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Rating Index Rating
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4.7
800 Reviews (800)
5 Stars
585
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
95.3%
Recommend this course
755 out of 800 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
16 Reviews (16)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.3
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.8%
Recommend this course
15 out of 16 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
45 Reviews (45)
5 Stars
37
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.6%
Recommend this course
43 out of 45 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.

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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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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.7
800 Reviews (800)

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 45
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Nevada Advisor
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

One of the best courses in the desert

Just a fantastic course and staff. Very friendly and professional. Great conditions and greens. Stimping 9-11. Beautiful views and interesting layout. They're doing it right. Other courses could learn a thing a two including the privates. Highly recommend. Don't ask questions.....Just play it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great track

This is a challenging course, but fair - if you play the right tees.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

You sold us a tee time at 12:40 we arrived to find it at 12:50 , then we finally got away at 1:04 so we were not able to finish the round .

Some of our guests had come 1500 miles for 4 days of golf. I am disappointed. Rod

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Rain Day!

What a great experience playing this course! Staff was great course was well maintained! Greens were immaculate! Ready to play there again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A very enjoyable golf course for players of all abilities!

Teed off just before 1:00PM and didn’t expect to get 18 holes in before dark but to our surprise and delight our foursome played in under 4 hours. . The course is in excellent condition....greens, tees and fairways which was also a surprise given the amount of play. It had rained in the morning and was cart path only when we started but that restriction was lifted after a few holes....another surprise which was great. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The course Is not overly difficult but challenging enough for a good player with some interesting holes and very playable for the average golfer. A good layout. Enjoyable day!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Outstanding Day on the Course

This is by far one of the best courses I have ever played. Practicing at the range every day, and played on New Years Day. What a treat! Staff are excellent, and the course was in excellent condition. We were the first group out, but had an hour frost delay. Wouldn't you know it, the coldest day of the year in Palm Desert. Other than that, it was as good as it gets!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course

This course was heavily used and equally maintained! Just as a successful course should be. Excellent layout! We will certainly look forward to playing here again! Thank you!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 37
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great track

This course has a excellent layout, difficult but not over the top. Wide and long enough to use the driver on most holes. Some very nice par 3’s and some lengthily par 4’s. Firecliff is one of my favorites in the valley.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

First Time on Course

Excellent round of golf, especially for this "novice." Had a brand new set of clubs, played today for the first time on this course and with these clubs. Served me very well! Excellent job, staff!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
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 Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun

Played with my two grandsons and we had a great time. Only problem was duo to the twosome ahead of us , they were very slow due to playing more than one ball each and we were in a rush to beat sun set. We just managed the last two holes but was not comfortable in the darkness. Was not managements fault but rudeness on the part of the group ahead of us.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Brilliant course

Absolutely stunning layout.

Top condition on the fairways and greens.

One of the best Inhave played over 25 years of playing golf.

Firecliff.

I played mountain view last time and it was heavenly as well

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice track

Layout is very good and challenging. Greens rolled good. Each green had plenty of breaks. Disappointing that the bunkers were not raked and a couple of tee boxes little ragged. Other than that recommend it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

When you pay more than $100 you expect a course in very good shape !

I’ve been playing this course every year I come to Palm Spring and every year the 2 courses are less and less taking care of. They are sitting on their reputation...

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/08/2019

Certainly does not rate a "1" A little disappointing perhaps, but I played on 1/1, and found the course to be absolutely beautiful! First time, and I was impressed.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

SLOW!!

No fun to play a hard course and wait 20 minutes on every shot. If you like playing a 6 hour round behind a bunch of beginners, then this is your course. Left after 5 holes. Waste of time and money.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Desert Willow - As Nice as the cool side of the Pillow

Upon arrival, early morning and in the dark, my clubs were put on a cart and waiting for me after I checked in. And speaking of checking in, Brett in the pro shop is super friendly and helpful. I checked in outside and they gave me a PAGER!? Yes, they give you a pager when you go to the range, and it buzzes and tells you when to report to the first tee! Range was perfect, and it is turf not mats. Course was just opened after the overseed and it was perfect. not a bad lie all day, and greens were pure, thought a little slow. fun day, definitely one of the top courses in the area, and the views are stunning. Not as majestic as Bighorn, but you will be pleased you came here to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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