Palmer’s tournament course, open to anyone with a tee time.
Classic Club sits on the north side of Palm Desert, and for three editions, from 2006 to 2008, it was one of the host courses of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Classic. It is now a public, Troon-managed facility, so you need nothing more than a booking to play the same Arnold Palmer layout the tour pros saw. The draw is a parkland feel unusual for the desert: thousands of pines, peppers and olives, 30 acres of lakes, stone bridges and waterfalls, with elevated tees that look out across the Coachella Valley.
Classic Club green fees and tee times.
Groups of one or two tee times book through the online portal on the club website or by calling the golf shop on 760-601-3601. Parties needing three or more times go through the head professional and tournament coordinator for group rates. The club’s policy section gives the booking window as 60 days, while its own FAQ says 90 for individual times, so ring if you are planning further ahead. Cancel at least 72 hours before the day of play to avoid a penalty. No green fee table is published; the price appears on the tee sheet, and it changes with date and time. Coachella Valley residents, and fire, police and military golfers, have their own rate pages. Replay rounds are sold only on the day, through the shop.
The round, in perspective.
Palmer’s 18 holes run from 4,219 yards on the forward markers to 7,322 from the black tees, across six sets in all, and the club describes its landing areas as generous. Water is the main defence. It runs down the left of the opening hole, named San Jacinto after the mountain behind it, and guards the right of the 3rd, which plays from a raised tee towards the Little San Bernardino Mountains to a two-tier green. The 6th, External Combustion, is the longest of the short holes at 220 yards and must carry a ravine that runs the length of the hole. The 9th, Black Diamond, is a 595-yard par five that drops from high tees to a green screened by a stream. Late on, the 17th, Lookout Point, falls downhill to the most contoured green on the course.
Know before you go.
Booking window
60 days in the policy text; 90 days in the club FAQ
Cancellation
At least 72 hours before the day of play
Carts
Two shared carts per foursome; no single riders or non-playing passengers
Pace
4 hours 20 minutes for 18 holes
Rental clubs
Callaway sets, US$90 including tax, first come first served
Dress
Collared or mock-neck shirts, Bermuda-length shorts; no denim, T-shirts or metal spikes
Make the trip work.
Most reservations include a US$25 food and drink voucher. It is valid only on the day, in one transaction, at Bellatrix restaurant, the Classic Grille or the drinks cart. Outside alcohol is banned, and guests found with it can be asked to leave without a refund. Every golfer needs their own bag and clubs, so anyone without a set must rent one of the Callaway sets. The practice ground is reserved for paying golfers on their day of play: a two-sided range, a 12,000 square foot putting green and two short-game areas. The shop opens daily from 6.30am to 5pm.
Fly into Palm Springs International (PSP), the nearest airport, and pick up a hire car; the course is at 75-200 Classic Club Boulevard on the north side of Palm Desert, just off Interstate 10, so the drive from the terminal runs east along the freeway rather than through town. Golfers arriving through Los Angeles face a drive of two hours or more, depending on traffic through the Banning Pass.
There are no rooms at the club, although the three-storey, Tuscan-style clubhouse holds the restaurant and event spaces. Golfbreaks pairs the course with the JW Marriott Desert Springs, the Renaissance Esmeralda and the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells, which has 36 holes of its own across the road. The Westin Rancho Mirage is another option for a quieter base. Palm Desert’s El Paseo, a long shopping and restaurant street, is close by for evenings.
Make a trip of it.
Indian Wells Golf Resort is the obvious partner, since its Players Course is a short drive south and also takes public tee times. For a harder test, add the PGA WEST Stadium Course at La Quinta. Mission Hills North, Gary Player’s course in Rancho Mirage, has a similar lakes-and-mountains feel at a different pace. Off the course, The Living Desert zoo and gardens in Palm Desert fill a rest morning well.
Find your season.
Golf here is a winter and spring affair. The Hope Classic was played in January, and the valley is busiest from New Year to April, when tee sheets fill early. Summer brings searing heat and much lower prices. The course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, so expect wildlife around the lakes.
Yes. It is a public course run by Troon, with no membership needed. Book online or through the golf shop on 760-601-3601. Arrive at least 30 minutes early and check in at the shop; the practice ground is only open to golfers with a tee time that day.
Did Classic Club host a PGA Tour event?
Yes. It was a host course of the Bob Hope Classic in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The tournament ran over several Coachella Valley courses, and Classic Club was part of that rota for those three editions.
Can I ride alone in a cart at Classic Club?
No. Each foursome gets two shared carts, single-rider carts are not offered, and non-golfers may not ride along. If you want a cart to yourself, choose another course; this rule is part of how the club holds its pace of play.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
