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Rating Index Rating
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4.8
809 Reviews (809)
5 Stars
593
4 Stars
162
3 Stars
32
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.7
96.5%
Recommend this course
764 out of 809 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.6
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.5
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.9
95.7%
Recommend this course
22 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
33 Reviews (33)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.7
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.8
97.0%
Recommend this course
32 out of 33 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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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

4.8
809 Reviews (809)

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 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 1001
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
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 42
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always enjoy playing here

The staff are extremely friendly and ready to assist players. I even had a guy from the pro shop come to the range to check out my swings to see if I needed club fitting. He didn't try to sell the service and, in fact, just gave me good tips to hit the ball straight. Some very good tips. Thanks to his advice, I played +3 in the front 9. This coirse is a must for Palm Desert. I'm a resident, and I enjoy aging here at least once or twice a month.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
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 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Track

The course was in great shape, and the greens were nice and true, could be a little faster but considering the time of year and being so Hot they were the best greens I have played on all week,, I will play this course every time I come out to Palm Springs !!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Desert Willow Fire Cliff

A Great course with excellent greens and a great layout. Good for all skill levels.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

One of the Best..

One of the best courses I have played as far as course conditions. Fairways and tee boxes were absolutely pristine and the greens rolled true.

Didnt have much options at the turn for food wise but the bar inside is very nice with great views out to the course.

Playing the tips makes this course difficult as some of the tees are way back on some holes and make the Par 3's a real challenge.

The scented ice cold towels on the course are also a great touch.

Ben (from Mississippi) in the pro shop was also a great help and very friendly.

Firecliff gets my vote for best course in Palm Desert area! Definitely will be back!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent Course

POP was 4.25 hours, beautiful day with nice winds.. just what I expected coming from the I.E.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Hot Condition at Desert Willow Firecliff

Course was in excellent condition. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Was hot around 103. Several holes are really good to look at from the tee box. Greens speed was moderate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful tough but fair layout

One of our fav courses in the desert. Great practice facility, start times always on time, and friendly staff. Fairways are awesome and greens somewhat fast. Love Firecliff...

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course is in great condition.

Really enjoyed this course. Beautifully maintained.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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