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
Okay,but slow
Course okay and scenic as expected, but very slow, so didn’t finish round
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
very nice course to play
this course very well maintenance friendly staff would like again
Very Picturesque.
Desert Willows is worth playing. The course is challenging but manageable with intelligent play. Can highly recommend. The staff were absolutely amazing.
Absolutely a beautiful course , every hole is well laid out and appeals to the eye . Well worth the money
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
How were the greens? Overall condition?