PGA West boasts golf courses by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. (Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com)

Destination Guide: Golf in Palm Springs

With more than 100 golf courses spread throughout the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs and the surrounding area have earned the title "The Golf Capital of the World."

Known as a desert oasis for vacationers looking to get away, Palm Springs' resorts are its main draw. Set among several mountain ranges, Palm Springs also has some of California's most beautiful scenery.

What type of golf is Palm Springs known for?

With resorts come resort golf, and Palm Springs has some of the most lavish and lush resort golf courses ever designed. Most resorts in Palm Springs have a golf course, and some offer up to half a dozen courses.

The focus of resorts like PGA West, La Quinta and Westin Mission Hills is strictly golf. There are rugged championship courses here that contrast the desert resort courses found throughout the Coachella Valley.

What's the toughest course in Palm Springs/Palm Desert?

PGA West, a country club community in La Quinta, is home to what might be the toughest golf course in the world. Pete Dye's TPC Stadium Course was built to be the most demanding course ever, and succeeds more than a decade after opening.

There is water on nine holes and forced carries of more than 200 yards throughout. Dye's famously troublesome bunkers surround nearly every hole. On the 571-yard, par 5 16th hole, the bunker to the right of the hole requires stairs because it's 18 feet below the green. One of Dye's island greens awaits on the next hole. TPC Stadium is an unrelenting challenge.

What are some of the best courses to play in and around Palm Springs?

You can't go wrong at either PGA West or La Quinta Resort. La Quinta features three dramatically different Pete Dye designs. PGA West not only has Dye's TPC Stadium, but other courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

If you want to be challenged, but don't feel like being assaulted by TPC Stadium, try Desert Dunes Golf Course in Desert Hot Springs. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Desert Dunes challenges golfers with small greens, huge waste areas and pot bunkers. Any wind ups the ante even more.

If you prefer a more scenic round, try any of the numerous Ted Robinson-designed golf courses in the Valley. Known for his majestic waterworks and lush surroundings, Robinson's courses are a staple for resort golfers. Indian Wells Golf Resort, Marriot Desert Springs and Mountain Vista Golf Club showcase some of Robinson's best work.

What else is there to do on a Palm Springs vacation?

For an amazing view of the desert try a jeep tour through the nearby canyons. You can see it from a different angle if you take a trip on the aerial tramway. A tram will carry you 6,000 feet skyward for a breathtaking view of the Chino Cliffs and Palm Springs multiple mountain ranges. Stay an eat lunch or dinner at the Top of the Tram Restaurant that rests high above the valley.

Transportation: Getting to Palm Springs

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 such as 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.