Teeing Off Below Sea Level: Our Wild Round at Death Valley’s Golf Course
After exploring the otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley—like Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Badwater Basin—we couldn’t resist squeezing in one more unforgettable stop: Death Valley’s golf adventure at Furnace Creek Golf Course, the lowest elevation golf course on Earth. As a family that loves mixing unique experiences into our national park adventures, this unexpected oasis offered the perfect break between hikes and scenic drives. Playing a round of golf 214 feet below sea level plays games with your mind and presents its own learning curve. In this post, I’ll share what it’s really like to golf in one of the hottest places on the planet.
The History and Today of Death Valley’s Golf Course
The course is par 70 – 5873 total yards from the whites, 6236 from the blues. It is a Perry Dye re-design in 1997 following its expansion to 18 holes in 1968. The first three holes were build when The Inn open opened in 1927. Then, in 1930, the course was expanded to nine holes, just three years before President Hoover’s creation of Death Valley National Monument. Who would have guessed golf would play into the rich history of the lowest, hottest and driest place in the United States?
My son and I enjoyed our day at the course while my wife and daughter enjoyed a spa day at The Inn. We had a tee time for 7:30am, but as the first tee time of the day, they let us start early. In the pro shop, they also shared we had the course to ourselves until 9am with only about six scheduled tee times for the rest of the day, so not a very busy day. The weather was in our favor – 65°F when we started, 78°F when we finished about 11:00am. It was sunny the whole time with no wind. The course was in good shape, with some dry spots as to be expected and some areas they were re-seeding.
Worth the heat?
Cost for 18 holes with cart rental was a good deal at $89.00/golfer. A set of rental clubs was $50.00, including junior sizes. This is the first time I have rented golf clubs when traveling, having previously taken my own. We elected to save on cost and rented a smaller SUV instead of one that could accommodate my clubs as well as our hiking gear and luggage. Given the quality of these clubs, in the future, we will get the bigger rental. Lesson learned.
There is no driving range currently, so we took a picture next to the elevation sign, rolled a few practice putts learning the greens were playing slowly that day, and set off on our journey. Hole one tee box has you aimed directly west. The mountains rising above the green fairway just beyond the desertscape provide yet another opportunity to immerse ourselves in the beauty the desert holds. There are many opportunities to pause and soak in all the desert surroundings have to offer. I have played golf courses located in the desert before – Phoenix, Palm Springs – but this was a different kind of desert play.
Challenges and Charm
The par threes were fun. They used landscaping to add challenges when distances were shorter, and there are a few par fours that feel very drivable for me from the whites but don’t forget that elevation challenge. These rental clubs were a unique learning curve, but not quite as much as the yardage decrease playing below sea level. Factor that in and club up one or two clubs depending on the shot. One interesting thing I noticed was the reduction in yardage was not a set amount across all clubs. It really depended on the club for me. I was hitting my 8-iron about 30 yards shorter than usual but my 9-iron and PW only about 10 yards shorter than my usual.
Final Thoughts: Death Valley’s Golf Course
I had a wonderful time playing in this truly unique location. It is definitely a great memory I have from our spring break 2025 vacation and one my son has already been reminiscing about, even calling it one of his favorite parts of this vacation. If you ask him, he’ll tell you I won, as competitive is nowhere near the best adjective to describe his uber-competitiveness. My score of 93 says it was never about the score, rather the opportunity to spend some quality time with my son, thus the selfies and laughs we shared while enjoying the outdoors.
As his score continues to lower, because he is naturally gifted at any sport he attempts, and he begins to win our rounds, he will see I only really keep score because he wants me to. There is so much more to what makes a good round and we had a great round. If you are a golfer visiting Death Valley, go play the round at Furnace Creek Golf Course. Don’t second guess yourself, it is an experience you will not regret.
