Palms at Marriott's Desert Springs Resort

OK, let me start out this review with a couple of prefacing remarks. 1) I played La Quinta - Dunes the day before, so I am comparing the Marriott with this spectacular Pete Dye designed track. 2) I putted very, very poorly at the Marriott, so maybe it’s just me and not the course. Having said that:

Played the Palms course and found it to be long, relatively flat, and more wide open than I thought with lots and lots of water everywhere. Where there weren’t water hazards there were traps. The course winds through the condos on the property so you’re getting people watching you from their balconies. Big thumbs up for the cart on-board GPS system, which helped identify sand and water hidden from tee box and fairway view and kept me from getting lost among the buildings. Gotta hit the ball straight to score well here, but most fairways are forgiving if you miss the first cut. Water, sand, or both protect all the par-3s. Fairways were in OK shape, second cut rough was long and foreboding (probably from having too many balls go into a patio), but my real gripe is about the greens. They had been punched recently and were heavily sanded. Multiple levels on almost all the greens make it hard enough but the sand and the punched holes really affected the ball. Now I know why the deal on Golf Now was $39 with cart, but someone somewhere should have mentioned that the greens were messed up. Nothing on the website, nothing mentioned in the pro shop at check in, nothing mentioned at the starter before the round. No sign anywhere, nada, nothing. Somehow I think that’s wrong and with all the choices to play in the desert area, I really wish I knew about that before getting onto the first tee. Anyway, that aside, if the greens were in better shape, it would have been a great value for the money. As it was, it was a fun day on a reasonably challenging layout, punctuated by crummy putting greens.

Beautiful and hard at the same time
If you’re able to get a good deal from
Golf Now do play this course !!!

Really enjoyed the play - course across from where we were staying so convenient. Pretty course, somewhat of a challenge, but not too much - highly recommend.

Just a nice layout. Great design, and very fun to play. Challenging, especially with the wind, yet fair. We played the Valley course here too. Just as fun

Too many nice courses in the desert to play this course again. For 175.00, it's no better than a Muni as there was constant noise from traffic and maintenance workers as well as people walking around the resort. The staff has never been that great at this facility as they just push you through with no real congeniality, and check your receipt as they have tried to over charge me twice in the last few times I have been there. Like I said, too many nice courses in the area for the same price or less to come back to this one.

Was a little overwhelmed when we arrived. The complex is HUGE. Bag drop is a little ways to the pro shop. Had to park quite far away. The resort was BUSY! Anyway, the place was great, staff great, and I loved the course. Had a triple on the back but still shot a 79. The greens seemed better than many of the other name brand courses we played. Would love to play it again.

The course is fine, the greens and fairways are nice, the starter and staff don't reallyy have time for anyone as they try to push people through so fast, but I guess that's business. The food at the turn was very good. There is a lot of noise from traffic and being right next to thoroughfares. The maintenance people mowing did not care that they were in your way at all. BUT the Par 3's were nice.. I play in the desert a lot, but won;'t be coming back here. for the cost, I expect at least courtesy from the staff.

Nice course layout with beautiful backdrop. Great finishing holes. The costs was pretty steep for an early week round and was not offered a discount for staying on the property.

Amazing course. A little gem in the desert!
One of my favourites!

Third time to play Desert Springs. Very dependable regarding condition of course, pace of play and just an overall quality course every time.

I first played here in 1986 when I had a convention at the Desert Springs Marriott. It was an eye opening golf course at that time. I went there few more times from the 80s to 90s. Since there were so many new golf courses built in P/S area, I did not play Desert Spring for 20 years. It was a surprise that this place was still the top course in P/S area, my friend and I enjoyed it very much. It was one of the best public golf courses in the desert. It was a long drive from LA, but the it as a great experience.

Presious Course and Great Team (Shop, carts crew and Starter)
Had the opportunity to play with people I didn't knew and we had a Great Time