Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)

Desert Willow Golf Resort

38995 Desert Willow Drive,

Palm Desert, California 92260

  • Office

    +1 (800) 320 3323 (toll free)
  • Pro shop

    +1 (760) 346 7060
  • Golf pro

    Darrell Souza (Director of Golf)
  • Academy

    The Palm Desert Golf Academy at Desert Willow Golf Resort

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Desert-style. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Desert environment.

  • Designer:

    Hurdzan/Fry Design (Dr Michael J. Hurdzan & Dana Fry) working with PGA Tour player John Cook.

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
7056
6173
5079
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
73.6
69.3
69

At the same location:

18-hole par-72 Mountain View course (6913 yards from back-tees).

Location

Latitude:

33.766363

Longitude:

-116.366833

How to get there:

8 miles SE of Palm Springs

From I-10 between Thousand Palms and Indio, take the Cook Street exit and follow Cook Street south. After 2 miles turn right onto Country Club Drive. After o.3 miles, at traffic lights, turn right into Desert Willow Drive.

Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1997

Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course): Desert Willow's two championship golf courses can stand alongside any of the top-name offerings in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area. Scenic, challenging and beautifully laid out, this handsome pair have much in common with each other.

For many local golfers, the Firecliff may just get the edge over the also excellent Mountain View course. Real estate is scarcely seen from either, while both are framed by fabulous mountain scenery, and desert vistas closer at hand.

The Firecliff arguably has some of the most memorable holes, not least the closing holes on each nine and an exquisite collection of par-3's. The long par-4 9th and par-5 18th holes finish in front of the impressive clubhouse on either side of a small lake, while the 8th and 17th, two stunning par-3s, are also played on either side of a small and very picturesque lake. Tall palms stand sentinel behind both greens, with all manner of bunkering to be avoided en route to the large and sloping putting surfaces.

Beyond the Firecliff's generally good-width fairways and more clinging first cut of rough, the swathes of desert terrain are attractively adorned with all manner of indigenous flowering shrubs and cactus. The hallmarks of this excellent Hurdzan design are to be found in the fusion of the natural desert terrain with skilfully created holes, copious and very stylish bunkering and occasional, but seriously threatening water hazards.

List of courses: Palm Springs / Palm Desert
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)
  • Photo of Desert Willow Golf Resort (Firecliff course)

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance (up to 60 days ahead permitted).

Green fees

Contact club for golf rates.

Other information

Non-metal spikes preferred. Golf carts (fitted with GPS) compulsory.

Practice facilities

Excellent

Did you know?

The golf facilities at Desert Willow could easily be mistaken for those of a top-quality private club, although they are in fact owned by the City of Palm Desert.

The courses are operated as a public golf facility by Kemper Sports. Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Kemper Sports has a broad portfolio of approximately 75 public-access and private courses under management, spanning the United States, Puerto Rico and Latin America. In the portfolio are such gems as Bandon Dunes, Chambers Bay and Desert Willow.

Where2Stay

  • JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & SpaAAA 4-Diamonds

    74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260

    +1 (760) 341 2211

    Visit website

    The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort offers a lush exotic oasis amid pristine open desert. The Resort has two 18-hole golf courses, and also offers discounted Stay & Play packages for play on other neighbouring courses, including Desert Willow (on the other side of Country Club Drive). Spa facilities, 4 signature restaurants, a high-energy nightclub, sparkling pools, shopping and much more all feature at the Desert Springs Resort.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Desert Springs (Palm and Valley courses)

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Desert Willow; Shadow Ridge; Mission Hills; Desert Falls; Classic Club; Indian Wells Resort; Indian Wells CC.

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Desert Dunes; Cimarron; Tahquitz Creek; SilverRock; PGA West; Heritage Palms; Terra Lago; Eagle Falls; Bighorn; La Quinta Resort; Trilogy at La Quinta; Quarry at La Quinta.

  • Courtyard by Marriott - Palm Desert

    74895 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, California 92211

    +1 (760) 776 4150

    Visit website

    This Courtyard by Marriott hotel is located in Palm Desert with views of the magnificent Santa Rosa Mountains. With Desert Willow Golf Resort a half mile away and on-site tennis courts, you don't need to travel far to find excellent outdoor sports facilities. Stay & Play packages with discounted green fees are available at the Desert Willow golf courses.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Desert Willow; Classic Club; Shadow Ridge; Mission Hills; Desert Springs; Desert Falls.

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Desert Dunes; Cimarron; Tahquitz Creek; SilverRock; PGA West; Indian Wells Resort; Indian Wells CC; Heritage Palms; Terra Lago; Eagle Falls; Bighorn; La Quinta Resort; Trilogy at La Quinta; Quarry at La Quinta.

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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