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Rating Index Rating
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4.7
802 Reviews (802)
5 Stars
587
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
96.0%
Recommend this course
757 out of 802 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
18 Reviews (18)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.4
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.4%
Recommend this course
17 out of 18 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
46 Reviews (46)
5 Stars
38
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
95.7%
Recommend this course
44 out of 46 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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Reviews

4.7
802 Reviews (802)

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

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 209
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
California Advisor
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Track!

Next to PGA West, think this is the best overall track in the desert. Service was excellent, and course was in great shape. I played the Firecliff on this day and had a great time. Pace of play was also good. Only waited on a couple par 3's on the back 9. Not sure I would recommend at the normal rates, but is a great track and would absolutely play again for $89.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

great set up

From the drop off of bags, to paying, to starters everything was top notch. If I lived here this would be my home course! I play 2 different courses a week down here, and every thing was the best. The course was in great shape, greens rolled fast and bunkers had great sand.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course

I absolutely loved this course just stunning every hole. The bad thing is that it was way to slow. on a few of the holes there were 4 groups on a single hole. It took 5 hours to get through 18. By 14th hole I had enough and my game went down hill. I wish they had spaced out the tee times better. I really loved the seniery on this course just gorgeous!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

In my humble high-handicap opinion, these courses at Desert Willow are among the finest in the entire area. One of the most appealing aspects of this complex is that the vacation dwellings do NOT line each fairway, but remain in background mainly. Each hole presents a unique and scenic challenge and it would take even the best golfer some time before he/she would tire of playing it I would think. This is the more difficult of the two courses, but I'm so bad, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. It is a little pricey, but compared to other high-end courses, a pretty good deal and a great deal if you live in Palm Desert.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Top golf in California

Have been playing 20 courses around San Diego and now Palm Springs area. This is the be best course we have played so far (including Torrey Pines). Super condition and excellent course design makes it into an amazing golf experience. Playtime 4 hrs. Staff is very professional and club house has everything you need. Can't wait to get back here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Desert Willow Golf Course

Great lay out, a somewhat easy front but a challenging back. I had not played the Firecliff course yet. This was the first time... I had played the Mountain Course 3 times and I find them very enjoyable as well as moderate challenging. You get rewarded for the good shots and penalized for the bad shots. I played with my two sons and although only 18 and 20 year olds and with only about 5 - 6 years experience, they played fast and we stayed with the group ahead, waiting in about 5 or 6 holes only. I highly recommend the club and I will be back soon.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Bring your Shovel!

I think when they renovated this course they bought too much sand and needed to use it so they just added bunkers all over. This course is littered with bunkers, but I am not complaining because it challenges the player and gives the player an opp. to practice bunker shots. The downside is that it can slow up play on the course if the players are not that great at bunker shots. I witnessed 6 shots just to get out of bunkers.

Stunning course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Desert willow firecliff

I was in Palm Desert on a golf vacation this week and played several courses in the area. Every other course I played was in fantastic shape and in Primo conditions. I was excited to play desert willow but when I got there and started my round I couldn't believe how awful of shape the course conditions were . The greens are horrible they rolled about a seven on the stimp. The fairways were sparse in the sand looked like it had never been raked the previous day. I let the pro shop know that I was very very very disappointed and they did nothing to accommodate me. I'm sure this course gets in very good shape around January but in my opinion for playing a course at $120 I should've been refunded some of my money. I I paid the same amount for courses with a bigger name and they are in fantastic shape. At this point I have a sour taste in my mouth about desert willow I'm not sure I'll go back the next time in I'm in the desert.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course but due to slow play in front (2 foursomes)could not finish the 18 holes

Too bad for the money you pay

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

All time favorite course

Great experience as always, even though greens were still rather slow since overseeding!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

service at the reastaurant is slow

Great course to play. I play the Firecliff course every time I am in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great layout, fantastic scenery

The course is a really nice track. Unfortunately the greens were quite rough and not consistent . I think the course had just opened up the day before after over seeding. When I played it last year the greens were outstanding , hopefully they will get there again.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

beautiful course

tough course in excellent condition

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great Dersert Course

In my top 5 courses in Palm

Springs area. Beautiful scenery with great fairways, bunkers and water. Must keep the ball on the fairways. Greens were firm and fast. Last year played the other course on site and they are both exceptional. Full on Pro shop with all the goodies. Food and adult beverages were the best. Check the discount sites for good rates. Sign up on website for specials. Hit 'em straight!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Not up to the usual standards

Course winding down and greens were punched and a bit untrue. Sandtraps were baked and hard, so some in our group (names withheld) struggled to get under ball. Patio is usually a highlight and was a bit disappointing with a reduced menu. All signs of shutting down things in the desert. Still on the rotation but was the worst conditioned course of our week in PSP.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

great course

Everything about the course was 1st class

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
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