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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
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
15
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.1%
Recommend this course
16 out of 17 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 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Okay,but slow

Course okay and scenic as expected, but very slow, so didn’t finish round

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

we love this course

the course is beautiful. the fairways were good and the greens were faster than last time. we played at 2:30 at super twilight but we only got to the 15th hole. play was a little slow. last time we got to the 17th before dark.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Worth a try

This is a very nice golf course that can be difficult for anyone that doesn't keep the ball in the fairway. You rarely see the other holes other than the one you are on so if the ball goes left or right it is likely lost. The day we played they were a week or two foreclosing for overseeing so the course was not in as goo a shape as it normally would be so I couldn't give it five stars but both courses here are worth playing if you get a chance.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nicest shape in the Valley!

Booked on Golf Now. Price was perfect. Loved playing there and will be back. It’s worth every penny!

Bobby Beats

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

Great muni

These two muni courses feel more like private or semi private clubs. The layout of the course is very golfer friendly, wide fairways and generous greens. The only drawback was the price of greens fees, a little high for munis.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Desert Willow Firecliff course

Neve seen a course in soo good condition. The scenery is really like playing in Tucson. Staff is veary friendly. The whole place in clean and really nice.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/17/2017

How were the greens? Overall condition?

Played On
Reviews 60
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

very nice course to play

this course very well maintenance friendly staff would like again

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
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 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very Picturesque.

Desert Willows is worth playing. The course is challenging but manageable with intelligent play. Can highly recommend. The staff were absolutely amazing.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
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 Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Absolutely a beautiful course , every hole is well laid out and appeals to the eye . Well worth the money

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tough well manicured track

Bermuda grass greens and all. Not my favorite but still fair. More difficult than the Mountain course. Great amenities and golf course. Very friendly staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/25/2017

Have you played much in Palm Desert? I have 2 days to play out there in October and want to pack in as much as I can.

Between overseeding and public access, I am looking at the Firecliff course, once at JW (where I am staying) and the Mountain and Norman courses at LaQuinta. I'm not sure I want to play 72 holes in 2 days, maybe 54. Do you have any recommendations?

Played On
Reviews 1000
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 1 Contributor
California Advisor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Ffirecliff

Played the Blues (6676/71.7/133) with GK Guru's Roarsown1, Adigitalg87 and Rudyclub. Thanks to Robert, Gus and Tim for a great round! Pace of play was okay for a Sunday morning, around 4 1/2 hours in overcast conditions playing behind a tournament that moved well. Firecliff has a beautiful layout, well above average even by the high standards of the Palm Springs area. Really solid course at least as difficult as the ratings indicate. Numerous lakes that are very much in play to avoid. Many of the fairways appear tight from the tee vantage point. However, this is much more of a grip it & rip it course than first impressions indicate. Even with native/desert scape down both sides of most holes and with penalty shots lurking everywhere, I find most of the fairways are generous in width once you get out over 175 yards from the blues. The Bermuda tees were lush with even the par 3's fairly well maintained for divots. The Bermuda fairways were very lush. Firm but mowed high, which reduced the amount of roll. The course played much longer than in the winter. The Bermuda rough was very nice to chip/pitch out of. The ball sat up, but playing longer clubs was chancy because it would grab your club. The traps were nice overall with a decent amount of fluffy sand. The greens were firm and putted medium speed with few ball marks. The customer service was excellent from all encountered. The drink cart was out making the rounds & complementary range balls are included with your round on a great practice facility. Excellent touch was the attendant out delivering ice water towels to cool off with! The course overall was in excellent late summer condition, definitely the best of any of the 5 courses I played out here this week. One of my favorite courses in the Palm Springs area, highly recommend.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Workers

Nice course lots of work going on at nearly every hole.

Maybe because of time of play.

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

Gorgeous course with nice views!

Beautiful, Brutal Beatdown with great views! Not a single house on this track! I did not have my best round off the tee so it made it difficult to recover but I had a great time! I will be back to play again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Good Saturday

I am a local and I golf every Saturday morning with a buddy for the last 2-3 years. although we never score like we would like-(lol) we always have enjoyed the course very well. It's a nice layout, It's in good condition, the staff is always professional & just an overall Nice Day always there at Desert Willows.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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