THE PALMS GOLF CLUB

The desert's unforgiving terrain meets precision architecture across this La Quinta layout, where elevated tees launch drives into palm-lined fairways that demand both power and placement. Water hazards punctuate seven holes with strategic menace, turning what could be target practice into genuine decision-making, especially when the infamous desert winds kick up in the afternoon. Arnold Palmer's routing maximizes the dramatic mountain backdrops while keeping the forced carries reasonable enough that mid-handicappers won't lose a sleeve on every hole.