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Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

38-995 Desert Willow Dr, Palm Desert, California 92260, Riverside County
(760) 346-7060, (760) 346-0015
Course Website
4.8
820 Reviews
Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort - Book a Tee Time
Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort
A view of a hole from Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort. Desert Willow Golf Resort
Desert Willow Golf Resort: Clubhouse
A view of the clubhouse at Desert Willow Golf Resort. Desert Willow Golf Resort
Desert Willow Golf Resort: Driving range
A view of the driving range at Firecliff Course from Desert Willow Golf Resort
Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff: #17
A view of the 17th green at Firecliff Course from Desert Willow Golf Resort
Desert Willow Golf Resort: Clubhouse
A view of the clubhouse at Firecliff Course from Desert Willow Golf Resort
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About

A lot of courses say they're all about nature. Desert Willow Firecliff Resort in Cathedral City actually lives it. Natural desert plants are the star of the show here. So much so that the course was featured on the front cover of Smithsonian magazine.

Bobcats, coyotes and desert rabbits have free run of the place, adding another dimension to any round. When you see a bobcat out in the distance of the desert brush, you're not chasing after that golf ball. No matter how much cash you plunked down for the latest in long-distance technology.

Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed Desert Willow and it offers a good example of how you become a rising name in the golf architect game. The sand sculpting demands attention from the first hole.

The course looks intimidating to play. With a 138 slope rating, it plays that way too.

Holes 18
Par 72
Length 7056 yds
Rating 74.1
Slope 141
Type Resort
Course Layout
Tees
Track Rounds
Scorecard
Course scorecard and layout

Course Details

Rentals & Services

Golf Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS
Golf Clubs

Practice & Instruction

Driving Range
Golf School Academy Yes - "Palm Desert Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro
Pitching & Chipping Area
Putting Green

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
Meeting Facilities
Banquet Facilities
Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect(s) Dr. Michael Hurdzan (1997) John Cook Dana Fry (1997)

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Rating Index
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4.8
4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 820 reviews
96.8%
Recommend
820
Reviews
  • 5 Stars
  • 4 Stars
  • 3 Stars
  • 2 Stars
  • 1 Stars
  • Conditions
    4.8
  • Value
    4.6
  • Layout
    4.9
  • Friendliness
    4.8
  • Pace
    4.3
  • Amenities
    4.7
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Firecliff's layout earns top marks, with true-rolling greens, well-kept fairways, and a design that opens and closes on memorable par 5s. Staff consistently go above and beyond, delivering a professionally run experience from bag drop through the final hole.

Rating Index

Golfers Often Mention

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 11
Patio Dining 8
19th Hole Scenic Views 7
Course Challenges:
Bunkers 16
Water Hazards 13
Undulating Greens 10
Best For:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 12
A Weekend Splurge 11
Advanced Golfers 11
Location is:
At a Resort 11
Worth the Drive 11
Convenient to the City 10

Golfer Photos

Golfer Reviews

Default User Avatar
u543838177
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Beautifull and playable course

The Firevliff course was in great shape and a pleasure to play.

However, we booked the latest available teetiime so that my partner could play at ease. But soon enough single players were breathing down our neck, whilst they must have started/ teed off after the shop closed. We let 4 single players past so that we could play w/o being pushed.

Will come bach!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Default User Avatar
dtcampion
Review 1
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Default User Avatar
u000004589652
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Default User Avatar
u000003055617
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Great course

Excellent condition and staff was outstanding. Would put this course on the top of my list to play again

Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
uREXrV9qvmSR1LvHtSTM
Review 1
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 3.0
Default User Avatar
johnfornal
Reviews 28
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Great even in the Summer

I have enjoyed this place many times and it only has gotten better. The quality is top rated as the best public course in Coachella Valley. Enjoy and then dine at the open air top notch restaurant.

John

Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
rjstetz
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Firecliff &staff never seem to disappoint

This was my 1st time out after having a severed Achilles tendon repaired on July 2. On #3, I got my very first hole-in-one! Staff was great, bartender too!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Featured
Find out more
Default User Avatar
MrRuleBook69
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Default User Avatar
7SXn9YcIQ6OzE40kbjp9
Reviews 32
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

great course

first time playing in over 10yrs, this course is a GEM. tee boxes,fairways, greens all in perfect condition. from unloading to the carts, to the beverage ladies all personal was A+ . Will be back soon when it cools down

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Default User Avatar
cyOGvO1zdh8b8j6LZuv1
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Fantastic Course, great value

Although this is considered a “resort course” I did not find it to have some of the, in my opinion, less desirable characteristics of resort courses. Yes, the fairways are often times fairly wide, but make no mistake, this is not an overly forgiving course. There are plenty of waste areas, hazards, and bunkers that make this course a very challenging round if you are not focused on good positioning off the tee.

The course conditions are fantastic, the views are amazing, the layout is very fun, no gimmicks, great use of water features, waste areas, and trees to make it very visually appealing and challenging at the same time.

Staff is very friendly, and the iced mango scented towels on the back nine are a god-send during summer rounds.

I’ve played here twice now and will definitely play here again in the future.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Default User Avatar
ersmithoc
Review 1
Recommended
Played
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
Deejillini
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
u054910319
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
u314162834378
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Featured
Find out more
Default User Avatar
u314163233597
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Awesome course. Bunkers need more sand.

More sand in the bukers. Other than that, the course is top-notch.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Default User Avatar
whangcpa
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Excellent all around

The course was an immaculate shape. We played in the early afternoon and finished in 4 hours and 10 minutes.

We will be back when we visit the desert.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
u000006669094
Reviews 25
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Top notch facility

Great conditions, well run operation from bag drop to pro shop to starter and beyond. A+

Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
RGBB760C14C3C8FC063E
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
DanielHo
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Perfect!

Great course, very friendly staff. A perfect experience from A-Z. Golf at its best

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Default User Avatar
jimadametz
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
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