Desert Falls CC
A view of a green and snowy mountains in background at Desert Falls Country Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
1480 Reviews (1480)
5 Stars
443
4 Stars
660
3 Stars
241
2 Stars
86
1 Stars
50
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
3.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.2
78.1%
Recommend this course
1204 out of 1480 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
120 Reviews (120)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
59
3 Stars
27
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.9
StaffFriendliness
3.5
80.8%
Recommend this course
97 out of 120 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
150 Reviews (150)
5 Stars
33
4 Stars
65
3 Stars
36
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
9
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
3.5
76.0%
Recommend this course
114 out of 150 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The course layout consistently earns high marks for its challenging yet fair design with uniquely fun greens that roll true. Rounds move along efficiently, and the overall value makes this Palm Desert track worth booking.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6686 yards
Slope 143
Rating 79.5

Can bunkers qualify as their own continent? Desert Falls Country Club in Palm Desert seems determined to find out.

This Ron Frehm design boasts bunkers so huge that they look like the inventor of the Big Gulp came up with them. And escape is anything but guaranteed. Sometimes getting out of one bunker, just means landing in another at Desert Falls.

That is just part of the reason this course totes a 128 slope rating - putting it among the five highest slope ratings in the entire Palms Springs area. Remember, this is the golf mecca with Pete Dye's Stadium Course, which was only designed to be "the toughest golf course in the world." Desert Falls is on that list.

There are five sets of tees to take away some of the bite. But the greens are still an obstacle of their own. These are undulating greens that are large enough to offer several varieties of challenges.

Just getting on the green is not enough at Desert Falls. It's important to land on the right part of the green. This is also a course with more hills than you expect to see in the desert.

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Desert Falls Country Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1984
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Tifdwarf Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Ron Fream (1984) Chris Pitman (1984)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

3.8
1480 Reviews (1480)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 20
19th Hole Scenic Views 15
Patio Dining 12
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 42
Bunkers 39
Undulating Greens 31
This course/club is great for:
Locals 30
Advanced Golfers 29
Seniors 17
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 37
Worth the Drive 14
At a Resort 9

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Course/Clubhouse

Entire property is OLD and not well kept…

Lots of property owners with personal golf carts, going anywhere they desire, even on course as you are attempting to play.

We golfed here two to three years ago and was hoping had been updated, NOT!!

Not worth the time or money!!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 163
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 100 Contributor
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Should be called Desert Lakes -lol

Lots of water and interesting holes. Almost all the greens have multiple “lobes”. Each lobe is available for a pin position resulting in a much smaller target area than if the pin were jn the center of the green or if the green was a more “traditional” shape. There can be significant difference in distance to different pin locations so check before picking your club.

A few holes (9 comes to mind) require some local knowledge to play well - so check your gps mapping program or ask someone who has played there.

A fun course with lots of chalkenges

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course, especially greens, in fair condition

Booked this round based on recommendations of a friend who had played the course in a few years. It has gone downhill since then. Most courses provide range balls, this one does not. $11 for 55 balls. Range is mat tees. Greens were the worse part of the course. Bumpy and very slow. Will not go back here until I hear that it has improved.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

course is both fun and challenging — down side is no one to meet you or direct you to pro shop

not the best impression when you first get there — you don’t know where to go, and when I did find the pro shop after carrying my clubs a fair distance, they had no carts charged. I had to wait for one and the cart that I got just about ran out of charge on the 18th hole but upside is once I got out on the course it was really nice and I would love another chance to play it — need some good strategy and course management— be sure and read the booklet that gives you a lot of good pointers on each hole.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

One of our favorite public courses

My husband and I have golfed at Desert Falls three times this year. Every time it has been beautifully groomed and the pace of play is smooth. It is also challenging enough for both of us.

The day had a bit of light rain about half way through, but we finished the round and are glad we did. The only negative was our cart ran out of power on the eight hole, and we had to miss the ninth to slowly drive back to the clubhouse to change carts. This allowed a group to get in front of us, who were slower. But all in all, we really enjoyed our third time at Desert Falls. Really a beautiful course. It is one of our favorite public courses in PAL Desert. We will be back next year.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Open fairways guarded greens

Beautiful course and layout . The fairways are generous and need to place your ball for a safe shot into the green . Water comes into play on a third of the holes . The course was busy cleaning up wind blown debree but did not interfere with our play .

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Too bad about ownership

Excellent course design. Much better than people realize.

But the small things that are wrong ruin what could be a great place to play.

Bunkers need work but the owner it seems won't spend the money.

They can't throw in a 20 cent bottle of water in the cooler?

You have to pay for the driving range?

Our cart ran out of battery charge and we got stuck. They came quickly with a new cart, but really, charge the carts guys!

And it's very hot and the only water on the course was empty!

It could be great, but it's overpriced for these fixable reasons.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

DFCC

This course has really gone downhill since the new owner took over. Greens are very slow and bunkers are so bad that there is a local rule allowing you to lift, clean and place your ball on a spot that you are allowed to rake and improve your lie.

I don’t know how it could get worse but I’m sure the owner will find a way.

On the up side there is a group of residents who are trying to make the club more attractive. I doubt the owner is of any help in this endeavor.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Course

Fun course. Forgiving with a few tough holes to navigate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

ENJOYED THE COURSE

IT WAS EASY TO MAKE A TEE TIME ON THE SAME DAY WE PLAYED. ENJOYED THE COURSE.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 97
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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