Official Sponsor Omega Watch Ad: click to navigate
Home / Courses / USA / California / Palm Desert

Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

4.7
789 Reviews (789)
1440x350.jpg

Rating Snapshot

GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.7
789 Reviews (789)
5 Stars
576
4 Stars
160
3 Stars
31
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
Tooltip Information Icon
96.4%
Recommend this course
745 out of 789 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.6
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
100.0%
Recommend this course
11 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
49 Reviews (49)
5 Stars
41
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.9%
Recommend this course
47 out of 49 reviews
Read Reviews

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
Powered by GolfNow.com
Book a Tee Time
Satellite Layout
Tees
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
Track Rounds
Scorecard
Scorecard for Firecliff
Metrics:
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Black M: 74.1/141 535 410 194 446 429 331 569 155 455 3524 435 452 427 550 176 332 420 204 536 3532 7056
Purple M: 72.1/136 W: 78.6/146 516 394 168 424 400 310 548 138 437 3335 421 427 395 523 163 302 405 192 513 3341 6676
Purple/White M: 71.0/132 W: 77.1/143 516 364 168 387 380 310 520 138 408 3191 393 396 371 523 163 302 405 170 513 3236 6427
White M: 69.9/128 W: 75.7/140 489 364 139 387 380 279 520 119 408 3085 393 396 371 502 141 279 368 170 468 3088 6173
White/Tan M: 68.7/124 W: 74.1/136 489 338 139 352 341 279 510 119 373 2940 357 362 338 502 141 279 368 152 468 2967 5907
Tan M: 67.5/120 W: 72.5/133 447 338 127 352 341 264 510 107 373 2859 357 362 338 454 119 258 332 152 411 2783 5642
Tan/Green M: 66.1/116 W: 70.8/130 417 338 127 313 304 264 465 107 323 2658 357 329 338 425 119 258 297 152 385 2660 5318
Green M: 65.0/112 W: 69.4/127 417 312 107 313 304 233 465 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

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+
waivedfees
10 rounds of waived fees
golf ball.svg
$120 in tee time credits
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection
redeemtrophy
Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

4.7
789 Reviews (789)

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Default User Avatar
roygolfaddict
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
Default User Avatar
ZukieZuk
Played On
Reviews 6
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
Default User Avatar
chaucer2112
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
Default User Avatar
c3EcFvPAfaxM4z1POBOc
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
Default User Avatar
u178496887
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
Default User Avatar
c3EcFvPAfaxM4z1POBOc
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
Default User Avatar
John6319461
Played On
Reviews 93
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
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
u314160724674
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
Default User Avatar
clynde44
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
Default User Avatar
Mark2468
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
Default User Avatar
Mark2468
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
Default User Avatar
u000001484073
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
Default User Avatar
J7SXFnfClGSydIlTpTbS
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
Default User Avatar
u000001545303
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course in immaculate conditions

Had a wonderful time today at Desert Willow

Staff was super nice

Course was in immaculate condition

Challenging holes and also like a few drivable par 4’s if you’re brave enough

Will definitely be back next time in Palm Springs

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
ys721110
Played On
Reviews 1
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
rkclouse
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
u314161173977
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Spectacular conditions

Course was in amazing shape, but I believe they just redid the greens so they were rock yard. You really can’t attack the pins at all here yet, have to play everything short. Can really only ding them for not including water bottles in the cart, but everything else besides that and the hard greens were great. Pace of play was 4.5 hours, only waited for group in front of us a few times. Practice facility on grass with plenty of balls available.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
GJGardner67
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Beautiful course

Great day at Firecliff. Challenging but fair. Appreciated the short-cut rough.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
rkclouse
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
u787481423
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
1 2 3 4 5
Business Tools for Golf Course Operators
stars Add a GolfPass ratings badge to your website
rss_feed Get RSS feed with the latest reviews for this course
Nearby Courses
Desert Falls CC
View Tee Times
Desert Falls Country Club
Palm Desert, California
Semi-Private
3.9117636494
1404
Write Review
Lakes CC
South/North at Lakes Country Club, The
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Write Review
Santa Rosa CC
Santa Rosa Country Club
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Write Review
Avondale GC: #4
Avondale Golf Club
Palm Desert, California
Private
4.25
4
Write Review
Mountain View at Desert Willow Golf Resort
View Tee Times
Mountain View at Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, California
Resort
4.5012156177
667
Write Review
Marriott's Desert Springs Resort - Palms: #17
View Tee Times
Palms at Marriott's Desert Springs Resort
Palm Desert, California
Resort
4.1583925471
2180
Write Review
The Classic Club
View Tee Times
The Classic Club
Palm Desert, California
Public
4.6564142051
1132
Write Review
Lakes CC
North/East at Lakes Country Club, The
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Write Review
Palm Desert Greens CC
Palm Desert Greens Country Club
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Write Review
Challenger at Palm Valley CC: #9
Challenger at Palm Valley Country Club
Palm Desert, California
Private
3.6666666667
3
Write Review
Suncrest CC: #6
View Tee Times
Suncrest Country Club
Palm Desert, California
Semi-Private
4.4722222222
17
Write Review
Lakes CC - South: #7
East/South at Lakes Country Club, The
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Write Review
Golf Packages
Indian-wells-4.png

Best of Indian Wells Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy accommodations at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort, the Tommy Bahama Resort & Spa, the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, or the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa and golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.
Indian-wells-4.png

Best of Indian Wells Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy accommodations at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort, the Tommy Bahama Resort & Spa, the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, or the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa and golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.
Classic Club Golf Course - 6th Hole

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Palm Mountain Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, Indian Canyons – North Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.
Indian Canyons – South Course

The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.
Torrey Pines - North Course 15th & 16th Holes

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
LA JOLLA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Torrey Pines – South Course and Torrey Pines – North Course.
Featured Content
Royal Dornoch Golf Club - Championship Course
Architects
Secrets from the World of Golf Travel: February, 2022
BentRake(GregAustin).jpg
Articles
A place for rakes
Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff Course - 7th
Articles
Top Palm Springs public golf course set for renovation
Classic Club golf course - 6th
Articles
California's Classic Club tops Dec. 1 Power Rankings
Course Layout
Now Reading

  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account

    •
    Search Near Me