Desert Falls Country Club
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue (W) | 72 | 6686 yards | 79.5 | 143 |
| Blue | 72 | 6686 yards | 72.4 | 128 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6274 yards | 77.2 | 138 |
| White | 72 | 6274 yards | 70.4 | 123 |
| White/Gold | 72 | 6032 yards | 69.5 | 120 |
| White/Gold (W) | 72 | 6032 yards | 75.8 | 135 |
| Gold | 72 | 5838 yards | 68.7 | 118 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 5838 yards | 74.6 | 133 |
| Gold/Silver | 72 | 5467 yards | 67.0 | 114 |
| Gold/Silver (W) | 72 | 5467 yards | 72.5 | 129 |
| Silver | 72 | 5232 yards | 65.9 | 110 |
| Silver (W) | 72 | 5232 yards | 71.2 | 126 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 72.4/128 W: 79.5/143 | 358 | 384 | 159 | 517 | 380 | 194 | 324 | 416 | 525 | 3257 | 409 | 526 | 134 | 395 | 203 | 525 | 384 | 426 | 427 | 3429 | 6686 |
| White M: 70.4/123 W: 77.2/138 | 336 | 376 | 153 | 494 | 341 | 183 | 295 | 400 | 495 | 3073 | 375 | 501 | 123 | 380 | 159 | 500 | 360 | 406 | 397 | 3201 | 6274 |
| White/Gold M: 69.5/120 W: 75.8/135 | 321 | 346 | 153 | 460 | 341 | 176 | 295 | 385 | 469 | 2946 | 375 | 454 | 105 | 380 | 159 | 500 | 310 | 406 | 397 | 3086 | 6032 |
| Gold M: 68.7/118 W: 74.6/133 | 321 | 346 | 125 | 460 | 316 | 176 | 267 | 385 | 469 | 2865 | 350 | 454 | 105 | 367 | 146 | 479 | 310 | 385 | 377 | 2973 | 5838 |
| Gold/Silver M: 67.0/114 W: 72.5/129 | 277 | 318 | 125 | 460 | 316 | 176 | 267 | 348 | 412 | 2699 | 331 | 454 | 105 | 367 | 122 | 420 | 310 | 355 | 323 | 2787 | 5486 |
| Silver M: 65.9/110 W: 71.2/126 | 277 | 318 | 101 | 425 | 294 | 117 | 233 | 348 | 444 | 2557 | 331 | 424 | 101 | 343 | 90 | 420 | 288 | 355 | 323 | 2675 | 5232 |
| Handicap | 1 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 3 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, GrillAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by setch on 01/02/2026
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Photo submitted by setch on 01/02/2026
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Photo submitted by PalmNC on 09/24/2025
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Photo submitted by aldana90805 on 08/31/2025
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Photo submitted by tbrac420 on 03/30/2025
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Photo submitted by edlugo47 on 04/17/2024
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Photo submitted by edlugo47 on 04/17/2024
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Photo submitted by Jwarnyca on 03/22/2024
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Photo submitted by utinreg on 03/09/2024
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Photo submitted by utinreg on 03/09/2024
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Photo submitted by utinreg on 03/09/2024
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Photo submitted by utinreg on 03/09/2024
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Photo submitted by utinreg on 03/09/2024
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Photo submitted by pkapalko1 on 12/23/2023
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Photo submitted by pkapalko1 on 12/23/2023
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Photo submitted by pkapalko1 on 12/23/2023
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Photo submitted by pkapalko1 on 12/23/2023
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Beautiful par 3 Photo submitted by Corey4652891 on 12/19/2023
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Note the green size and shape Photo submitted by Corey4652891 on 12/19/2023
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Photo submitted by Smitty71234 on 03/30/2023
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Photo submitted by coltonwalter on 03/26/2023
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Photo submitted by markvlewis317 on 11/28/2022
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Photo submitted by markvlewis317 on 11/28/2022
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Photo submitted by u964555270 on 04/09/2022
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Photo submitted by u314160894003 on 01/31/2021
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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10th tee Photo submitted by hammer74 on 05/18/2015
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17th approach Photo submitted by hammer74 on 05/18/2015
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Photo submitted by davedcp64 on 03/04/2015
Ready to close for re-seeding
Since course is ready to close for re-seeding, it is NOT in best of shape. Course is extremely brown and dusty due to lack of water. In fact, maintenance workers were actually beginning the scalping process while I was playing the back nine! However the greens were puttable if not slower than usual and the rate was very inexpensive. Also, the sole pro shop worker was very friendly and tried his best to be accomodating.
I love the design and layout of this course, but better to wait for overseeding to really enjoy it.
Labor Pains on Labor Day
I don’t really know how to start, the course & clubhouse feels like it’s just giving up. Discounted price which was nice for a Holiday tee time. Arrived little after 6:00am clubhouse closed, restrooms pretty far away from the pro shop. Many times couldn’t tell what was fairway & what was rough.. greens were shaggy. The scenery of the many water features turned off & lakes drained down to yucky sludge. “Hillary” came through a week ago but yet many tree branches scattered around the course. Again.. I’m sure in the 80’s & 90’a this place was the cats meow.. but now it’s a cheap muni course for locals or visitors who don’t know anything & look at pictures online from early 2000’s
I hope someday it comes back & thrives again.
desert falls
played this course many time. one complaint this time was the ruff on the front nine. too high, spent too much time looking for balls i the ruff on the front nine only. back nine much Beter
No Mow
The greens and tee boxes were fuzzy but they were tolerable. However, the rough was 6" just off the fairway in a lot of areas. US Open set ups are more fair. I don't know why because there were mowers all over the course. I would like to go back but I won't as long as the rough is that unplayable.
Below my expectations
I like the the layout and variety of straight and dog leg holes. If it was in better shape I’m sure I would return often…but the sad truth is that it was a disappointment. It is obvious it is not watered sufficiently. I would expect some dry areas between fairways but not on the fairways. I had a number of approach shots from dirt in the middle of the fairway.. the bunkers were filled with something that resembled sand but was mostly dirt. The only thing I can say positive about the greens is that they look nice from a distance. The greens are bumpy with different types of grass lumps throughout that are so numerous they will undoubtedly interfere with the movement of your ball.
BEST PUBLIC COURSE
The tee boxes, fairways and greens where in prime condition. i'm serious couldn't find a thing wrong with this place. championship caliber course for a great price. will probably make this my home course cause it is challenging and fun. still can't get over how pure the greens where especially in the middle of summer.
Poor Greens!
I chose this place because most other courses in town seemed to be aerating at the time of my stay. This place had early times available in summer,The course is in oaky condition, nothing great but Ive played worse. The greens were terrible.From a far they look nice, up close you can see growth of some kind, the ball bounces all around. The man in the club house was very kind, Snack bar was closed, in summer, and no cart person. I do not recommend this place.
This will be the last review for Desert Falls since I play it so often. It's a great course, a great layout, and a great location. It's not necessary to review it every time I play. Also, I am tired of repeating the same review for Golf Now and Golf Pass. Please figure out a way to coordinate between the two entities such that each review will apply to both.
Desert Falls
The course was in generally good shape, considering it is Coachella Valley in August. It would be nice to have water available on more holes and consider turning on the AC in the restrooms in the main building. The food/snack bar was not open but that is typical in the Coachella Valley during the summer. The course has water on most holes, the layout is good and will be appropriate for average golfers.