Escena Golf Club

Overview

Nicklaus balance, mid-century bones, five minutes from downtown

18 Holes

72 Par

7,173 Yards TOURNAMENT (Blue) tees

133 Slope Rating 74.4

Jack Nicklaus set Escena at the northeastern edge of Palm Springs where the San Jacinto Mountains loom directly overhead, creating unobstructed mountain sightlines that give the course a visual scale unusual for an in-city layout. The five par-5s and five par-3s on the card is a deliberate design choice — Nicklaus wanted a course that rewarded patience and green-reading over length, and the balanced structure delivers that throughout rather than front-loading or back-loading the drama. Generous fairways make the course accessible from the tee, but the contoured greens with Bermuda turf place the scoring premium firmly on the short game. Walking is permitted — notable at a Nicklaus design in the desert — and the mid-century modern clubhouse and Escena Grill is one of the better atmospheres for a post-round lunch in Palm Springs. No GPS carts and no driving range mean a rangefinder is essential.

Golf Digest Best Courses You Can Play in Palm Springs (featured) 2025

PGATOUR.com Top 10 Public Courses in California — #6 2020

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1100 Clubhouse View Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262

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(760) 778-2737

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escenagolf.com

Before You Play

At Escena Golf Club

Caddie's Notes

4 things worth knowing before your round — from tee selection to where to eat when you're done.

Course Character & Design

Jack Nicklaus positioned Escena at the northeastern edge of Palm Springs where the San Jacinto Mountains loom directly overhead, and the unobstructed sightlines from every hole give the course a visual scale that most desert layouts can't match. The design is unusually balanced — five par-5s and five par-3s create a card that rewards patience and course management across a wide range of hole types. Generous fairways keep the tee game playable, while the contoured green complexes are where Nicklaus concentrated the difficulty.

Signature Holes

The par-5s are the strategic heart of the course — with five of them, the risk-reward decisions accumulate through the round and define your score. Nicklaus's green contours demand specific approach angles; hitting the green but on the wrong tier can leave putts that are effectively impossible to get close. The mountain backdrop on several holes creates dramatic elevation perspective that can distort distance judgment.

Course Conditions

TifEagle Bermuda greens are well maintained and consistent with Escena's California top-public-course rankings. Note that Escena does not have a driving range — only a short game practice area is on-site. The mid-century modern clubhouse and Escena Grill provide a post-round setting that fits the Palm Springs aesthetic.

Before You Play

No driving range on-site — if you need a full warm-up, plan to hit balls elsewhere before arriving. Walking is allowed and the course is reasonably walkable by desert standards, though summer heat makes carts practical May through September. Escena Grill is worth the stop. Green fees run $75–$204 depending on season, positioning this in the mid-tier for Coachella Valley Nicklaus designs.

Course Details

The Essentials

Designer Jack Nicklaus

Opened 2005

Access Public/muni

Course Type Desert

Walking Walk or ride

Caddies Not available

Greens TifEagle Bermuda

Fairways Bermuda

Short Game Area Yes

Driving Range No

Club Rental Available

GPS Carts No

Golf Trail Palm Springs Proper

Instruction Available

Dining Escena Grill

Lodging None

Green Fees $75 – $204

Best Months November-April

Peak Season January-April

Nearest Airport PSP · 5 min

Notable Features

Jack Nicklaus design set against the San Jacinto Mountains at the edge of Palm Springs; unobstructed mountain sightlines from every hole; an unusually balanced card of five par-5s and five par-3s rewards patience and precision; generous fairways with contoured greens; mid-century modern clubhouse with Escena Grill; ranked among California's top public courses.

Tee Information

Scorecard

Tee	Gender	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
TOURNAMENT (Blue)	M	72	7,173	74.4	133
CHAMPIONSHIP (Orange)	M	72	6,615	71.8	127
COMBO (Orange/Green)	M	72	6,407	70.8	125
MIDDLE (Green)	M	72	6,115	69.4	122
COMBO (Green/Yellow)	M	72	5,893	68.4	119
FORWARD (Yellow)	M	72	5,503	66.6	114

◆ Ratings and yardages are approximate and may vary by season. Verify with the pro shop before your round.

Photo Gallery

Escena Golf Club in Pictures

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Getting Here

Location

Escena Golf Club

1100 Clubhouse View Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262

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✈ PSP — approx. 5 min Palm Springs

⛳ Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course — 3 miles away

FAQ

Common Questions

No — Escena does not have a driving range on-site. Plan to warm up on the putting green before your round, or use the range at Indian Canyons or Tahquitz Creek before heading over. Bring a rangefinder as there are no GPS carts.

Yes — Escena is one of the more walker-friendly Nicklaus designs in California. Pull carts are available; confirm current availability when booking.

Yes — ryegrass overseeding runs November through March. Winter conditions are lush and very playable; expect transition variability in late October/November and March/April.