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
1448 Reviews (1448)
5 Stars
437
4 Stars
641
3 Stars
236
2 Stars
84
1 Stars
50
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
3.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.2
77.1%
Recommend this course
1176 out of 1448 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
89 Reviews (89)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
40
3 Stars
22
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.0
Amenities
2.8
StaffFriendliness
3.3
77.5%
Recommend this course
69 out of 89 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
149 Reviews (149)
5 Stars
37
4 Stars
61
3 Stars
36
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
10
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
3.6
74.5%
Recommend this course
111 out of 149 reviews
Read Reviews

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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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Reviews

3.8
1448 Reviews (1448)

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.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 19
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 218
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 63
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

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.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 13
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 Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

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

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 218
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 218
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great features

Love the layout. It is truly unique. Different looks on every hole

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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