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Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

4.7
803 Reviews (803)
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Rating Snapshot

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Rating Index Rating
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4.7
803 Reviews (803)
5 Stars
588
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
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96.0%
Recommend this course
758 out of 803 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.4
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.7%
Recommend this course
18 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
35
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
95.3%
Recommend this course
41 out of 43 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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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: 74.3/140 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
Hot Deals 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

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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.7
803 Reviews (803)

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
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Default User Avatar
John6319461
Played On
Reviews 97
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
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
Featured
Find Out More >>
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
Default User Avatar
ys721110
Played On
Reviews 3
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 42
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 42
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
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
15h3TD3ReXujeTCRX9hY
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course

we were so looking forward to playing The Firecliff course and it did not disappoint. This is by far the most beautiful and well conditioned course we have ever played. only complaint was the greens were very hard and balls would bounce off but we expected that since they are new greens. will definitely play this again next time we are here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/21/2025

Firmest greens in the Desert. A real test of golf. Both skillfully and mentally.

Default User Avatar
dtcg2HzuMlVcNAeFSNsU
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
JeffSpere
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Cv1XpqB4BwA2JzpqXXv6
Played On
Reviews 2
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
u000006821212
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Stunning golf course

First time playing Firecliff. The condition of the course was amazing with beautiful views. Cannot wait to play again

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
dscornell
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Desert Oasis-Perfection

Wonderful course and wonderful practice area. Very similar to Shadow Ridge with undulating fairways and challenging greens. A lot of Sand that demands careful shot planning. Today the course won, but I’ll be back…….

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
2 3 4 5 6
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