GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.8
809 Reviews (809)
5 Stars
593
4 Stars
162
3 Stars
32
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.7
96.5%
Recommend this course
764 out of 809 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.7
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.5
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.9
95.8%
Recommend this course
23 out of 24 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
33 Reviews (33)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.7
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.8
97.0%
Recommend this course
32 out of 33 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
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
Powered by GolfNow.com
Hot Deals at Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff
View more Hot Deals on

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
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

4.8
809 Reviews (809)

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

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome

The course certainly lives up to its top tier rating! Firecliff was an excellent choice!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

played with two members who provided excellent advice on course management. The course was in great shape

and the greens were excellent. This course is playable by all levels, just need to pick the correct tees

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great conditions

Played the course for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. Conditions were immaculate, staff was friendly and helpful. We had a 720 teatime and played in three hours and 20 minutes.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great course

Great par 3s and some stategic par5s great fun course. Green were at 10 stimp

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
5.0
Previously Played
Cold weather
Walked

Always a pleasure at Firecliff

Having played the two Desert Willow courses many times over the years, I highly recommend them. Challenging, fair layouts with wide fairways but precision needed to reach and hold the greens. Thoughtful tee box options allow mixed skill levels to play together.

Conditioning is always good despite many player rounds. Choose your tee time wisely to avoid slow play and it is a pity you can't walk these courses.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1001
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
5.0
Top 1 Contributor
California Advisor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

DW Firecliff

Rode the Purple tees (6676/72.1/136) in 4H, 15M twilight with GK Gurus Ron, Pedro and Gary, easily beating darkness. Always enjoy playing with those old, familiar faces! The weather was clear, fairly calm and around 65.

Playing conditions were excellent across the board. Having played both Rams Hill and Indian Wells Celebrity in the past 24 hours, both of which were excellent as usual, I can say that this course was the best conditioned of the three.

Over seeded tees were lush and level with few divots.

Over seeded fairways were lush and very nice to play from.

The over seeded rough is VERY lush and thick. Definitely a penalty to miss the fairway here.

The waste bunkers were firm and not as well maintained as the greenside traps. The greenside traps had good quality sand and were very nicely maintained.

The greens putted medium fast bordering on fast if downhill. Numerous pins were tournament quality, set close to slopes where near misses could result in 15-20' coming back. Mostly smooth and they held irons well.

Customer Service always excellent here from when you drop your clubs off out front to when you pick them up after the round. Drink cart around multiple times, and I had what may have been the best hot dog I have ever consumed from their snack shop. Piled high with about a dozen different add ons! Nice GPS on carts. Plenty of ice/water stations on the course. The all grass driving range is included and is excellent with a nice practice chipping area. Highly recommended, one of my favorite courses in the Palm Springs area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great Layout

Have played both courses at Desert Willow over the past two years and they are our favourite tracks in the Palm Springs area. We particularly like Firecliff. The layout suits our group, which ranges from single digit handicaps to 30. The staff are excellent through the facility. Pace of play is good. Greens are generally very nice.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great dY on a great golf course

I am a 11 handicap golfer and was able to shoot a 77. The greens were terrific allowing for 6 one puts. The sand traps were plentiful but in great condition.

Best game of golf for me in 2019

I will be back

David MCCleery from Vancouver B.C.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf

A wonderful place to play! Everything is first rate. Great golf course for all skill levels and an extremely froendly staff. Would definitely rank this as one of the top 3 places to play in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A favourite every year

Had a great day on the course. We had a frost delay for about 1 hr 30 minutes. The staff handled it really well. We were told we would not be charged if we chose not to play. We chose to stay and finished in 3 and a half hours.

Course was in great shape, greens, fairways , t boxes and rough. We really enjoy this course , will play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Best course in the world

Played on courses across North America and Europe, and in my opinion best course in the world

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent experience.

Beautiful course. Good condition but greens a little slow as recently punched and seeded.

They have a great breakfast and the area overlooks the 9 th hole so very picturesque.

Not cheap unless you are a resident of palm desert.

John

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent Golf Course

Highly recommend this golf course! I would give it’s 6 stars if I could.

First one off the tee after a complete reseed. The course was immaculate. The only issue was the greens were slow but I won’t hold that against them because in two weeks it’ll be lighting. Staff was great, and pace was very good. Best public course in the desert for my money. Best scenery early in the morning. Play the longer tees, good length and keeps the danger out of play. Aim for the bunker tongues and you’ll be just fine.

See you soon Firecliff!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not bad.

Consider the time of year, this course is pretty good. They stopped watering about a week ago and the fairways were a little dry but still playable. Definitely will play this one again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 39
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing

Course in rough condition, lots of aeration i

Not nearly as nice as the Mountain View sister course! Nice layout, rolling terrain, lots of bunkers but many of them are a waste of sand, not in play. A lot of aeration I’m stressed areas, greens slow and bumpy

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Course in horrible condition plus major renovations

Was very excited to play this course today but major let down. The Players course is in horrendous condition with burnt grass everywhere , plus they just punched the fairways, and 2 of the holes were literally unplayable due to tractors and greenkeepers working. This course should be closed for all the reasons above. There plenty other top courses in great shape for less money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Very nice course to play, the course is in very good condition, the carts are very comfortable. Good value for the money.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Nearby Courses
Palm Desert, California
Semi-Private
3.8235429492
1499
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
4.25
4
Palm Desert, California
Resort
4.7030525661
683
Palm Desert, California
Resort
4.0535972637
2215
Palm Desert, California
Public
4.5511879598
1166
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
3.6666666667
3
Palm Desert, California
Semi-Private
4.5219298246
21
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Golf Packages

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.

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.

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.

The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
CARLSBAD, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Aviara Golf Course, OMNI La Costa – South Course, and OMNI La Costa – North Course.

Luxor Resort & Casino Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
LAS VEGAS, NV | Enjoy up to 3 nights’ accommodations at the Luxor Resort & Casino and up to 3 rounds of golf at your choice of Legacy Golf Course, Las Vegas National Golf Course, and Desert Pines Golf Course.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account