When it comes to sports in Palm Springs, the city has a long history of being golf and tennis heaven — this actually goes back to the days of the Desert Inn, a massive property where the O’Donnell residence now sits, high above the Palm Springs Art Museum. The hotel and the town’s matriarch, Nellie Coffman, brought both activities and the town’s first swimming pool to her hotel in the mid-1920s.
Since then, we’ve made some additions to our sports rosters, with pickleball the newest craze. But since golf and tennis remain king, let’s start with those two big bad boys, because it is a really big month for both.
Swinging around town
Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament, March 6-9. A weekend event raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Galleri Classic, March 24-30. Format: 54 holes of stroke play for a $2.2M purse. Expect 78 tour champions to play, including World Golf Hall of Fame members. Beneficiaries include The Desert Cancer Foundation and Shay’s Warriors.
Want to hit the links at your leisure? Here’s how.
Tennis in the desert
BNP Paribas Open, March 2-16. The Mac Daddy of all tennis tournaments sells out every year.
Taste of Tennis, March 3. Taste of Tennis celebrates the return of tennis to the desert. Guests will mingle with players and legends, enjoy live entertainment, and savor cuisine prepared by the Coachella Valley’s top chefs.
Desert Smash, March 4. Desert Smash brings together Hollywood’s biggest celebrities and the world’s best professional tennis players for a one-day extravaganza. The event is intentionally held prior to the BNP Paribas Open in neighboring Indian Wells.
Easter Bowl Tennis, March 22-30. The Easter Bowl is a USTA National Championship that showcases top American junior tennis players.
Yee haw!
Unleash the Beast Bull Riding at Acrisure Arena.
Pickleball in paradise
There are a few pickleball tournaments in the Coachella Valley, but they’ve come and gone. I don’t know how long they’ve been around, so don’t ask me. We’re both finding out now.
We’ve got the Coachella Valley Pickleball Grand Prix and the Desert Pickleball Classic (seniors). If you want more info, I’m going to let you Google it on your own because they are both over for 2025, and as of yet there is nothing I can find about 2026. You’ll just have to grab a court and play yourself! But know that Vince Vaughn bought a team in the Coachella Valley, if you’re into him.
Team sports in Palm Springs
Power Baseball returns to the desert, Memorial Day through August. Night games of course. Check back for their 2025 schedule, it isn’t yet posted. Were a small town, it’s months away, someone will eventually get to it.
Things with wheels
Tour de Palm Springs is in February, so we just missed it. But that means you can start training now for next year!
Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix
Roller Derby, March 31. Yes, we have an all-girl roller derby team called the Coachella Valley Derby Girls — ooooooh scary name — facing off against the SoCal Tentakills. They play at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Bring your own chair if you want to take a load off your feet.
