JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa

Layout & fairways were great for early October but sand traps & fairway bunkers were in bad shape with a ton of weeds covering 10-40% of the bunkers. Very little sand & very hard.

Though the course is challenging but fun. The undulating fairways mean your are hitting 2nd shot either below or above ankles. Keep the ball in the center of the fairway and you will take the many water and sand traps out the game. Hole 17 is brutal especially with the firm green surface. I was able to hit 14 fairways allowing for great scores.

The course was in the poorest condition i have seen having played many times. They had stopped watering in preparation for shut down to do course maintenance. I believe they should have reduced the rate significantly or not allowed play. They have a great reputation and this day was far below standards.

Played both the Valley and Palm courses since the JW opened way back in the 1980’s. This time on the Valley was probably the worse I have seen the course. The bunkers had grass growing in them, the rough was recently cut and there was grass clippings all over the course. Fairways were good, greens rolled good. Just the overall appearance was not what you would expect from the JW course in Palm Desert. I understand it is end of season and soon over seeding.

Gave this place a shot today, the weather was great for the 1st half of the round, then the wind began to bust & dust went flying. I liked this course but I guess I expected a bit more or better for being a JW Marriott property. The course is in a transition phase of preparing for the October overseeding & punching. This course doesn’t play long except when the wind is busting like today.

The property is beautiful with the hotel, pool & several lakes.

Very friendly staff from outside operations, pro shop, beverage cart & even maintenance workers. The rate I got today was fair, as all golf has become expensive, but little things like grass clumps, ant mounds & grass growing out of bunkers is unexpected for this type of facility. I would play this course again, but it would need to be at today’s rate.

Greens are green and the scenery is nice as well