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Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

4.7
791 Reviews (791)
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4.7
791 Reviews (791)
5 Stars
578
4 Stars
160
3 Stars
31
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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96.3%
Recommend this course
747 out of 791 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.9
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.6
Layout
5.0
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.6
100.0%
Recommend this course
11 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
50 Reviews (50)
5 Stars
42
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
96.0%
Recommend this course
48 out of 50 reviews
Read Reviews

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

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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Reviews

4.7
791 Reviews (791)

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Recommended
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Default User Avatar
Gingergolfer60
Played On
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Brilliant for everything

First time back in 6 yrs. Things have only got better. Superb experience from start to finish. Would go as far as saying this is one of the best courses I have played - and travelling the world I have played a lot! Well done to all. Firecliff will be visited again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
QLcGj1bROgTl8ZFAMsxC
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Default User Avatar
u314160960094
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Default User Avatar
TcPete
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Imtheman2020
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Kip1346504
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Desert Willow is a Gem!!

Highly recommend both Mountainview and Firecliff! Our group from Minnesota really enjoyed both courses the last week of January! They were in great shape (the driving range was a little beat up) and we loved the practice area, pro shop and lunch on the patio!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
1basswire
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Featured
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u000006669094
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great course, Great condition

You get what you pay for, a Great conditioned course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
u314162478071
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
drcaskibajr
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Fun but slow play

Overall nice day

Slow play

Bag drop could use improvements on arriving and after round

Directional signage could be better too

But overall nice course

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
jsdotzler
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
mkudlo
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
thairish
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Good shape for summer time

Wide open course in good shape for summer, be sure to stay in the fairways and out of the native area. The rolling hills and valleys and uneven lies make it very challenging if you don't.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
dgolfn
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
mkudlo
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
mphgolfs
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pleasantly surprised

I had a great opportunity to play the Firecliff course at Desert willow the other day and to my surprise I loved everything about it . The fairways were in great condition, no burned or dried out spots that I’ve witnessed. The greens even in better shape . They rolled very true and were very consistent from the first hole to to the 18th. It does play a little so don’t forget any clubs behind . What I really enjoyed is the fact this course starts with a par 5 and ends with a par 5 . Beautiful picturesque course with a great design and layout . Would highly recommend this course to all …

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
ec1957
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
kyle0597
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course

Even in the summer, this course maintains a high quality product. Greens run at a good speed for the summer. Lot's of water stations available throughout the round. Pace of play was a little slow for first few holes but then picked up and we finished in 4 hours and 15 minutes. The ice cold towel 1/2 way through the round was so refreshing (it was 110 the day I played) and a sign of their top notch customer service. Anytime this course is less than $100, play it!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
strita
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course and staff.

For this time of year and the temperature they are getting this course was in excellent shape. Firecliff!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Miks99
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A little slow

Course was excellent, especially for summer. Pace of play was slow for a summer afternoon.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Default User Avatar
RC007
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great everything there!

Just a great place to golf year round.. Thank you staff and everybody at desert willow for your service!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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