Palm Springs Primer: A glimpse at America's desert (golf) playground

They call it America's desert playground. Yet for many diehard duffers, Palm Springs is an enigma. Golf fans see it a couple times a year on television during the Skins Game and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and it looks stunning.

Jigsaw mountain ranges frame the background. Emerald green fairways highlight the foreground. The sun beams down like some sort of omnipresent stage light and all is right in the world. Even Tiger Woods looks happy when he's in Palm Springs.

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Course guide by city

Bermuda Dunes

• Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

Palm Springs

• Playing in Palm Springs
• Palm Springs golf overview
• Palm Springs' 10 toughest golf courses
• Palm Springs trying to shake summer stigma
• Trilogy gets tougher for the Skins Game
• Weekend in Palm Springs: Give yourself a Q-School challenge at PGA West
• Dynamic Desert Duo: Desert Willow, Shadow Ridge outshine sunny dryland options
• Irrepressible Hope tops best of Palm Springs, Palm Desert
• Palm Springs Primer: A glimpse at America's desert (golf) playground
• Playing in Palm Springs: Five great places to play for $75 or less
• Weekend in Palm Springs: Where to stay and play
• Palm Springs: Where the Playground Never Closes
• Bob Hope Chrysler Classic 2002: Focus on Palm Springs

Palm Desert

• Desert Falls: A desert jewel celebrates 20 years
• Dynamic Desert Duo: Desert Willow,
  Shadow Ridge outshine sunny dryland options
• Tahquitz Creek: Try the old and the new in Palm Springs style golf
• Desert Springs Resort and Spa is a golf oasis in Palm Desert
• Irrepressible Hope tops best of Palm Desert
• Marriott Desert Springs’ Palms Course
• Desert Willow’s Firecliff Course

Cathedral City

• Cimarron Golf Resort is a desert original

La Quinta

• Indian Springs starts over: The old is new at La Quinta
• The Hideaway: Tumultuous beginning levels out for affluent desert golfers
• Discovery Land Company kills 'em with kindness
• Trilogy at La Quinta: New home of Skins Game could produce 'birdie fest'
• La Quinta Dunes Course
• PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course
• PGA West Meets Norman
• PGA West TPC Stadium Course
• LaQuinta Resort Mountain Course
• PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course

Desert Hot Springs

• Desert Dunes Golf Club

Indio

• Indian Palms Country Club gets modernized, and now it's even more of a test

Rancho Mirage

• Westin Mission Hills Resort
• Westin Mission Hills Resort: Dye, Player Team for Double Punch
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort

Palm Springs Transportation

Palm Springs does have an international airport served by four commercial airlines and five commuter airlines. However, most flights are only available from major western cities like Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Houston and Seattle. Some flights are only available seasonally, so be sure and check before setting up a trip. You might have to take a shuttle bus from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, but there are several available. Once you’re in Palm Springs, there are all the normal car rental services and many taxi and bus services.