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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
958 Reviews (958)
5 Stars
606
4 Stars
268
3 Stars
61
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
11
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
89.3%
Recommend this course
884 out of 958 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.5
72.7%
Recommend this course
8 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
36 Reviews (36)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
83.3%
Recommend this course
30 out of 36 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Strategically placed bunkers and heavily undulated greens create a rewarding challenge that consistently earns top marks for course layout and conditions. Exceptionally friendly staff and strong overall value make this desert resort course a repeat favorite for visiting golfers.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 71
Length 7006 yards
Slope 135
Rating 73.7

Nick Faldo brings his exacting, often critical eye to West Coast golf for the first time at this Shadow Ridge Golf Course in Palm Desert. Faldo wanted a design that forced a ton of strategic choices and the architect team of Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt delivered for him.

Options? You want options!

Ten of Shadow Ridge's 18 holes are doglegs. The towering Santa Rosa Mountains serve as backdrop. The tall native tawny grasses contrasts sharply with the white sand bunkering. But it's the golf choices that are likely to seize your attention at this 7,006-yard, par-71 course.

The finish alone is enough to rattle an average golfer to the bone. No. 17 is a 157-yard par 3 that puts the wind in your face and nothing but trouble straight ahead. There's a lake to carry, deep bunkers and a green that slants left to right like a wayward chalkboard. No. 18, a 446-yard par-4, places both a stream and big fairway bunkers right in the straightest path to the green.

"The fairways are generous and the bunkering style is bold," Faldo said. "And the greens have plenty of subtle undulations that reward and encourage a variety of approach shots."

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Shadow Ridge Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2000
Golf Season Year round
Architect Nick Faldo (2000) Lee E. Schmidt (2000) Brian Curley (2000)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS Yes
Clubs No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Golfzon Leadbetter Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Sauna, Locker Rooms

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

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Reviews

4.6
958 Reviews (958)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 44
Patio Dining 32
Brunch 20
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 79
Undulating Greens 70
Water Hazards 57
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 52
A Weekend Splurge 42
Locals 37
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 66
Convenient to the City 44
Worth the Drive 26

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 47
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Excellent

Not a single complaint. Great pace, friendly staff and beautifully maintained course. If deciding to try some courses in the area then this should be at the top of the list. Right now stay away from Jack Nicklaus Tournament course. poor conditions.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course… great service.

Course was in great shape. Greens were sanded but not that big a deal. Service was excellent!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course Excellent Condition

We played this course and Highly Recommend. Cart Service was available, Great Staff

Great Layout

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 23
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Golf Course!

Shadow Ridge is a great golf course! It had a great layout with lots of very scenic views. We loved it!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Layout!

I really enjoyed the course! The condition of the fairways was so, so……and the greens were running very slow. We were not aware that the greens were being kept higher in anticipation of the LPGA Q School event being held there in a couple of days.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Summer delight

Beautiful golf course, courses in phenomenal shape especially considering it is summertime! Some challenging holes had a great time,

highly recommend!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 51
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Good First Visit

This is an interesting course, with lots of variety and some seriously swoopy greens. We played the gold tees which were plenty challenging and would be a bit burly for medium and short hitters. Conditions for July were excellent and the greens were firm and fast enough to still have some break. The practice areas are phenomenal, and if you really want to work on your game, they make the course worthwhile for that alone. Good shot values and most holes can be played several different ways., which means you could play here often and not get bored.

My only two knocks were that play was a bit slow, and given the heat, that made it pretty tiring. Second, the course winds its way around a hotel complex, and though some holes are isolated, many are bordered by condos and you can hear and see the pool areas nearby. In my book, this keeps this course from being the same level as courses like Desert Willow and my Indio favorite, Eagle Falls. Still, impressive, overall.

Will be back again, especially at the right price.

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

Thanks

Staff was very friendly very helpful fantastic. We had a great time went with the family half of them left at the front nine. Played the back nine with my son and kicked his butt. Unfortunately they are just punched not too long ago so there were some sand on the greens but that’s OK it was still a great round at a great pace at a great course. Thank you to the staff though for being such helpful people in friendly people

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Pretty good

Got there right before they punched the greens, but that's not unusual for this time of year. Might have benefitted if I'm being honest.

World class practice facility. Honestly, it's worth the price just for the practice.

Staff is amazing as you'd expect from Mariott. And you get a discount by charging it to your room.

Pace of play could improve by starting people on the back nine since they close at 1 p.m.

Will be back!!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Nice round

I play here once or twice a year. We played at 12:30. After passing a slow single player on the second hole, we did not see another group the whole day. Played a leisurely 4 hour round. More brown areas on the fairways than past summers, but given the drought, I didn’t mind. Greens were true and fairly fast. Some of the bunkers had packed down sand. It was only 100 degrees in Palm Springs, a relatively cool summer day.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Disappointing condition and layout considering reputation

Played here for the first time in the heat last week of June. The course was not in good shape The greens had been aerified, which they warned us about so not a surprise. But the fairways and other areas weren't in great shape either. They looked like maintenance had fallen off at the course. It wasn't just the heat. It just looked uncared for.

I've played most of the famous courses in the valley, like the PGAs, La Quinta, Indian Wells, etc...I would much rather play those than this track, despite its pedigree. Its out in the middle of the valley, away from the signature rock faces of La Quinta, and carved out of the sand dunes in a pretty generic way. Not a very memorable experience or layout. Honestly, considering all the other options, I don't think I'd play it again.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

what happened to the water coolers

course in great shape. Played on a hot Juner afternoon and was a little disappointed that there were only two water stations functioning. Multiple stands that hold water coolers were empty. Strange for a summer round in hot temps. Played this course every year for last 15 years at this time of year and never had problem with water stations in the past. Course was fantastic and was scheduled to be aerified in two days and only nine holes will be available. Prices also not as discounted as in the past but still a good value.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy accommodations at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort, the Tommy Bahama Resort & Spa, the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, or the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa and golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Palm Mountain Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, Indian Canyons – North Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

Aviara Stay & Play Package

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