
The Mountains Course
Bighorn Golf Club

About this course
The Mountains course at Bighorn Golf Club opened in 1998 as the second of two championship layouts at this private desert community in Palm Desert. Arthur Hills designed the routing to work with the dramatic elevation changes and natural contours at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, creating a layout that climbs and descends through canyons and ridgelines. The course sits higher in the foothills than many Coachella Valley courses, offering expansive views across the desert floor while playing through more rugged, mountainous terrain than the flatter valley layouts. Hills incorporated the rocky outcroppings and natural desert vegetation into his design, with fairways carved through the landscape rather than imposed upon it. The routing features significant elevation changes from tee to green on several holes, and the terrain creates both strategic interest and visual drama. Water comes into play on select holes, but the primary design challenge comes from the topography, the desert waste areas, and the need to position drives carefully on the sloped fairways. Bighorn Golf Club serves a private membership and has maintained a low profile compared to some of the valley's more tournament-oriented clubs. The Mountains course complements the club's other Arthur Hills design, The Canyons, giving members two distinct desert golf experiences. The club's facilities include dining and social amenities typical of high-end desert private clubs, though it has not hosted professional tour events.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in CA
Quick facts
- Location
- Palm Desert, CA, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1989
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Arthur Hills
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,904 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.7/142
- Course Vaults score
- 8.8
Getting there
The journey to Bighorn Golf Club begins at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), a mere twenty minutes south by car through the sculpted desert landscape of the Coachella Valley. For those arriving by private aircraft, the nearby Bermuda Dunes Airport and Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport offer discreet alternatives suited to the club's ultra-exclusive membership. The final drive winds through gated communities and pristine desert foothills, ascending gradually into the San Jacinto Mountains where Bighorn's entrance emerges—a quiet, fortified threshold that marks the transition from the valley floor to one of California's most private and architecturally distinguished golf sanctuaries.

FAQ
Common questions about The Mountains at Bighorn Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Mountains at Bighorn Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 13 logged golfers.
The Mountains was designed by Arthur Hills.
The Mountains at Bighorn Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at The Mountains is 72.
The Mountains plays 6,904 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Mountains is 142.




