Sight · Death Valley National Park
An oasis round at the world’s lowest-elevation golf course
Overview
This is Death Valley’s green oasis golf experience: an 18‑hole, par‑70 course tucked beside the Furnace Creek resort area and ringed by stark desert and mountain backdrops. At roughly 214 feet below sea level, it’s officially the world’s lowest‑elevation golf course, and that novelty alone makes it a magnet for golf travelers.
Playing below sea level changes the feel of a round. The low‑pressure environment can make ball flight and distance control behave a bit differently, so expect some quirks. You’ll also find an oasis aesthetic—palms and tamarisk trees framing fairways, with desert ridgelines in view from most holes—plus water features that actually matter here, with water in play on nine holes.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhat Makes It UniqueMap
Local know-how
Book the earliest tee time; mornings are cooler and calmer.
Bring more water than you think you’ll need and reapply sunscreen often.
There’s no driving range—arrive early to loosen up on the putting green.
Ball can fly differently below sea level; club for control, not heroics.
Carry snacks in case on‑site food service is limited during your visit.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Death Valley audio tourRecorded for this place
The World's Lowest Golf Course“That large patch of green you’re seeing is, believe it or not, a full 18-hole golf course. It’s famous for being the lowest-elevation golf course in the world, sitting at over 200 feet below sea level.”
Plays as you drive up to The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The layout is meant to be playable for all skill levels while keeping better players honest with smaller, trickier greens on some short holes. Conditions can fluctuate with the season, but the setting and the sheer novelty of the place do a lot of the heavy lifting. Don’t plan on a full warm‑up—there’s a putting green but no driving range.
Coyotes are known to wander through from time to time. They add to the sense that you’re golfing in the middle of true desert habitat—give them space and enjoy the encounter.
This is a resort‑area course with a pro shop and on‑site food options, though service can vary by season. Hydration and sun protection aren’t optional—bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen. If you’re here for the bucket‑list factor, it delivers; if you’re chasing pristine country‑club conditioning, temper expectations and lean into the views and the story.
Wildlife
71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyHarmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 1.4 mi awayA short paved loop through the ruins and stories of Death Valley’s Harmony Borax Works.
EasyMustard Canyon Loop1.3 mi · 30 min · 1.4 mi awayOne-way drive through mustard-colored badlands from Harmony Borax Works to CA-190
ModerateGolden Canyon to Red Cathedral3 mi · 1.8 hr · 3 mi awayA 3-mile Golden Canyon out-and-back to the red walls of Red Cathedral.
ModerateGolden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop4.3 mi · 2.5 hr · 3 mi awayModerate badlands loop linking Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch
ChallengingZabriskie Point to Golden Canyon7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 4.3 mi awayStrenuous 7.8-mile loop from Zabriskie Point through Gower Gulch and Golden Canyon
ModerateBadlands Loop (Zabriskie Point)2.7 mi · 1.8 hr · 4.3 mi awayA 2.7-mile moderate loop through colorful badlands below Zabriskie Point.
EasyZabriskie Point Overlook Trail0.3 mi · 8 min · 4.3 mi awayA short paved out-and-back from the Zabriskie Point parking area to Death Valley's iconic badlands overlook.
ModerateDesolation Canyon Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 4.8 mi awayColor-drenched badlands and a quiet canyon with easy scrambles
Campground · 0.2 mi awayFurnace Creek CampgroundCentral, reservable base camp with hookups at -196 feet
Sight · 0.3 mi awayFurnace Creek Visitor Center SignQuick photo stop with the famous giant thermometer out front
Visitor center · 0.3 mi awayDeath Valley National Park Visitor CenterHub for rangers, exhibits, AC, and the giant thermometer
Store · 0.3 mi awayDeath Valley Natural History Association Park StoreOfficial shop for DEVA books and souvenirs that fund the park
Sight · 0.3 mi awayFurnace Creek ThermometerClassic photo-op thermometer for extreme heat bragging rights
Store · 0.3 mi awayFarrabee's Jeep RentalsJeep rentals and tours to reach the park’s remote backroads
Gas station · 0.3 mi awayFurnace Creek Fuel and Auto ServiceThe park’s central lifeline for fuel, at a steep premium
Sight · 0.3 mi awayBorax MuseumTiny 1883 museum with 20 Mule Team relics and outdoor yardParkwolf’s Death Valley ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
