Typical to many Pete Dye course designs, the Mountain Course is a serious challenge to all golfers thanks to pot bunkers, rock formations and significant elevation changes that make club selection very difficult. The stunning views of the surrounding landscape are evident from all over the course but to truly appreciate their magnificence you must wait until you arrive on the raised 16th tee.

Jack Nicklaus needs no introduction and in recent years it has become evident that his ability on the golf course has translated perfectly into skills as a course architect. His Tournament course in Palm Springs is one of his finest efforts and the breathtaking backdrop compliments the challenging layout perfectly. Like many Nicklaus designs the fairways are generous and allow the golfer to really go for his drives. From there an emphasis is placed on precision as many raised greens will punish any errant approach shots and make getting up and down for par a tricky proposition.

Not to be outdone, Greg Norman has also created a beautiful and enjoyable desert layout that rivals any of its neighbouring courses. Featuring great swathes of sand, sage and awash with colourful wild flowers, this course is well protected by nine lakes and as such precision is the key to a good score. The Shark’s course is more exposed than its neighbours and subsequently boasts the most stunning panoramic views to be found anywhere in the Coachella Valley.

The Stadium Course at PGA WEST, designed by Pete Dye, has seen plenty of tournament action over the years by being on the PGA Tour annual schedule. If visiting Palm Springs on a golf holiday then you simply have to include this course in your itinerary as it is considered to be one of the toughest courses in California. Follow in the footsteps of golfing legends by negotiating the numerous pot bunkers as well as the odd island green, including the 17th hole, known as ‘Alcatraz’.

You'll be playing traditional links golf on the Dunes Course, with its narrow fairways and thick punishing rough. Large bunkers guard the greens, and a small lake comes into play when you're playing holes 1 and 18. The landscape of the Pete Dye Dunes Course is rugged, especially around all of the greens that undulate due to the nature of the land. You will have no shortage of challenges from tee to green because despite the Dunes Course measuring just 6578 yards from the back tees, it is still a good test for all.