The hardest golf courses in La Quinta, California
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of La Quinta, California, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 29 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Indio and Rancho Mirage.
Stadium
PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USASlope rating 148, 75.8 course rating, Black tees, 7,300 yds
Public
- 3.9Conditions
- 4.4Layout
- 3.7Value
- 4.2Scenery
- 3.9Facilities
after playing it several times, the novelty has worn off. its in nice condition, but not worth the price they charge. its ok if uou get it for the replay rate of 100.00, but the nicklaus course is nicer with more challenging holes.
Written by
@ESP
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Putting area
Jack Nicklaus Private
PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USASlope rating 146, 74.3 course rating, Black tees, 6,951 yds
PrivateJack Nicklaus
- Driving range
- Restaurant
- Bar
Classic Club
Palm Desert, CA, USASlope rating 144, 75.8 course rating, Black tees, 7,322 yds
PublicArnold Palmer
- 5.0Conditions
- 3.5Layout
- 3.0Value
- 3.0Scenery
- 3.0Facilities
- Driving range
- Must play
- Pristine
Nicklaus Tournament
PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USASlope rating 143, 75.3 course rating, Black tees, 7,204 yds
PublicJack Nicklaus
- 4.0Conditions
- 4.0Layout
- 3.1Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 3.5Facilities
First and foremost, fantastic golfer experience. From the moment you pull up to the front door, staff is there ready to greet you. Pro shop guys were positively excited for you, followed by the man on the first tee. Course was challenging and great fun.
Written by
@Cary
- Walkable
- Challenging
- Driving range
Arnold Palmer Private
PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USASlope rating 143, 74.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,950 yds
PrivatePete Dye & Arnold Palmer
- 5.0Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.0Facilities
Played right out of overseed but design was engaging, mountainside holes are always fun with trying not to smack a goat.
Written by
@noah
- Driving range
- Restaurant
- Bar
(The Mountains) Bighorn Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 142, 73.7 course rating, Gold tees, 6,904 yds
(The Canyons) Bighorn Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 141, 74.6 course rating, Gold tees, 7,000 yds
(Mountain) Vintage Club
Indian Wells, CA, USA
Slope rating 140, 74.8 course rating, Black tees, 7,138 yds
Tradition Golf Club
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 140, 72.8 course rating, Palmer tees, 6,915 yds
SilverRock Resort
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 139, 76.3 course rating, Silver tees, 7,578 yds
(Players) Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells, CA, USA
Slope rating 139, 75.3 course rating, Cabernet tees, 7,376 yds
(Greg Norman) PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 139, 75.1 course rating, Black tees, 7,156 yds
(Celebrity) Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells, CA, USA
Slope rating 138, 74.2 course rating, Burgundy tees, 7,050 yds
(Firecliff) Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 138, 73.6 course rating, Black tees, 7,056 yds
(North) Golf Club at Terra Lago
Indio, CA, USA
Slope rating 137, 73.7 course rating, Professional tees, 7,060 yds
Stone Eagle Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 137, 72.9 course rating, Black tees, 6,840 yds
La Quinta Country Club
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 136, 74.2 course rating, Classic tees, 7,060 yds
(Mountain) La Quinta
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 135, 72.9 course rating, Black tees, 6,732 yds
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 134, 73.9 course rating, Black tees, 7,006 yds
The Quarry at La Quinta
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 133, 73.2 course rating, Black tees, 7,083 yds
(Arnold Palmer) Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
Slope rating 132, 72.9 course rating, Gold tees, 6,854 yds
(Dunes) La Quinta
La Quinta, CA, USA
Slope rating 132, 72.2 course rating, Black tees, 6,588 yds
(Gary Player) Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa
Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
Slope rating 131, 73.6 course rating, Back tees, 7,062 yds
Escena Golf Club
Palm Springs, CA, USA
Slope rating 130, 74.2 course rating, Tournament tees, 7,173 yds
(Mountain View) Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Slope rating 130, 73.4 course rating, Black tees, 6,913 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of La Quinta, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Stadium at PGA West is #1 on Course Vaults in and around La Quinta, California at Slope 148 (75.8 course rating · Black tees · 7,300 yds). 29 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of La Quinta, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of La Quinta, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 4:00 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
