Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California, USA | GolfPass
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.6
755 Reviews 755 Reviews
5 Stars
548
4 Stars
155
3 Stars
30
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.5
95.0%
Recommend this course
712 out of 755 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
27 Reviews 27 Reviews
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.1
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
96.3%
Recommend this course
26 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
37 Reviews 37 Reviews
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
97.3%
Recommend this course
36 out of 37 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7056 yards
Slope 141
Rating 74.1

A lot of courses say they're all about nature. Desert Willow Firecliff Resort in Cathedral City actually lives it. Natural desert plants are the star of the show here. So much so that the course was featured on the front cover of Smithsonian magazine.

Bobcats, coyotes and desert rabbits have free run of the place, adding another dimension to any round. When you see a bobcat out in the distance of the desert brush, you're not chasing after that golf ball. No matter how much cash you plunked down for the latest in long-distance technology.

Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed Desert Willow and it offers a good example of how you become a rising name in the golf architect game. The sand sculpting demands attention from the first hole.

The course looks intimidating to play. With a 138 slope rating, it plays that way too.

Book a Tee Time at
Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff
Powered by GolfNow.com

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
GPS Yes
Clubs 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
Show All

Accolades

Show All
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
waivedfees
10 rounds of waived fees
golf ball.svg
$120 in tee time credits
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection
redeemtrophy
Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

4.6
755 Reviews (755)

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
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

One of the Best..

One of the best courses I have played as far as course conditions. Fairways and tee boxes were absolutely pristine and the greens rolled true.
Didnt have much options at the turn for food wise but the bar inside is very nice with great views out to the course.
Playing the tips makes this course difficult as some of the tees are way back on some holes and make the Par 3's a real challenge.
The scented ice cold towels on the course are also a great touch.
Ben (from Mississippi) in the pro shop was also a great help and very friendly.
Firecliff gets my vote for best course in Palm Desert area! Definitely will be back!

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Spectacular conditions

Course was in amazing shape, but I believe they just redid the greens so they were rock yard. You really can’t attack the pins at all here yet, have to play everything short. Can really only ding them for not including water bottles in the cart, but everything else besides that and the hard greens were great. Pace of play was 4.5 hours, only waited for group in front of us a few times. Practice facility on grass with plenty of balls available.

Show All
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Beautiful course

Great day at Firecliff. Challenging but fair. Appreciated the short-cut rough.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course

we were so looking forward to playing The Firecliff course and it did not disappoint. This is by far the most beautiful and well conditioned course we have ever played. only complaint was the greens were very hard and balls would bounce off but we expected that since they are new greens. will definitely play this again next time we are here.

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/21/2025

Firmest greens in the Desert. A real test of golf. Both skillfully and mentally.

Played On
Reviews 2
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Stunning golf course

First time playing Firecliff. The condition of the course was amazing with beautiful views. Cannot wait to play again

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Desert Oasis-Perfection

Wonderful course and wonderful practice area. Very similar to Shadow Ridge with undulating fairways and challenging greens. A lot of Sand that demands careful shot planning. Today the course won, but I’ll be back…….

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Painfully Slow

5.5 hours is too long for a round of golf. Keep the pace moving!!

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course…parking situation and “host” fall short

Main parking lot full. Park in lot 1/4 mile away.
Not the end of the world but annoying when you are paying what they ask. Low brow.

Check in was fine but they tell you must see the “host”. The host in this case was no host at all but rather a wrangler for the golfers that crowd this place. This created job adds one more ego card playing d bag ya gotta deal with on your way to the 1st tee. A useless and unnecessary position that doesn’t exist at any other course I’ve been to in the valley - I’ve played most of em private and public. The actual starter was great and very pleasant. The host can kick rocks.

**the course - it was great wide open, scenic views, finished at sundown. Beware of weekend golfers here as they can be unruly, lack courtesy and respect for the game. I broke my own rule of no public golf on the weekend to come check this place out. So that’s on me. The course is great tho. A 4 ball on a weekday with friends would be perfect. Greens are new and don’t roll true yet and are hard so no bite. Play it short and let it run up. Tough pins for a Saturday.

Wouldn’t pay more than the twilight rate ever. Find a hot deal or locals discount. The management needs to figure out a more seamless quality experience from parking lot to 1st tee.

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
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 Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
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 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fast greens

Very pretty and playable course. Only complaint was that the greens are rock hard trampolines. I understand they replaced them and they’ll remain hard for another year or so until they can punch them.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Toooo slow

Started as a beautiful round that went severely down hill after the 10th hole. A foursome in front of two foursomes ahead of ours were so slow they held everyone up from the 11th hole onward. Unfortunately, being NY Eve the staff marshaling the course were gone so no way to pick up the pace - quit after 16 as it was getting dark- when we came upon the foursome as they finished 18 they stood around and chatted not giving a care about the foursome trying to hit their approach shots on to the green. Some people have no consideration for others - sad.

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Nearby Courses
Palm Desert, California
Semi-Private
3.9240588235
1319
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
0.0
0
Palm Desert, California
Private
4.25
4
Golf Packages

Best of Indian Wells Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort, or the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.

Best of Indian Wells Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort, or the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort - Celebrity & Players Courses.

Desert Golf Around Package

CLICK BELOW
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

CLICK BELOW
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

CLICK BELOW
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.
Now Reading
loading