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COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY Desert by Design Where world-class play meets refined leisure, dining, and culture S et against the striking backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains, PGA West anchors a destination where championship golf, luxury accommodations, and vibrant local activities converge. Located in La Quinta, the property spans expansive desert terrain, with lush fairways framed by palms, open sky, and rugged mountain contours. Since its establishment in 1985, PGA West has become a defining presence in the Coachella Valley, covering 2,000 acres and featuring nine courses designed by legends including Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, and Pete Dye. Known as "e Western Home of Golf in America," PGA West caters to both public and private play. Golfers of all skill levels can secure tee times and enjoy courses that regularly challenge the world's best. e onsite PGA West Golf Academy and Performance Lab further elevate the experience, offering expert instruction and advanced swing-analysis technology designed to refine every aspect of a player's game. Each year, PGA West hosts e American Express, a premier PGA Tour stop featuring a field of 156 top-ranked players, including recent champion Scottie Scheffler. Beyond the fairways, the tournament extends into the evening with live performances by artists such as OneRepublic and Old Dominion, creating energetic concert events under the desert night sky. Just ten miles away, the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa complements the golf destination with expansive accommodations and amenities. As the largest resort in the California desert, it balances relaxation with recreation, from spa treatments and poolside lounging to gondola rides, tennis, pickleball, a variety of family-friendly activities, and multiple dining venues. With easy access to golf and nearby attractions, guests can seamlessly shift between restoration and local excursions. Nearby, the El Paseo dining and shopping district — dubbed the "Rodeo Drive of the Desert" — offers a refined blend of art, dining, and retail. Along its mile-long, walkable stretch, more than 230 boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops create an elevated yet approachable experience. Visitors can explore galleries such as Dawson Cole Fine Art, enjoy breakfast at popular Wilma & Frieda's Café, or dine at favorites like bustling Porta Via and Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, and upscale and refined Jillian's. Palm Desert's cultural landscape extends beyond shopping and dining, with year-round attractions such as e Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, known for its conservation efforts and wildlife education, and the McCallum eatre, which hosts an array of performances from Broadway productions to concerts and occasionally opera. e region's energy is further defined by a dynamic year-round calendar of world-class events spanning sport, fashion, music, and film. is month features the Joshua Tree Music Festival and Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, followed by the Palm Springs International ShortFest in June. e calendar continues with fall favorites such as October's Modernism Week and Greater Palm Springs Pride in November. Highlights into 2027 include e American Express and Palm Springs International Film Festival in January; the signature Modernism Week in February; the BNP Paribas Open and Fashion Week El Paseo in March; and the globally renowned Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival in April. Together, PGA West and the surrounding desert communities offer a destination that feels complete, dynamic, and balanced — where world-class golf and tennis, recreation, cultural experiences, and treasured moments of relaxation come together in a seamless desert escape. pgawest.com YOLANDA RETTEW detour destinations PGA West JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa Performance Lab ranchandcoast.com 68 MAY 2026 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE