The Coachella Valley is one of the premier golf destinations in the world. More than 100 courses within a short drive, perfect desert weather from October through May, world-class resorts, and some of the best food and nightlife in Southern California. If you’re bringing a group out here for a golf trip, you already know you’re in the right place.
What Big Smoke Trailers does is take that trip from good to genuinely unforgettable. We build custom catering experiences around your group’s schedule, taste, and vibe so every meal is an event in itself, not an afterthought.
Start the Morning Right: Breakfast Catering and Espresso Bars
There is no better way to start a golf morning than stepping outside to the smell of smoked meats and fresh espresso. We set up before your group wakes up so everything is ready the moment they walk out the door.
A Big Smoke golf trip breakfast spread might include:
- Smoked brisket breakfast tacos — Slow-smoked brisket, scrambled eggs, roasted peppers, and house salsa on warm flour tortillas.
- Pulled pork Benedict — A Big Smoke twist on a classic. Smoked pulled pork over a toasted English muffin with hollandaise.
- Smoked sausage and egg platters — Hearty, classic, and the kind of breakfast that carries you through 18 holes.
- Fresh fruit, pastries, and overnight oats — For the players who want to keep it lighter before the round.
- Full espresso bar — A professional barista setup pulling lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos, and cold brew. This is not a drip coffee situation. This is a proper coffee experience.
- Breakfast bartender — Bloody Marys, mimosas, and morning cocktails for the groups that start the day right. We bring the bartender, the garnish bar, the glassware, and the good stuff.
Setting the tone in the morning sets the tone for the whole trip. We take that seriously. For groups staying at a private property, check out our top Coachella Valley estates page for venue ideas.
On the Course: Packed Lunches and On-Course Snacks
Not every group wants to break from the round for a full sit-down lunch. We build custom to-go options that players can carry in the cart: smoked meat sandwiches, custom snack boxes, cold drinks, and fresh fruit. Clean, easy, and a step above anything you’ll find at the turn.
For groups that do want a proper lunch break, we can set up a midday spread at the clubhouse, rental property, or wherever your group is staging from. Our outdoor BBQ event planning guide covers the logistics in full detail.
The Welcome-Back Experience: When They Come Off the 18th
This is our favorite part. Your group has just finished 18 holes in the desert sun, shoes off, cold drink in hand, and Big Smoke is already set up and ready. The smell hits them before they see it.
The post-round setup is where we really shine. A few ways we build this out:
- Live fire welcome spread — Brisket carved to order, ribs coming off the smoker, smoked sausages on the board. Guests grab a plate and start talking about the round.
- Outdoor dining setup — Tables, lighting, music, the whole atmosphere. We work with your rental or venue to make the space feel like a proper event, not a tailgate.
- Open bar or craft cocktail service — Full bar setup with a bartender, or a curated cocktail menu built around your group’s preferences. Bourbon and smoked old fashioneds are a natural pairing.
- Dessert to close — Smoked peach cobbler, banana pudding, cast iron brownies. Something warm and indulgent to end the day right.
We time everything around your tee times. When the last group walks off 18, the food is ready. No waiting, no cold plates, no scrambling. See how we handle La Quinta BBQ catering for groups based in that part of the Valley.
Making It Feel Custom: What We Build Around Your Group
Every golf trip group has a personality. A corporate retreat of 20 executives wants something different from a bachelor group of 12 or a close crew of longtime friends doing their annual trip. We ask the right questions upfront so the experience we build actually fits your group. If it’s a bachelor party situation, we’ve got a whole separate bachelor party catering setup worth looking at too.
Things we customize:
- Menu built around your group’s tastes — Dietary restrictions, preferred proteins, spice levels, regional influences. We make it yours.
- Schedule built around your tee times — Multi-day trips with different courses each day. We map out each meal around your actual schedule.
- Themed nights — Want a Texas BBQ night? A coastal seafood night? A cigar and whiskey pairing evening? We can build those experiences into the trip.
- Custom branding and presentation — Group trips with a name, a logo, or a sponsor. We can incorporate custom menus, signage, and branded elements throughout.
- Private chef experience — For groups that want something more intimate and elevated, we offer private chef-style service where the food is the evening’s entertainment.
Top Courses to Play on Your Coachella Valley Golf Trip
Planning the round-by-round itinerary? Here are some of the best courses in the Valley worth building your trip around:
- PGA West Stadium Course (La Quinta) — Pete Dye’s most diabolical design. The island green on 17 is one of the most photographed holes in golf. A must-play. We cover the full experience in our catering near PGA West page.
- The Quarry at La Quinta — Carved into a former granite quarry with dramatic rock formations lining the fairways. Visually stunning and genuinely fun to play.
- Desert Willow Golf Resort (Palm Desert) — Two courses, both excellent. Firecliff is the showcase track. Semi-private and great value for a trip.
- Indian Wells Golf Resort — Host of the American Express PGA Tour event. Two championship courses and the most tournament pedigree of any public-access course in the Valley. See our Indian Wells catering page for nearby logistics.
- Bighorn Golf Club (Palm Desert) — Private, but worth knowing if someone in your group has access. Tom Fazio design with mountain backdrops that stop play mid-swing.
- Tamarisk Country Club (Rancho Mirage) — Old-school Palm Springs prestige. One of the original celebrity golf clubs in the desert, still beautifully maintained.
- SilverRock Resort (La Quinta) — Arnold Palmer Signature design, affordable, and one of the most scenic tracks in the Valley. A genuine sleeper pick. Our La Quinta catering team knows this course well.
The Watering Holes: Where to Take the Group After the Round
A great golf trip doesn’t end when the clubs go in the bag. The Coachella Valley has plenty of spots built for exactly this crowd.
- Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar (El Paseo, Palm Desert) — Island-inspired food, strong cocktails, and a relaxed upscale atmosphere that fits a golf group perfectly. The kind of place where the stories from the round get better with every retelling. Strong happy hour, solid bar food, and a crowd that knows how to enjoy themselves.
- Yard House (Palm Desert) — 100+ beers on tap, a massive menu, and high-energy atmosphere built for groups. Order the nachos, argue about who had the best shot of the day, repeat.
- Kitchen 86 (Palm Desert) — Local favorite with craft beer, elevated bar bites, and a laid-back atmosphere that’s ideal for unwinding. Less touristy than some of the El Paseo options, which the regulars appreciate.
- Augie’s Golf and Grill (Rancho Mirage) — Golf simulators, a full bar, and a room full of people who just got off the course. The 19th hole, elevated.
- Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Inn (Palm Springs) — Old Hollywood money. Dark wood, live piano, and strong pours. The kind of dinner spot that makes a multi-day trip feel like an occasion.
- Casinos — For groups that want to extend the evening into something bigger. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage is the closest and most upscale option. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio has a full resort feel with concerts, hotel, and table games. Morongo Casino Resort out in Cabazon is worth the short drive for groups who want the full Vegas-adjacent experience.
- LG’s Prime Steakhouse (Palm Desert / La Quinta) — A desert institution. Old-school steakhouse energy, enormous cuts, and a wine list built for celebration dinners. If the trip has a milestone or a big win to celebrate, this is the room to do it in.
Let’s Build Your Trip
Big Smoke Trailers works with golf groups across the Coachella Valley, from single-day setups to full multi-day trip catering. We handle the food so you handle the golf. That’s the deal.
Reach out to start building your menu, locking your dates, and putting together the kind of trip your group will be talking about on the first tee next year. Also check out our golf tournament catering page if your trip involves a competitive element.
