Palmer Course at Wildfire Golf Club at Desert Ridge
About
The Palmer Course at Wildfire Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and built in 1997. The par-72 golf course measures 7,145 yards from the tournament tees. "I enjoy designing golf courses that celebrate the sheer fun of golf," Palmer said about this course, "and Wildfire is exactly that."
The Bermuda grass Palmer Course at Wildfire Golf Club is one of two championship courses at the club. It features a GPS option that offers golfers detailed mapping of the Faldo and Palmer courses, precise yardages for tee shots and approach shots to the greens, and the chance to order breakfast and lunch from the golf cart. Additional features include communication with the golf shop, a CBS Sportsline ticker with all scores 24 hours a day, and the leader board for tournaments. Its sibling, the Faldo golf course, also features the system.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament | 72 | 7145 yards | 72.7 | 142 |
| Championship | 72 | 6645 yards | 70.4 | 131 |
| Championship (W) | 72 | 6645 yards | 77.4 | 132 |
| Regular | 72 | 6060 yards | 68.1 | 122 |
| Regular (W) | 72 | 6060 yards | 74.0 | 126 |
| Forward | 72 | 5390 yards | 64.8 | 109 |
| Forward (W) | 72 | 5390 yards | 70.6 | 118 |
| Wildfire | 72 | 4835 yards | 62.2 | 99 |
| Wildfire (W) | 72 | 4835 yards | 68.5 | 107 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 72.7/142 | 415 | 450 | 605 | 345 | 160 | 415 | 465 | 225 | 520 | 3600 | 420 | 550 | 430 | 175 | 530 | 205 | 355 | 450 | 430 | 3545 | 7145 |
| Blue M: 70.4/131 W: 77.4/132 | 360 | 420 | 580 | 315 | 140 | 395 | 445 | 185 | 470 | 3310 | 385 | 520 | 410 | 165 | 510 | 185 | 325 | 430 | 405 | 3335 | 6645 |
| Blue/White M: 69.4/126 W: 74.6/127 | 360 | 380 | 550 | 315 | 140 | 360 | 385 | 185 | 450 | 3125 | 385 | 520 | 375 | 145 | 510 | 185 | 325 | 390 | 350 | 3185 | 6310 |
| White M: 68.1/122 W: 74.0/126 | 340 | 380 | 550 | 275 | 130 | 360 | 385 | 160 | 450 | 3030 | 360 | 475 | 375 | 145 | 475 | 165 | 295 | 390 | 350 | 3030 | 6060 |
| White/Red M: 66.5/114 W: 71.9/123 | 340 | 335 | 495 | 275 | 130 | 315 | 385 | 160 | 375 | 2810 | 360 | 425 | 320 | 145 | 430 | 150 | 295 | 345 | 310 | 2780 | 5590 |
| Red M: 64.8/109 W: 70.6/118 | 255 | 335 | 495 | 245 | 125 | 315 | 355 | 160 | 375 | 2660 | 340 | 425 | 320 | 145 | 430 | 150 | 265 | 345 | 310 | 2730 | 5390 |
| Red/Brown M: 63.3/103 W: 69.6/116 | 255 | 330 | 450 | 245 | 100 | 300 | 355 | 135 | 280 | 2450 | 340 | 395 | 320 | 125 | 385 | 120 | 265 | 315 | 310 | 2575 | 5025 |
| Brown M: 62.2/99 W: 68.5/107 | 230 | 330 | 450 | 220 | 100 | 300 | 315 | 135 | 280 | 2360 | 310 | 395 | 300 | 125 | 385 | 120 | 240 | 315 | 285 | 2475 | 4835 |
| Handicap | 11 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
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Course Details
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Available Facilities
Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities, SpaAvailable Sports
TennisReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by horncoug on 08/27/2025
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Photo submitted by horncoug on 08/27/2025
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Photo submitted by BigYeti10 on 07/10/2025
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Photo submitted by Peter2461971 on 05/02/2025
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Photo submitted by buckysih on 05/02/2023
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Photo submitted by 1irishguy47 on 03/13/2023
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Photo submitted by 1irishguy47 on 03/13/2023
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Photo submitted by EarlJr on 06/30/2021
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Photo submitted by EarlJr on 06/30/2021
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Photo submitted by EarlJr on 06/30/2021
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Photo submitted by Jwf469 on 05/20/2021
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Photo submitted by mrprice11 on 12/01/2020
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Photo submitted by mrprice11 on 12/01/2020
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Photo submitted by dbittma3 on 11/23/2020
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Photo submitted by dbittma3 on 11/23/2020
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Photo submitted by dbittma3 on 11/23/2020
A Fun Course to Play If You Stay on the Fairway
When Arnie designed this course several decades ago he wanted to bring the illusion of multiple elevations on what was a flat barren desert. Those guys moved tons of dirt to create this land of berms. There are not a lot of golf courses that have artificial berms all over the course. Even the fairways are undulating with bumps appearing throughout.
The most disconcerting feature is the unseen drops off the fairway. If your shot strays just a bit left or right it will land twenty feet down in the sand collection areas.
The pro shop check-in was friendly and efficient with Cheryl.
The starter Devious Dave was a little disorganized. When he promised he would try to work us in early he then "Forgot" because all his members showed up.
This is a hybrid resort course. Half the folks playing here are monthly members and they will always get the nod over hotel guests or other visitors.
The beverage cart lady seemed to be just going through the motions.
This is a nice course and fun to play. There are lots of shots that would be easier the second time around. Many holes are too close together and houses do surround this course.
The pace of play was about four hours and we only saw Jay the Ranger twice.
This is a fun course to play and we would tee it up here again.
Wonderful Staff / Nice course
As usual, Marriott did not disappoint - course staff was fantastic!! I will definitely be back and play many times!!
Great Course we will be back
Good course which is enjoyable but not overly challenging. Given the recent Ladies tournament it was in good condition.
Great Experience
I enjoyed everything about playing the Palmer course.
Fun course
The Palmer course is great. Not too challenging. Interesting layout in the desert. Pace of play was fine, at 4.5 hours we didn't have to wait to hit. Course marshalls and other staff were friendly.
Keith
Beautiful desert course in n Scottsdale. Course was in amazing shape, greens ran true and were quick. Track was challenging yet very fair. Visiting from the Midwest and hadn't played for 3 months so wide fairways were appreciated. Great course for the money.
Only negatives ( a stretch!) is that gps yardage was off by 10 plus yards. Ranger apologized and said grounds put the flags in the wrong slot.
Would come back and play any day!!!
Average
I am glad I got the price that I did from Golf Now because I believe the regular price of this course is over inflated and I would never pay it.
Very nice course
The Palmer course is in great shape. Fast greens but a forgiving course and fun to play
Great staff, great course with a good pace of play.
The course was in excellent playing condition.
Would definitely play there again, loved it.
As a Canadian playing my first round in Arizona, I couldn't have picked a better place. The course was in great shape, the greens super fast and challenging, a first class pristine location and the staff extremely friendly and helpful. Would love to come back and would recommend it to anyone especially any Canadian coming down for some winter golf.
Great course
First time playing Wildfire. We found course and it's amenities as excellent. We got a 'Hot Deal' from GolfNow, which made the experience even better. Course conditions were excellent, one of the best in the Valley. Long holes with big carry to fairway. We played the Gold tees and a couple of guys in our group had trouble carrying their drives to the fairway, as a few holes had 170-180 yard carry.
Great Course! We'll be back.