“The summer of 2023 was indeed the busiest summer in the history of Desert Willow Golf Resort,” says Brian Simpson, Desert Willow’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “Our Firecliff and Mountain View Courses combined to host over 24,000 rounds from June through September, and we anticipate that demand will remain strong this summer ahead.”
A national, post-pandemic era surge in rounds has extended to make the Coachella Valley an all-seasons golf destination.
“Yes, we had a great summer last year, and I’ve noticed our summer play going up every year since Covid,” says Chris Caballero, director of golf, Resort Courses at PGA WEST. “And I definitely anticipate this summer being the same.”
Echoes Caballero’s La Quinta neighbor:
“We experienced the initial spike in golf during the summer of 2020, and it hasn’t let up ever since,” says Randy Duncan, GM and director of golf at SilverRock Resort. “The silver lining created by the pandemic was that it brought a slew of new golfers into the game; we’ve seen record rounds of golf and revenue since that summer of ‘20 and I anticipate this trend to continue for many more years. Golf is in a good spot today and I anticipate another busy summer.”
The upward summer trend has been experienced across the desert.
“Last year was a very busy summer, and we are anticipating a similar trend for 2024,” says Joe Williams, director of golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort. “So far, ‘24 has exceeded what 2023 brought, and with the ongoing boom in golf, we do expect to see a good level of play throughout the summer months.”
Advantage the Off-Season
Playing in at/near excessive temps comes with some strategy.
And a few advantages.
“Personally, I love playing golf in the summer months,” continues Duncan. “Usually, golf courses aren’t quite as busy, so getting tee times is easier and the rates are at their lowest during the late June through early September time frame. Playing early in the morning before it gets too hot would be my recommendation. Here at SilverRock, we sell our last tee time of the day in the summer months at 11:50 a.m., so we encourage our guests to play in the early to mid-morning hours.”
The sizzle scenario often equates to faster rounds.
“There are a few advantages to playing in the summer,” Williams says. “Pace of play is typically much better than in-season, with weekday play, specifically, being much faster than weekend play -- so try for those weekdays. And green fees are dramatically lower; there are great deals out there, you just need to look around.”
Across the valley’s golf course bounty, one need not search too far for summer savings.
“There are advantages when playing our courses in the summer, one being the rates we charge during the summer compared to our seasonal months,” adds Caballero. “We have dynamic pricing which fluctuates as the demand goes up, however, our base starting price is considerably lower than in the middle of winter. Another advantage is having fewer golfers on the tee sheets, which usually means you can make it around the course a little quicker and not have to wait as much while playing.”
Summer ease extends from tee box to table.
“Summer golf rates are typically 50 percent lower than peak season rates, so summer players can enjoy world-class golf courses at a reduced price,” says Simpson. “Other benefits to playing during the summer sizzle: It doesn’t take long to warm-up prior to your round, and players know that there is no shortage of resort pools within minutes of the course. Also: post-round restaurant reservations are generally much easier to come by in the summer months.”
With less dent on the wallet, summer golfers concurrently enjoy some enhanced ball flight.
“The ball travels better in the summer heat,” enthuses Williams. “Players can typically expect to gain a club in distance during our summer weather.”
Safety Swings
The term is “desert sparkle.” For those unaware of the colloquialism, it’s basically feeling the lightheaded effects of dehydration.
Amid its deals and benefits, summer golf also comes with some precautions.
“A few tips for summer golf: Hydrate the night before playing, and drink water, not alcohol, the night before,” advises Williams. “Be prepared with snacks in your golf bag, and
play ready golf!! Pick the proper set of tees and be ready to play when it is your turn. Also, I suggest wearing light-colored, loose fitting, clothing. Use sunscreen, and park in the shade whenever possible while on the course. And I know this is tough -- but save the alcohol for after the round at the 19th hole.”
Ample summer playing experience has led to veteran sizzle wisdom for area golf brass.
“After living the desert for over 30 years, I have a lot of experience playing golf in the heat, and the most important thing you should do is to hydrate before you play,” Duncan recommends. “Unfortunately, we see golfers who party too much the night before and come to the golf course already dehydrated and this is when we see issues. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke is serious, so it’s very important to be hydrated prior to arrival and to keep hydrated while you are playing.”
Per his colleague at Indian Wells, Duncan has summer attire and accessory suggestions.
“Another important tip is to always wear a hat or some kind of sun protection on your head,” continues Duncan. “In addition, I like to keep a cool damp towel around my neck. Regular dipping of a towel into cool water and keeping it around your neck really helps your body manage the heat and makes the heat more tolerable.”
Water added to alacrity makes for summer success across valley courses.
“I have two tips for golfers to help them play fast, fun, and safe during the summer: The most important being to remember when playing golf in the summer would be to stay hydrated,” Caballero says. “You must drink water throughout your round even if you’re not thirsty. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke can sneak up on you really quick, sometimes without you knowing it. My other tip would be to play ready golf. Always be ready to hit when it is your turn to help keep the pace of play moving.”
Early risers (and early planners) will also find further summer salve.
“If players want to avoid the hottest part of the day, we suggest playing as early as possible,” says Simpson. “And, most importantly- we encourage players to book their starting times online, up to 60 days in advance.”
Get Shorty
Desert guests or locals timid about playing 18 championship holes under the summer sun need not fret. The valley’s 120-course bounty presents a host of shorter course opportunities for players aiming to expedite their turf time.
Among the most popular is Palm Royale CC, an 18-hole Par-3 play in La Quinta sporting water on half its card.
The biggest advantage to playing a shorter course in the summer months is the amount of time it takes to play,” says Phil Boyland, head golf professional at Palm Royale. “On a typical summer day out here, a full round takes less than two hours. And our golf course is a wonderful way to test your scoring clubs, with a variety of challenging holes.”
Per the desert’s championship tests, serious value can be found on shorter courses come summertime.
“We charge $10.00 per round after Noon in June, and all day in the months of July and August,” continues Boyland. “Tee times in-season, across most courses, are becoming increasing more difficult and expensive to book, so most of our year-round golfers have come to terms that the summer is their best opportunity to play a variety of courses without the high-cost green fees.”
For those seeking more short-course fun, area opportunities abound, including: The Lights at Indio (the valley’s only course lit for evening play); The First Tee of the Coachella Valley (9-hole Par-3 course in Palm Desert); Shadow Hills North Course (18-hole Par-3 in Indio); Ivey Ranch (9-hole executive in Thousand Palms); Oasis Country Club (18-hole executive in Palm Desert); and the “Pebble Course” at Cimarron Golf Resort (18-hole Par-3 in Palm Springs).
