in an airplane approaching the Coachella Valley, the extent of the renovations on the Players Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort is apparent.
While the 17th and 18th holes of the old configuration are still visible, they will not be part of the new course. Instead, John Fought’s redesign of seven holes on the course moves the entire course to the north side of the wash that cuts through the property. With plans for a normal opening this November, the new holes are visible from the air, though they don’t have much grass on them yet.
That renovation at the Indian Wells Golf Resort is just one of several major projects at desert courses this summer. Summer is the usual time for such projects in the desert, with few golfers impacted because of the summer heat, meaning less lost revenue and fewer lost tee times for courses.
Here’s an update on some of the big projects being worked on at desert courses this summer:
The Lights at Indio Golf Course
Heavy construction dominates this 18-hole par-3 golf course this summer, so much so that golfers may have trouble finding the temporary parking lot without following signs in north Indio. The old paved parking lot has been torn apart to build infrastructure for new restaurants off of Avenue 42, and a new paved parking lot for the new clubhouse is still under construction. That new and larger clubhouse is planned to be open sometime this fall.
As for the golf course itself, it remains completely open. But the first and 10th holes are playing off of temporary tee boxes, shortening those two holes for the time being. In addition, the ninth hole has a new green that has been pushed away from the new clubhouse, shortening that hole as well. But all 18 holes are open for play.
La Quinta Country Club
When golfers in The American Express PGA Tour event return to this course in January, they will be greeted by a new chipping area currently being constructed. The large chipping area is near the 10th green on the course, which has been played in the PGA Tour event since 1964 and is renowned for its stellar greens. The chipping area should be ready for membership play by November, meaning it will be well-seasoned by the time the pros show up in January.
The Springs Club
Renovations of this Desmond Muirhead design began in the late spring, with the Rancho Mirage course’s social media accounts providing updates and saying that renovation is on track for a normal opening in November. Being overseen by architect Cary Bickler, the renovation is extensive, including new irrigation systems for the holes, reshaped bunkers through the course and new greens. The renovations come on the 50th anniversary of the golf community opening.
SilverRock Resort
One of the more ambitious renovation projects this summer is at this La Quinta course, where the city is swapping out the course’s original Bermuda base from 20 years ago entirely for a new Bermuda hybrid called Latitude 36 from tee to green. Those greens are now among the latest in the desert to switch to MiniVerde, another hybrid Bermuda. The front nine at SilverRock has been closed all summer, with plans for an August reopening and then a normal overseed to cool-weather grass in the fall for a normal November opening. The back nine at SilverRock will receive the same renovation next summer.
Ironwood Country Club
A partial renovation is going on at this Palm Desert 36-hole private facility. The plan was for the entire North Course to be renovated this summer, from greens to bunkers to tee boxes. But problems with the wells for Ironwood means only some of the renovation is being done this summer on the front nine. The rest of the changes to that course will be done in the summer of 2026 as part of John Fought’s grand master plan for renovating both the North and the more-famous South Course at the club.
