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Rating Index Rating
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4.7
796 Reviews (796)
5 Stars
581
4 Stars
161
3 Stars
32
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
95.0%
Recommend this course
751 out of 796 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
14 Reviews (14)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.9%
Recommend this course
13 out of 14 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
46 Reviews (46)
5 Stars
38
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.7%
Recommend this course
44 out of 46 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Firecliff's layout earns top marks, with true-rolling greens, well-kept fairways, and a design that opens and closes on memorable par 5s. Staff consistently go above and beyond, delivering a professionally run experience from bag drop through the final hole.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7056 yards
Slope 141
Rating 74.1

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.

Book a Tee Time at
Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff
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Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan (1997) John Cook Dana Fry (1997)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Palm Desert Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Tee Time Protection
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Reviews

4.7
796 Reviews (796)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 11
Patio Dining 8
19th Hole Scenic Views 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 16
Water Hazards 13
Undulating Greens 10
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 12
A Weekend Splurge 11
Advanced Golfers 11
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 11
Worth the Drive 11
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course

Even in the summer, this course maintains a high quality product. Greens run at a good speed for the summer. Lot's of water stations available throughout the round. Pace of play was a little slow for first few holes but then picked up and we finished in 4 hours and 15 minutes. The ice cold towel 1/2 way through the round was so refreshing (it was 110 the day I played) and a sign of their top notch customer service. Anytime this course is less than $100, play it!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course and staff.

For this time of year and the temperature they are getting this course was in excellent shape. Firecliff!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A little slow

Course was excellent, especially for summer. Pace of play was slow for a summer afternoon.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great everything there!

Just a great place to golf year round.. Thank you staff and everybody at desert willow for your service!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Spectacular

From bag drop, check in great.

Stater to marshal very helpful and informative.

Free range balls and a pager to let you know when to report back to the starter.

Pristine condition with a great layout.

You must choose your approach shots carefully as there many bunkers on the fairways and protecting the greens.

The greens are fast and deceiving.

Not a lot of breaks so lines are straight and fast.

Also water and ice on the course.

A marshal also delivered cold towels at valley points.

It was 95 degrees with a breeze and a bargain

at $ 67.00

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great condions all around. Possibly the only knock would be the sand in most bunkers is very thin and firm-ish. Other than that fairways, tees and greens were very good. Greens were smooth and ran 9-10ish. Everyone here is very nice and they treat you very well with a smile. Had a group of 4 golfers jump in front of us on #10 and tee’d off from the tips. Of course 3 of the golfers topped their drives less than 80 yds. Wasn’t going to let that lameness ruin an absolutely beautiful, outstanding day at Desert Willow. But it does explain the 4 stars, not 5, for pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Wow

Forget the incredible golf courses the employees are top-notch there to help you and make sure you have a great day. Can’t wait to go back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

I'm 57

I'm 57 and I'm not a nut.

This course is awesome.

Staff is amazing

I don't know how the course could be much better during the high season.

True, quick greens, but not ridiculous.

Great fairways and tee boxes.

My only less than perfect review would be the bunkers. Personally, I think they would be better with a little more sand.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

RIP Firecliff?

Have played the course hundreds off times. Solid layout. Management appears to be bulldozing the features giving Firecliff the feel of a private course. One where each hole retains its privacy from surrounding fairways. Greens were money!

Pace of play was horrendous.

Outside staff are always professional.

Snag a Hot Deal. Don't pay the full nut.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course and great staff

Besides the course being an excellent condition and very fun to play, I would like to recognize Victor our waiter, who was extremely polite, funny, and made our dining experience, truly enjoyable, which we took to the course with a smile

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 96
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Great Golf Facility!

Desert Willow has two very good good courses. I played Firecliff and found it to be in great shape from tee to green. Tge course is a modern design with many memorable holes and can be very challenging from the back tees. There us a gokf shop, restaurant, driving range , putting green and chipping areas. The staff is excellent and paired groups to enhance soeed of play which is not usually done. Both coursesxare a must play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf experience

A very professionally run golf experience.

From bag drop, thru check in, and thru the Bev beverage cart girl, this course impressed. Well done Desert Willow, a tip of the hat to all that make this work

Mahalo

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