Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7056 yards | 74.1 | 141 |
| Purple | 72 | 6676 yards | 72.1 | 136 |
| White | 72 | 6173 yards | 69.9 | 128 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6173 yards | 75.7 | 140 |
| Tan | 72 | 5642 yards | 67.5 | 120 |
| Tan (W) | 72 | 5642 yards | 72.5 | 133 |
| Green (W) | 72 | 5079 yards | 69.4 | 127 |
| Green | 72 | 5079 yards | 65.0 | 112 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.3/140 W: 80.7/147 | 535 | 410 | 194 | 446 | 429 | 331 | 569 | 155 | 455 | 3524 | 435 | 452 | 427 | 550 | 176 | 332 | 420 | 204 | 536 | 3532 | 7056 |
| Purple M: 72.5/135 W: 78.6/142 | 516 | 394 | 168 | 424 | 400 | 310 | 548 | 138 | 437 | 3335 | 421 | 427 | 395 | 523 | 163 | 302 | 405 | 192 | 513 | 3341 | 6676 |
| Purple/White M: 71.4/132 W: 77.2/139 | 516 | 364 | 168 | 387 | 380 | 310 | 520 | 138 | 408 | 3191 | 393 | 396 | 371 | 523 | 163 | 302 | 405 | 170 | 513 | 3236 | 6427 |
| White M: 70.2/129 W: 75.8/136 | 489 | 364 | 139 | 387 | 380 | 279 | 520 | 119 | 408 | 3085 | 393 | 396 | 371 | 502 | 141 | 279 | 368 | 170 | 468 | 3088 | 6173 |
| White/Tan M: 69.0/126 W: 74.3/133 | 489 | 338 | 139 | 352 | 341 | 279 | 510 | 119 | 373 | 2940 | 357 | 362 | 338 | 502 | 141 | 279 | 368 | 152 | 468 | 2967 | 5907 |
| Tan M: 67.8/123 W: 72.8/130 | 447 | 338 | 127 | 352 | 341 | 264 | 510 | 107 | 373 | 2859 | 357 | 362 | 338 | 454 | 119 | 258 | 332 | 152 | 411 | 2783 | 5642 |
| Tan/Green M: 66.3/119 W: 71.0/126 | 417 | 338 | 127 | 313 | 304 | 264 | 465 | 107 | 323 | 2658 | 357 | 329 | 338 | 425 | 119 | 258 | 297 | 152 | 385 | 2660 | 5318 |
| Green M: 65.2/116 W: 69.7/123 | 417 | 312 | 107 | 313 | 304 | 233 | 465 | 82 | 323 | 2556 | 323 | 329 | 311 | 425 | 97 | 227 | 297 | 129 | 385 | 2523 | 5079 |
| Handicap | 11 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 14 | |||
| Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 3 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2017 #23)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by u000001545303 on 05/08/2025
-
Photo submitted by Nick4694947 on 12/24/2024
-
Photo submitted by jubooz15 on 10/11/2024
-
Photo submitted by u7203964 on 03/08/2024
-
Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
-
Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
-
Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
-
Photo submitted by AYz660v9iERBKLuzQlr9 on 09/27/2023
-
Photo submitted by Boone43atc on 09/17/2023
-
Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/17/2023
-
View from the club house Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/13/2023
-
Photo submitted by Peter2461971 on 04/23/2023
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by Bradnwendyred06 on 02/03/2022
-
Photo submitted by adrianeschwartz on 12/16/2021
-
Photo submitted by u000002246008 on 04/08/2021
-
Photo submitted by u000006073836 on 02/18/2021
-
Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
-
Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
-
Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
-
Photo submitted by u698978221 on 05/28/2019
-
Photo submitted by Debikitts on 05/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
-
There's a Fairway out there Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
-
18 Par 5 Beautiful hole Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
-
Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
-
Beep Beep Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
-
Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
-
Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
-
Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
-
Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
-
Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
-
Brilliant views from every tee. Photo submitted by Jsratike on 12/31/2016
-
Give it a shot Photo submitted by u091450548 on 09/06/2015
This is a beautiful course this stunning views in every direction. The staff was incredibly helpful. I had read so many wonderful things about the restaurant and bar both of which close far to early. Everyone who had completed golf at 5pm wanted to go for a drink and even possibly to dinner but their hours are far to short.
A gem in the valley
Fine desert golf course in excellent condition. True and fast greens. Very friendly staff.
Firecliff
Rode the Purples (6676/72.1/136) in 4H twilight with GK Guru's John, Brian and Dave. Great to play with a couple of out of the area guys I previously had enjoyable rounds with. We finished 18 in the dark due to a National Club Champion Tournament that ran over. We were unable to start until after 1 pm. Partly cloudy, fairly calm and around 60. Thanks to John for setting up and to Desert Willow for having the guru group out.
Tees mostly lush and level but after that tournament, were pretty chewed up for divots.
Fairways lush and good to play from.
Rough very lush. Ball sat up, not overly penal except it cost you roll. Usually good to chip out of but deep enough to be penal.
Greenside traps had good quality sand. Decently maintained, with a generous amount of thick sand. Waste bunkers were firm and not as well maintained as the greenside traps.
Large greens putted medium fast speed and were firm with some rollout.
Customer Service always excellent here from when you drop your clubs off out front to when you pick them up after the round. Nice GPS on upgraded carts that have ports for electronics. The all grass driving range is included and is excellent with a nice practice chipping area. Drink Cart around several times. Ice/water stations every few holes. Excellent and very fun layout to play. Recommended, IMO the best public course in the Greater Palm Springs area.
What a course
Wow what nice course, great condition, staff was great. Overall highly recommend this course.
Great course in great condition and great scenery.
Can't say enough about this course. You have to expect to pay more for the premium conditions at this course.
Great Course...as good as it gets
Everything was premier. Cost is as expected for this level of course.
First golf trip in Palm Springs
Our young man at the valet was excellent, when we told him it was our first time walked us to the clubhouse. Loved the timers to tell us when we were up.
Course in great shape due to overseed, pace sucked
Course was in great shape due to the overseeding. Only complaint about the course quality was the greens were really slow.
Pace overall sucked, no marshals on the course to do anything about it.
Late tee times
Unfortunately we could only get out in the afternoon and we’re unable to finish 18 holes before dark. We tried to get on earlier but it was very busy.
Nice course
Firethorn had just been reseeded and was in great shape. Scenery is spectacular and the course well manicured. No tricks here - the golf course is tight in front of you the whole way. John Cook (Cookie as Lanny Wadkins says) did a nice job consulting with the architects.
Great Municipal Course
For a municipal course this was great. We played the second day after overseeding and conditions were excellent. Bunkers could have had more sand and more difficulty. The course is straight forward and good for both lower handicap and higher handicap players. Water features added interest and some challenge to the holes. Scenery was beautiful as was the clubhouse. I would definitely recommend this course.
Spectacular layout, doesn’t get better… but maybe faster!
I had the opportunity to play the Firecliff course on Oct 23 first round in the morning just after opening from over-seeding. Absolutely stunning course and very well manicured. 10 out of 10 experience from the time I dropped my bag off to finishing up on the 19th hole.
I have no criticism, but would love to play the course again once the greens are cut low and rolled out and faster. Too 5 all time golf experiences today. Thanks foe the opportunity
Pace of play
First several holes had a great pace, after 6th hole it was backed up. 2-3 groups on tee box
Rough was very high and piles of grass clippings making it very difficult to get out of. Greens were OK- had a lot of rough spots and dead spots- hard to get a good read on the speed.