Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf Club

Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf Club: Set against the stunning backdrop of the Santa Rosa mountains, Marriott's Shadow Ridge Faldo Championship Golf course is the first course to be designed in the U.S. by the six-time Major winner. Inspired by the sand-belt courses of Australia, Faldo has created an excellent and challenging layout here in the Coachella Valley.

Square cut tee-boxes, tufty grass beyond the good-width fairways and a relatively open feel, help to create a rather linksy environment. In keeping with the Aussie sand-belt tradition, the bunkering is also impressively bold and constantly threatens. Desert waste areas run alongside several fairways, seamlessly transforming into deep bunkers as they approach the large and generously sloping greens.

Although there are no significant elevation changes on the course, the contouring and sculpting has created nicely rolling fairways, as well as penalising run-off areas around the greens. The elevated and well-bunkered green of the par-3 7th, seems a scaled-down version of Big Bear mountain, which provides the hole with its imposing backdrop.

Shadow Ridge's relative lack of water hazards on the front-nine is more than compensated for on the back, especially on the closing four holes. At the good-length par-4 18th, a rocky water feature bisects the fairway, creating a challenging finish to your round. With no real estate around the course, and just a few holes flanked by resort condominiums, you can enjoy many wonderful views onto the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains.