I am looking at going on a golf trip with a couple of buddies at the tail end of March to Palm Springs. I am looking for recommendations on where we should play and where we should just skip. I have never been there, so I am looking to the WRX community to give me some idea of places to play and NOT break the bank.

I played desert willow and silver rock last year during they same time you plan on visting. Both great tracks and when I played I believe each round cost me 100 bucks with a cart and no caddy.

evey course is a winner there

Desert Willows-Fire cliff is a must play. Pricey but try to get on just as the twilight rates apply. Just amazing!

I live in Palm Desert and I would say Desert Willow's Firecliff course, Trilogy, Terra Lago, Indian Wells Resort's Celebrity Course, Silver Rock, PGA West Stadium, La Quinta Resort's Mountain Course, and Desert Willow's Mountain View course is good too.

For lower priced value golf, both Tahquitz Creek courses (Palm Springs) are worth playing. In March their greens fees are half the price of other area courses. Two good layouts which are well maintained.
Another good value is Indian Springs 27 hole facility on the border of Palm Desert and Indio. This place maintains their greens as well or better than the higher priced public play courses in the desert cities area.
www.standbygolf.com is a popular web site for players looking to get discounted greens fees. Customers telephone after 3:00 p.m. and get tee times for the following day.

PGA Stadium is way over-rated. IMO, it was a unique design when it first opened, but now it just looks old and tired. Still living off the name.

We liked La Quinta's Mountain course quite bit.

Classic Club..

Just played Silver Rock this weekend and its awesome, a lot better than the La Quinta Mountain and Dunes courses. The only three I've played there. Silver Rock is a Arnold Palmer course and its one one the courses used in the Hope tournament in January.

Differnt strokes for different folks...

Played the Stadium Course 4 years ago a week before Q-school and thought it was fantastic. Just a great overall challenge to where you either hit the shot at hand or end up in serious trouble, as there really isn't much in between. If you are looking for a great test of golf, the course is lots of fun if you are playing well.

Don't know if you have any private hook-ups or not...but if you do...

The Quarry, The Madison Club, Andalusia, Bighorn. All unbelievable courses!

I think that sums it up pretty well.

Actually just returned from Indian Wells and stayed at the Esmerelda Resort and played both the Celebrity Course (Skins Game) and the Platers Course. The celebrity course was the absolute most beautiful course that I've ever played and the conditions on both courses were absolutely perfect. The Players Course was definitely the harder of the 2 courses and just as beautiful. Also played both La Quinta Dunes and Mountain Course. The Dunes Course was in really good condition but the Mountain was a little "hairy" as it just opened recently from overseeding.

Not sure where you'll be staying, but the Esmerelda Resort is about as good as it gets!