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4.7
950 Reviews (950)
5 Stars
602
4 Stars
266
3 Stars
59
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
11
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
92.9%
Recommend this course
879 out of 950 reviews
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
6 Reviews (6)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.8
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
6 out of 6 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
36 Reviews (36)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
91.7%
Recommend this course
33 out of 36 reviews
Read Reviews

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

4.7
950 Reviews (950)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
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
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Course is very playable for all skill levels.

The Faldo course at Shadow Ridge is a "must play".
Played the course on April 27, 2013 and the course conditions were perfect! The greens rolled true at moderate speeds. Most every hole has a "risk/reward" option. There are no bad lies in the fairways or rough and the bunkers are groomed.

The driving range is one of the best in the desert. Turf tees with brand new Taylor Made range balls.
The clubhouse is very nice and a very well stocked pro shop. There are many of Nick Faldo's momentos on display.

There is nothing not to like about this real gem of a course
Oh and Happy Hour in the Faldo Bar & Grill is all day long!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Nice & Boring

In general the course is not memorable. Back 9 is much nicer than the front but there are much better courses for the money.

Comparable to Westin Mission Hills Gary Player.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Bunkers, bunkers and more bunkers!

The course was in very good condition. The golf attendants and shop attendant were very courteous and helpful however, the Starter, Chuck's social skills weren't the best.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Challenging course with lots of bunkers around the greens.

I paid $39 through GolfNow for a 2:15 tee time. The course was challenging and well maintained, except I thought the bunkers could have used more sand. The other players in my group agreed. It was difficult to slide the club under the ball in the traps. I still liked the layout of the course and will play it again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Challenging but well worth playing

We will be playing this course again. You need to play it more than once so you get familiar with its layout. Great shape and great value.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser

lots of bunkers...not very pretty from the first tee..gets better

you get what you pay for... decent golf course...minimal
extras such as help with bag...

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Pace of play was horrible.

Pace of play was horrible. Marshall came by about 7th hole and said group in front of us was slow but on pace of play. We never saw him after that and they got slower. They were on green with our group on fairway and group behind us on tee many times after that. It took over 5 hours. Two groups behind us gave up and drove past us and went on in. Otherwise, course was in good shape but 5 hours plus is never fun.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Unfair greens

The greens and some fairways are so sloped that sometimes a decent or even good shot will roll into the water. That's not a fair test of golf. It's too gimicky.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

This course is very good.

A beautiful course with some stunning views of the mountains. It is in great shape, very good practice range and putting green.
Staff was great and pace of play was good.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Good value thru golf now.com. Staff friendly but only saw cart girl once.

Good value. Some bunkers needed more sand. Only saw cart girl once which was a bit of a pain. Beautiful setting with many stellar mountain views. GPS on cart worked well and was very handy. We'd play here again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Difficult but Fair

We love Shadow Ridge! It's a fun and interesting course. The greens are tough (undulating and fast) but that's part of the challenge!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Finishing four holes are difficult especially with a head wind.

Pace of play was good for a resort course. A little "worn in spots"
Middle tees are a little much for 15/18 handicapper . Four finishing holes really difficult especially into the prevailing west wind.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Excellent customer service, great course, excellent greens

We played here and really enjoyed the experience. The course was breathtaking as well as immaculately maintained. Carts with GPS and coolers, and frequent visits from the beverage cart all made this experience worth every penny.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Championship layout

This is an extremely difficult layout for a resort course open to the public. There are hazards built in that serve no purpose other than to frustrate the high handicap golfers and thereby unnecessarily prolong the time of the golf round. For example, waste bunkers that extend a hundred yards or more immediately in front of tee boxes. These present no challenge to the fifteen or lower handicap golfer but could cause the higher handicap golfers to thrash around getting out of the bunkers and then incur additional strokes by trying to make up ground with impossibly long fairway shot attempts.

Another feature that is unfair and time consuming to the average resort golfer is the highly sloped and contoured greens. As an example, I hit my tee shot to the center of a par three green where it settled leaving me a fifteen foot putt. As I walked back to my cart, one of my playing partners said that my ball had started to roll. It had indeed and continued to roll off the green and into a water hazard. This might be expected for a champion level tournament course but is in my opinion unfair and unnecessary for a resort course open to all levels of golfing skill. When you combine the greens design with pin placements half way up the slopes, your are guaranteeing rounds of five plus hours.

We were the first group off at six am and our round took fours hours. I can easily envision five hour plus rounds on this course at prime tee off times.

With so many other courses to play in the desert it will be a long time before I return to this one.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice course

This course is worth playing - a little expensive for what you get (the GPS is below average and if you do not know the course you need to have a yardage book to figure out strategy- they should provide this for the price). Sir Nick tricked up a few of the greens but they roll very nice and hold a good shot. Fun to play!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Very fair and pristine

One of the best in palm desert excellent condition

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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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.

Best of Indian Wells Package

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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.

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

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