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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
720 Reviews (720)
5 Stars
523
4 Stars
147
3 Stars
28
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.5
94.2%
Recommend this course
678 out of 720 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
35
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.3
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.9
95.3%
Recommend this course
41 out of 43 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
98 Reviews (98)
5 Stars
69
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.7
92.9%
Recommend this course
91 out of 98 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7056 yards
Slope 141
Rating 74.1
Book a Tee Time at
Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff
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Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan (1997) John Cook Dana Fry (1997)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

Reviews

4.6
720 Reviews (720)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 11
Patio Dining 8
19th Hole Scenic Views 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 16
Water Hazards 13
Undulating Greens 10
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 12
A Weekend Splurge 11
Advanced Golfers 11
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 11
Worth the Drive 11
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 25
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 25
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 Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent design, with some units hint bunkers

Never played this time of year. Surprisingly good but not quite as good as it will be after overseeing

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great layout

Great course. Play it when ever I come to Palm Desert

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

wonderful experience at Desert Willow Firecliff

I signed up as a single for an early morning round due to the heat of an August day. I was paired with a threesome, and had a great time. Course was in excellent shape, as usual. Plenty of ice water available every 3 holes, and a marshall even came by and offered us cold towels on the course. Pace of play was perfect. Nice place to have a beverage in the clubhouse after playing.. Overall a great time!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

I like the Desert Willow courses. We played Firecliff two times this trip and enjoyed both rounds, although the second round was better. We also play Shadow Ridge. We like both courses because they are challenging but reasonable for most golfers. Having some shade at the back of the driving range and a practice bunker would be nice. Regardless, an excellent golf experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Once great course needs to get back to its “roots”

Desert Willow use to be our favorite golf facility. A municipal golf course built for, and supported by the residents of Palm Desert. Residents of Palm Desert have supported the facility in two ways: local tax assessments and course play. Several years ago, the City brought in Kemper Management to run the facility. Kemper has continually raised prices and could give “two cents” about Palm Desert Residents. Since Kemper has stepped in, everything about Desert Willow has declined (except for the pricing). The condition of the course is not even close to what it once was and the pace of play has become excruciatingly slow. Lunches at the restaurant have become overpriced, portions are much smaller, and the food is bland. Hopefully, the City of Palm Desert steps in, removes Kemper, and brings this facility back to its original greatness. If in Palm Desert to play golf choose Desert Springs, Shadow Ridge, or Desert Falls over Desert Willow.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best course in the desert!

Best course in the desert. Water and ice all around the course. Always in great condition. And this is the only course I know of that has a staff member go out on the course and bring players ice cold mango scented wet towels. Just the best! And has been for the last 25 years I have been playing here.
Great job by the management and staff.

If you haven’t already played this course you’re missing out on the jewel in the desert.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

1st time in the Desert

Really loved this course. I had no idea that courses in the desert would have so much green space and so much water! The greens were in great condition. Only suggestion - it's great that the carts have a built-in cooler and are stocked with ice. But how about throwing in a few bottles of water too?

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
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Golf Packages

Best of Indian Wells Package

FROM $167 (USD)
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at either Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa or Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, and 2 rounds of golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.

Best of Indian Wells Package

FROM $167 (USD)
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at either Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa or Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, and 2 rounds of golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.

Desert Golf Around Package

FROM $197 (USD)
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Westin Rancho Mirage and 3 rounds of golf at Westin Rancho Mirage - Pete Dye Course, Mission Hills North - Gary Player Signature Course, and Indian Wells Resort.

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

FROM $107 (USD)
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

FROM $177 (USD)
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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