Firecliff at Desert Willow Golf Resort

About
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.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 72 | 7056 yards | 74.1 | 141 |
Purple | 72 | 6676 yards | 72.1 | 136 |
White | 72 | 6173 yards | 69.9 | 128 |
White (W) | 72 | 6173 yards | 75.7 | 140 |
Tan | 72 | 5642 yards | 67.5 | 120 |
Tan (W) | 72 | 5642 yards | 72.5 | 133 |
Green (W) | 72 | 5079 yards | 69.4 | 127 |
Green | 72 | 5079 yards | 65.0 | 112 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 74.1/141 | 535 | 410 | 194 | 446 | 429 | 331 | 569 | 155 | 455 | 3524 | 435 | 452 | 427 | 550 | 176 | 332 | 420 | 204 | 536 | 3532 | 7056 |
Purple M: 72.1/136 | 516 | 394 | 168 | 424 | 400 | 310 | 548 | 138 | 437 | 3335 | 421 | 427 | 395 | 523 | 163 | 302 | 405 | 192 | 513 | 3341 | 6676 |
Purple/White M: 71.0/132 | 516 | 364 | 168 | 387 | 380 | 310 | 520 | 138 | 408 | 3191 | 393 | 396 | 371 | 523 | 163 | 302 | 405 | 170 | 513 | 3236 | 6427 |
White M: 69.9/128 W: 75.7/140 | 489 | 364 | 139 | 387 | 380 | 279 | 520 | 119 | 408 | 3085 | 393 | 396 | 371 | 502 | 141 | 279 | 368 | 170 | 468 | 3088 | 6173 |
White/Tan M: 68.7/124 W: 74.1/136 | 489 | 338 | 139 | 352 | 341 | 279 | 510 | 119 | 373 | 2940 | 357 | 362 | 338 | 502 | 141 | 279 | 368 | 152 | 468 | 2967 | 5907 |
Tan M: 67.5/120 W: 72.5/133 | 447 | 338 | 127 | 352 | 341 | 264 | 510 | 107 | 373 | 2859 | 357 | 362 | 338 | 454 | 119 | 258 | 332 | 152 | 411 | 2783 | 5642 |
Tan/Green M: 66.1/116 W: 70.8/130 | 417 | 338 | 127 | 313 | 304 | 264 | 465 | 107 | 323 | 2658 | 357 | 329 | 338 | 425 | 119 | 258 | 297 | 152 | 385 | 2660 | 5318 |
Green M: 65.0/112 W: 69.4/127 | 417 | 312 | 107 | 313 | 304 | 233 | 465 | 82 | 323 | 2556 | 323 | 329 | 311 | 425 | 97 | 227 | 297 | 129 | 385 | 2523 | 5079 |
Handicap | 11 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 14 | |||
Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 3 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Nick4694947 on 12/24/2024
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Photo submitted by jubooz15 on 10/11/2024
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Photo submitted by u7203964 on 03/08/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by u747905328 on 02/07/2024
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Photo submitted by AYz660v9iERBKLuzQlr9 on 09/27/2023
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Photo submitted by Boone43atc on 09/17/2023
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Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/17/2023
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View from the club house Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/13/2023
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Photo submitted by Peter2461971 on 04/23/2023
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Photo submitted by u000002686992 on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by u000002686992 on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by u000002686992 on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by u000002686992 on 06/25/2022
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Photo submitted by Bradnwendyred06 on 02/03/2022
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Photo submitted by adrianeschwartz on 12/16/2021
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Photo submitted by u000002246008 on 04/08/2021
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Photo submitted by u000006073836 on 02/18/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by wvelazqu on 01/09/2021
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Photo submitted by u698978221 on 05/28/2019
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Photo submitted by Debikitts on 05/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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Photo submitted by Richard4870335 on 04/16/2019
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There's a Fairway out there Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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18 Par 5 Beautiful hole Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Beep Beep Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/16/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by Budsap on 07/03/2018
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Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
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Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 04/22/2017
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Brilliant views from every tee. Photo submitted by Jsratike on 12/31/2016
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Give it a shot Photo submitted by u091450548 on 09/06/2015
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!
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.
Beautiful course
Great day at Firecliff. Challenging but fair. Appreciated the short-cut rough.
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.
Stunning golf course
First time playing Firecliff. The condition of the course was amazing with beautiful views. Cannot wait to play again
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…….
Painfully Slow
5.5 hours is too long for a round of golf. Keep the pace moving!!
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.
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.
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.
Firmest greens in the Desert. A real test of golf. Both skillfully and mentally.