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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
966 Reviews (966)
5 Stars
608
4 Stars
272
3 Stars
63
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
11
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.1
86.6%
Recommend this course
891 out of 966 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.7
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.4
76.5%
Recommend this course
13 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.0
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
82.6%
Recommend this course
19 out of 23 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

4.4
966 Reviews (966)

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 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

If you like sand traps and water......

Plenty of traps and water to challenge you. We played the gold tees and allowed for a very fun morning of golf. Waited for a short period on about half the holes. Course was in excellent shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

You need to play this course several times because it requires local knowledge.

I think the course is over-priced to the public. It was in summer heat condition. The greens have several different levels that require a lot of course knowledge to putt. The fairways need that same local knowledge, so if you plan to play this course only once, don't do it. You must stay in the fairway.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great experience.

Very attentive staff and a well maintained, challenging golf course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 70
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

A very enjoyable course with the right amount of challenges

A very enjoyable course with the right amount of challenges

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course

It's s fun course but the bunkers can use some softer sand

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Course in Great Shape

I was surprised how well the course conditions were as the temperature during the afternoon was above 105 degrees. Greens were fast and true and not too many people on the course. The course does present a lot of risk to reward scenarios. You can play it safe but then you could be looking at needing to make a long putt for par.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice Course

Faldo design that is somewhat unique out in the Desert. Layout & set-up promote "bump & run" approaches, but still very challenging with the greens dry, hard & wicked fast. Overall very enjoyable.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Lots of sand and water

From the time we arrive to the course the staff was great free balls @ the range and GPS what else can you ask for

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very nicechalenge

Excellent codition except for front nine greens which were slightly burned out. Speaking of the greens, they were fast with tough pin placements that made the large contoured greens very difficult to putt. That said, it is a great course with challenges at al levels of play.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A great golf course offering real value thru the Summer.

As a low handicap golfer I enjoy tough challenges, firm greens (that only reward well struck approaches), and complex, smooth greens. Despite being a resort course with sometimes wide fairways, the Faldo designed Shadow Ridge has reasonable length and fairway bunkers that call for good management. The greens are cut shorter than most desert greens this time of year and putt quite smoothly. This must be one of the ten best tracks in the Valley - certainly one of the most enjoyable - and has large established trees providing good shade next to the tees.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very Challenging Resort Course

Shadow Ridge Golf Course is a very challenging resort course. Playing from the gold tees at 6200 yards, this course has plenty of length for any golfer greater than a 10 handicap. The greatest challenge to the course is avoiding the many bunkers and the speed of the greens. The greens are a new hybrid Bermuda green called Tiff-Eagle. These greens are smooth and run really fast. More so than your typical Bermuda green. I love this course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The greens

The greens are tough and the bunkers are deep. Remember when you play you are in the desert and your ball will go farther.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great staff, great course

Good experience, short term booking, flexible start time, very friendly staff from check in to starter, good course condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

One of our favorites!

The course is very well maintained and is challenging for any level of player. Bunkers are in play on almost all of the holes and water is very near on quite a few as well. Partice facility is fantastic and you can spend a few hours just on it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Very good course. Challenging

Shadow Ridge is a well maintained course with lots of memorable holes. You have to hit it straight. Wouldn't recommend it for big handicappers. Staff is Attentive and friendly. Nice clubhouse and restaurant.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice.....

Great course..Excellent condition and quite challenging. Bring your sand wedge. Fun to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

The course is beautiful and fun to play. Bring extra balls!

This is a great course and I look forward to playing here again even though it beat me up a bit. The only negative thing I would have to say is that there are some fairway bunkers soley designed to punish the higher handicappers which makes an already challenging course that much more difficult and slows down the pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

will definatley return to this course

Overall a very good experience. Course was in excellent condition (much better than PGA west!)

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Challenging and less forgiving than most here in the desert

Course in great shape, practice facility is first class. If you can't shoot under a 100, probably not the course for you. Lots of deep unforgiving bunkers and errant drives will mostly be gone. Play South Indian Canyons if you want a more forgiving course, also in great shape but greens at shadow ridge quicker and firmer.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great track and a good challenge.

The course presents a beautiful array of views from each hole. the long par 4s and the short par 4s are equally challenging.
Its not a target course but you do have to pick your shots carefully to avoid trouble on certain holes.
The course is is very nice shape. Makes you feel that you are far away from everything but there is a hint that its not as on one of the holes you can actually see a Lowes hardware store. Not an eye sore - but it makes you aware of the great job they did in setting this course up.
Very nice finishing hole - Trust me - club up on your approach shot.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

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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.

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