golf

Play and Pamper

Four Greater Palm Springs courses where you can play 18 and have someone rub the sore spots afterward (ego not included).

Judd Spicer Golf, Health & Wellness

golf
Desert Dunes Golf Club

The region’s lone Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed public play course, Desert Dunes, has enjoyed a rebirth in recent years under new management. Free of housing, the rustic terrain presents some serious iron demands, and, despite a dearth of distance from the forward tees, scoring around these greens is always a great test.
Post-round, head to Two Bunch Palms where your golf muscles will thank you after a wade in the mineral waters of the famed Grotto.

Sweet spot: Try the Mud Bath followed (after a thorough rinse) with a terrific meal at the on-site restaurant.

Play: Desert Dunes Golf Club, 19300 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, 760-251-5370, www.desertdunesgc.com

Pamper: Two Bunch Palms, 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, Desert Hot Springs, 760-329-8791, www.twobunchpalms.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWO BUNCH PALMS
The healing waters of The Grotto at Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIAN WELLS GOLF RESORT
The Indian Wells Golf Course offers a pair of courses to test golfers of both handicaps.

Indian Wells Golf Resort

With a pair of top-shelf course options from which to choose, the lower handicaps should opt for the Players Course, while those swinging away should get on the flower and water-laden Celebrity Course.

After play, treat you and your partner across the street (literally) at the Well Spa at the Miramonte Indian Wells.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRAMONTE INDIAN WELLS
The Well Spa has 13 treatment rooms featuring a variety of treatments.

Sweet Spot: Book the Couples Massage (very romantic), followed by a late afternoon outdoor nap session relaxing poolside.

Play: Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44-500 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, 760-346-4653, www.indianwellsgolfresort.com

Pamper: Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa, 45000 Indian Wells Ln., Indian Wells, 760-341-2200, www.miramonteresort.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB
The Mountain Course offers beautiful views of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

La Quinta Resort & Club

La Quinta Resort is a favorite one-stop-shop resort in the desert. Gracing guests for over 90 years, there’s a sense of intimacy here that almost belies the size of the property. Of the resort’s two Pete Dye-designed courses, the Mountain Course and the Dunes, many prefer the former’s awesome, back nine scenic ascent through the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Sweet Spot: Segue the day to the on-site Spa La Quinta for a through menu of treatments to couple with pools and private soaking tubs, and, for a bonus treat, be sure to conclude the day with dinner at Morgan’s in the Desert.

Play and Pamper: La Quinta Resort & Club, 49-499 Eisenhower Dr., La Quinta, 760-564-4111, www.laquintaresort.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARRIOTT SHADOW RIDGE
The No. 8 hole at Marriott Shadow Ridge Golf Club has one of the best backdrops in the valley.

Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club
/SilverRock Resort

Both Shadow Ridge and SilverRock track as two of many players’ top-10 public plays in the desert. Players of all levels will be satisfied with a round at either course.

Pamper: For a fast and affordable 19th hole treatment, check out either of the Footloose Reflexology locations (Note: the Rancho Mirage locale is two miles from Shadow Ridge, and the La Quinta location is four miles from SilverRock). Check out the website special of $40 for a 60-minute treatment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOTLOOSE REFLEXOLOGY
Footloose Reflexology has locations within easy distance of Marriott Shadow Ridge Golf Club and SilverRock Resort.

Play: Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club, 9002 Shadow Ridge Road, Palm Desert, 760-674-2700, www.golfshadowridge.com

SilverRockResort, 79179 Ahmanson Lane, La Quinta, 760-777-8884, www.silverrock.org