Played Escena Golf Club for the first time yesterday with Longball23, Shyblo and his wife Sharon. I have been wanting to play Escena since first reading all the glowing reviews since its opening. I’m... Continue »

Played Escena Golf Club for the first time yesterday with Longball23, Shyblo and his wife Sharon. I have been wanting to play Escena since first reading all the glowing reviews since its opening. I’m happy to say the course met the hype!

This golf course is different from the large majority of Palm Springs courses in that it allows you to grip and rip. Not that the course is easy by any stretch but what a great feeling standing on every tee box not having to worry so much about losing a ball. Furthermore there are very few forced carries and a wide selection of tees allowing it to appeal to all golfers. However, you still need to bring your game to score well because those green complexes will test you. The bunkers are very well positioned and you’ll find many un-even lies while trying to pitch on. The sand traps around the greens can get deep and are often tucked close the greens. If do happen to hit the greens the putting can be challenging with undulations and long putts. It’s a perfect balance of a fair yet challenging layout. In addition to the layout’s challenge, its also beautiful. Love the water features, bunkers, views from the tees and occasional mountain back drops. Yes, its close to the airport and you will undoubtedly hear/see some planes take off but for some reason its not that disruptive out there. My favorite hole is number 18. What a finishing hole, par 5, risk reward, with a beautiful running creek protecting. Our Pace of Play due to the rain was a speedy 3 ½ hours but even if there was not rain, given the course design, I can hardly imagine a round over 5 hours.

Regarding the playing conditions, the greens putted smooth and were not that fast but certainly not slow. They held shots decent for a desert course and have very few ball marks. The fairways were lush, green and provided excellent lies all day. The rough was only about 1 - 2 inches but defined the fairways well and was lush. The tee boxes were lush, groomed nice and level. The only aspect of the course that could use improving is the sand in the bunkers. I found the sand playable but mostly thin and at times containing some small pebbles. Given there are over 90 bunkers on the course, I can see where this type of renovation to add more sand would take considerable resources and time. Personally, the sand quality of the bunkers would not detract me one bit from playing this course again. However, I needed to point this out.

Our group stopped in for lunch at the turn and I must say I was very impressed with clubhouse and restaurant. Just a beautiful eclectic retro 60’s theme that in a way represents an amazing time in Palm Spring’s history. The food and service at the entire facility was exceptional.

I highly recommend this course.

Escena Golf Club Course Review
Palm Springs California Golf Course Reviews

Played earlier today 12:25pm tee time in light rain first 5 holes with JohnnyGK, Shebylo and his wife. That turned to heavier rain by #7-#9....waited in clubhouse for late lunch...rain stopped and pla... Continue »

Played earlier today 12:25pm tee time in light rain first 5 holes with JohnnyGK, Shebylo and his wife. That turned to heavier rain by #7-#9....waited in clubhouse for late lunch...rain stopped and played back nine in 1 hour 15 minutes finishing all 18 holes with JohnnyGK. Shebylo it was great to meet you and your wife!

Beautiful course with mostly all holes that you shoot your approach shots or chips up to elevated greens from a fairway down below. Most greens are surrounded by bunkers. Enough room for the most part off of the tees to bomb the driver but some holes that were also tight. Great challenging par 3's from the back two tees(200-220ish) with some pretty challenging green complexes. The conditions were just great today despite the rain. The greens were pure and in great shape...no divot damage and holding fairly decently. I am sure they are quicker on average than we saw today due to the rain. I would rate them a 9 though and wish I putted on greens this smooth all the time...great greens. The fairways were lush and I would also rate them a 9. The tee boxes were level and lush and in great shape. The sand was in good but not great shape and there was plenty of it. The rough was lush and green and healthy. Carts did not have GPS and no driving range. Staff inside the restaurant wonderful and the bag boys out front were super friendly. They took care of our group even during the rainstorm. This is a course if you are visiting Palm Springs that all players of any skill level should check out...well done Escena.

Escena Golf Club Course Review
Palm Springs California Golf Course Reviews

A nice fun course. We played Sunday 1130 tee time, 4 ball. Good pace, 4+15, lots of drinks cart passes and very good service. They have a brunch on Sundays; brilliant before golf.
Adding to mcnicoll ... Continue »

A nice fun course. We played Sunday 1130 tee time, 4 ball. Good pace, 4+15, lots of drinks cart passes and very good service. They have a brunch on Sundays; brilliant before golf.
Adding to mcnicoll below, the greens have picked up speed and are smooth and fairly quick, but still holding well. Agree with bunker sand comments. All other aspects were superb. Worth it. golfnow.com 'Hot Deals' weekdays $69/ 11:49 tee.

Escena Golf Club Course Review
Palm Springs California Golf Course Reviews

I finally got back to play Escena! I played it many years ago prior to its closing. I haven't been back to the Palm Springs area since. I am glad I made it. The course was in great shape, greens we... Continue »

I finally got back to play Escena! I played it many years ago prior to its closing. I haven't been back to the Palm Springs area since. I am glad I made it. The course was in great shape, greens were a bit slow as they are growing them in I guess, but not as quick as they once were, but I understand from some locals that they are usually much quicker. They were spraying the greens as well so I'm thinking seasonal maintenance. The greens here are huge, you can have a 60 foot putt on many holes, and the greens tend to be multi-tiered and in some cases very dramatically so. The course is very fair, lots of fairway for the most part, some very strategically placed bunkers on every hole and water hazards on several holes, although for the MOST part you have room for error. The sand in the bunkers continues to have many pebbles/stones in them, this is the one complaint about this course, others have noted the same thing. Well I guess I do have one more, in that quite surprisingly there is really no place to stop at the turn to grab a sandwich or anything, except in the actual grill room, which is out of the way for people making the turn, and we only saw the cart girl once at the 6th hole, so pack a lunch! The is no driving range here, a net cage with about 12 stalls and small chipping green, but large practice putting green which was very close to the speed of the greens on the course. Customer service is very good, met in the parking lot by an attendant to get the clubs. We paid $95 all in, which is the going rate, although Standby Golf has a bit of a better rate, but booking is only allowed after 4 the previous day. All in all, it is well worth the green fee, and I will play again, it is a very very nice track.

Escena Golf Club Course Review
Palm Springs Golf Course Reviews

Played Escena on Monday the 14th. Beautiful day in the desert. The course is still coming out of overseeding and was cartpath only, but no big deal. The fairways and rough are great, the greens are... Continue »

Played Escena on Monday the 14th. Beautiful day in the desert. The course is still coming out of overseeding and was cartpath only, but no big deal. The fairways and rough are great, the greens are a little furry and still growing in, but rolled very smooth just not as fast as they looked. Sand was ok, but watch out for rocks in the traps. Customer service was top notch, from cart guys meeting you in the parking lot, to checking in and the cart girl and starter, all great. Fun track, open, but with plenty of ways to get into trouble. Well worth the green fee today.

Escena Golf Club Review
Palm Springs Golf Course Reviews

First time I played here since the course re-opened. Course was in good shape, the layout is fun and a change of pace from some of the tougher Palm Springs/Desert courses. My only complaint with the... Continue »

First time I played here since the course re-opened. Course was in good shape, the layout is fun and a change of pace from some of the tougher Palm Springs/Desert courses. My only complaint with the conditions was the sand, on several holes it was just too soft, I actually lost a ball in a trap when it buried. When I was raking it I found another ball but not my own. New clubhouse is really nice.

Except for number 8, the par 3's on this course are monsters. I hit driver on 17 that was into the wind. The back 9 is very long. Overall the course is not too difficult in that you have quite a bi... Continue »

Except for number 8, the par 3's on this course are monsters. I hit driver on 17 that was into the wind. The back 9 is very long. Overall the course is not too difficult in that you have quite a bit of leeway off the tee. The conditions are good but the tee boxes are great. There is no driving range. There is only a net to hit some warm up balls into. This course gets windy in the afternoon.

I played there on June 10th and really enjoyed it. It is very forgiving, but also will test your ability to be patient and manage the course. There challenges are fair and not a lot of opportunities t... Continue »

I played there on June 10th and really enjoyed it. It is very forgiving, but also will test your ability to be patient and manage the course. There challenges are fair and not a lot of opportunities to grip it and rip it. The course is in great shape and the yardage book is worth the buy as well. They dont have a proper range, but do have a nice swing cage off new age astro-turf so at least you can see your ball flight.

Played on Friday the 3rd and the course was great. Very fun and better than a lot of courses in the desert, but not as challenging as some. Great condition and the clubhouse is great. Staff Friendl... Continue »

Played on Friday the 3rd and the course was great. Very fun and better than a lot of courses in the desert, but not as challenging as some. Great condition and the clubhouse is great. Staff Friendly and saw the cart girl a bunch. Will play again.