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
1450 Reviews (1450)
5 Stars
437
4 Stars
642
3 Stars
237
2 Stars
84
1 Stars
50
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
3.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.2
76.9%
Recommend this course
1177 out of 1450 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
91 Reviews (91)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
41
3 Stars
23
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.0
Amenities
2.9
StaffFriendliness
3.3
76.9%
Recommend this course
70 out of 91 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
151 Reviews (151)
5 Stars
37
4 Stars
62
3 Stars
37
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
10
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
3.6
74.2%
Recommend this course
112 out of 151 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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Reviews

3.8
1450 Reviews (1450)

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 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Cart path only

There was nothing to advise us it was still cart path only. We were not told when we paid. We only found out as we were teeing off by the starter. I have a bad foot and we had to quit after 9. Superwide fairways and lots of up and downs which made it very difficult. Not impressed with the course. More old style golfing. It is reflected inside with the decor.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Avergae

Greens were shaggy like a pitch and putt and in was cart paths only. Group in front of us was a 3some and still a hole behind all day and March all did nothing to speed them up. About of the course is nice.

No beverage cart.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course OK

Like course but

Too expensive

Can’t get drinking water easily

No GPS

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Dead Grass

Although it was a great day of golf, the grass was dead as they were getting ready to re-seed.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Summer Play

Great course layout, but everything was dry and the course conditions were really bad. I know they were reseeding, but they should indicate that on the GN App.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 28
1.0
Verified Purchaser

Overseeding

Course was dry and grass was brown and dead

No mention that the course was ready for over seeding everything was dead even the greens. I’m wondering why golf now would sell tee times for a course in that condition?

I’m going to ask for my money back

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Wish they warned people

We are tourists playing multiple courses over the past week. This was the most expensive but in the worst condition. Had we known they were already doing “brown out” we would have chosen a different course. There wasn’t a patch of green to be seen and the greens were bumpy and pretty much unplayable.

We are aware that courses are close to shut down but they should have shut down before brown out or.note in “brown out” when booking. That and reduce the price significantly more.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Stay away

This course has begun the overseeing process. Fairways and greens are shaved. No grass anywhere. Striking your ball on the fairway is the same as hitting a ball on dirt. Putting on the greens was like putting on a fairway. It was 107, and there was only one water station on the entire course. No beverage cart. The clubhouse, restaurant, and bar are closed.. I understand the process desert courses go through this time of the year, but the other courses simply close until their respective course is playable. Not Desert Falls. If they continue to advertise that they are open, they should have a disclaimer letting the paying public know what the course conditions are. If you enjoy hitting off dirt on a hot desert course with little water, this is the place for you.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

There are better options in the Valley

Do not play this course during overseeing prep time. This is probably an outstanding course in the good growing seasons, but don't let the lower end of summer season price lure you. The rolling topography and hot dry summer are not a good combination here. The course was trashed and you struggle to find any grass worth playing off. The greens were a mess, having little to do with overseeing prep. They were just trash. The outside cart guy was extremely helpful and very nice. The pro shop desk guy was having a bad day and let it show. He could be overheard complaining, using not so perfect language, and told someone it would be his last day there. Will never know if it was.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout, need a ranger though

If you like to think your way around a golf course you will like this layout. Really challenging and the most interesting greens around. The conditions were not that great but I suspect it was because they are getting ready to overseed. The marshall comment: two guys from the 2 groups in front of us got in a verbal battle, almost came to blows. Would have been good to have a marshall around to kick those clowns off the course. Was very slow as well. Staff was great otherwise

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities 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
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing

Rough

The course and greens are in tough shape.

Nice staff.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Staff was incredibly nice and accommodating

Such a great value when it comes to price! Club house is a little dated but that kind of adds to the nostalgia of playing in the desert. I love the course layout, rolling hills, and elevation changes throughout! Greens could benefit from a re seeding and the spongey rough will hide your ball so keep eyes on those shots. Overall the course was wide open giving way to a good pace of play!

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