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
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2017 #23)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u000001545303 on 05/08/2025
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Photo submitted by Nick4694947 on 12/24/2024
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Photo submitted by jubooz15 on 10/11/2024
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Photo submitted by u7203964 on 03/08/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by AYz660v9iERBKLuzQlr9 on 09/27/2023
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Photo submitted by Boone43atc on 09/17/2023
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Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/17/2023
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View from the club house Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/13/2023
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Photo submitted by Peter2461971 on 04/23/2023
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Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by Bradnwendyred06 on 02/03/2022
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Photo submitted by adrianeschwartz on 12/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u000002246008 on 04/08/2021
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Photo submitted by u000006073836 on 02/18/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by u698978221 on 05/28/2019
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Photo submitted by Debikitts on 05/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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There's a Fairway out there Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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18 Par 5 Beautiful hole Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Beep Beep Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
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Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
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Brilliant views from every tee. Photo submitted by Jsratike on 12/31/2016
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Give it a shot Photo submitted by u091450548 on 09/06/2015
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.
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
Rain Day!
What a great experience playing this course! Staff was great course was well maintained! Greens were immaculate! Ready to play there again!
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!
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!
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!!!
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.