Tahquitz Creek is a 36-hole public club in south Palm Springs, close enough to the airport that you can land in the morning and tee off after lunch. It is run by Arnold Palmer Golf Management and is aimed at visiting golfers who want value and choice rather than a resort price. One course was imagined more than 60 years ago in the country-club style, the other belongs to the desert-links school, so two rounds here feel quite different. The canyon and its legend of the shaman Tahquitz give the place its name.
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort (Legend and Resort) green fees and tee times.
Tee times for both courses are on the club’s online booking portal, linked from every page of the website, or by phone on 760-328-1005. The club publishes its green fees only through that booking link, so prices show when you search a date. Last-minute specials appear there for both visitors and Coachella Valley residents. Fivesomes are not allowed: book a threesome and a twosome and the shop will pair other players with you. Golfers staying a while can join GOLFvantage, an annual programme costing US$475.20, which gives half off the local resident rate with some limits and a daily bucket of range balls.
The courses at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort (Legend and Resort).
Legend Course (William F. Bell)
The traditional, country-club-style layout, 6,815 yards from the championship tees and 5,551 from the reds. The 1st and 10th, Blind Landing and Carrier, reward a drive that clears the hill with extra roll. The 12th, Hope’s View, is a short par three with water and out of bounds on the right. It closes with Final Carry, a long par four.
Resort Course (Ted Robinson)
A desert-links layout with undulating greens and water features, 6,705 yards from the back and 5,206 from the reds. Wet Banana, the 5th, has water down the right; the 7th, The Island, has an island fairway. The 17th, Water Park, is a short par three over water, before the par-five finish.
The round, in perspective.
The Legend Course is the older design, credited to William Francis Bell, the architect best known for Torrey Pines. It plays 6,815 yards from the championship tees, rated 72.4 and slope 125, through a wash with the mountains in view. The back nine includes holes named Hope’s View and AP’s Alley. The Resort Course is a Ted Robinson design, described by the club as desert links, at 6,705 yards with a 71.3 rating. It has more water: the 7th is an island fairway, the 8th, Terminator, is the signature, and the 12th is a short par four the longer hitter can drive. It finishes with a par five, Last Chance.
Know before you go.
Group size
Maximum four; no fivesomes
Rental clubs
Callaway, US$55 before twilight and US$30 after; US$40 and US$25 from May to September
Rental terms
Cannot be reserved; card, photo ID and signed agreement required
Dress
Collared shirts for men; collared or sleeved shirts for women
Make the trip work.
The practice ground has 50 grass hitting bays, a chipping green and two large putting greens. Rental sets are Callaway with a sleeve of balls included, and they are first come, first served, so arrive early if you are travelling without clubs. The recently renovated Traditions Café is the club’s sunset spot, with eight televisions and a long beer list. The club also runs FootGolf and hosts First Tee coaching through the year.
Palm Springs International (PSP) is the airport to use, and the club says the course is within minutes of the terminal. The course is at 1885 Golf Club Drive, south-east of downtown Palm Springs, so a taxi or ride-share is realistic for golfers staying in town.
Downtown Palm Springs is the natural base, a short drive away, with mid-century hotels and walkable restaurants. Golfbreaks pairs Tahquitz Creek with the Palm Mountain Resort & Spa, which is right in the downtown strip, and with the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage further down the valley. Staying in Palm Springs keeps the airport and the course close together for short trips.
Make a trip of it.
For a Palm Springs week, combine one day on each course here with Mission Hills North in Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells Golf Resort further east. Tahquitz Creek is the cheaper end of that mix. On a rest day, the Tahquitz Canyon trail, run by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, leads to a seasonal waterfall, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway climbs Mount San Jacinto.
Find your season.
November to April is the main season, and courses are busiest from January to March. Summer rates drop, with rental clubs also cheaper between May and September. The club reminds golfers that desert days are warm and nights cold, so early tee times can start chilly even in spring.
How close is Tahquitz Creek to Palm Springs airport?
Very close. The club describes itself as minutes from Palm Springs International, at 1885 Golf Club Drive. That makes it a practical first or last round of a trip, playable on an arrival or departure day.
Which course is harder at Tahquitz Creek, Legend or Resort?
The Legend is longer from the back, at 6,815 yards and a 72.4 rating, against 6,705 yards and 71.3 for the Resort. The Resort has more water and an island fairway; the Legend relies on bunkers, a wash and out of bounds.
Can I play as a fivesome at Tahquitz Creek?
No. The club follows the valley norm of a four-ball limit. A group of five should book a three-ball and a two-ball in adjacent times, and the shop will add other golfers to fill the smaller group.
Who designed Tahquitz Creek?
The Legend Course is by William Francis Bell, who also designed Torrey Pines and Bermuda Dunes. The Resort Course is by Ted Robinson, the architect behind many Coachella Valley resort courses.
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.
