Chris Miller
Overview
One of the most underrated courses in the desert is the Firecliff course at Desert Willow. Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed 36 holes (including the Mountain course) on this flat desert floor in the Coachella Valley and moved enough earth to create some interesting holes that frame the surrounding mountains. Playability for all handicap ranges is strong, but even for the better players, the Firecliff course is a intriguing and fair test of golf.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“This might be the best public access course in the desert!"
Read More2024
Review
“Every hole is straight. No risk/reward challenges off any tee. Approach shots are the challenge of the layout. Have a hard time justifying the non-resident rate of $250. That being said, you get the country club experience at a public golf course."
Read More2024
Review
“Country Club conditions at a public course! The Desert Willow golf resort is a must play in Palm Springs. The Firecliff course is the tougher of the two courses there. Fairways are wide but the challenge comes in on the approach shots. Greens are pretty small and there are very few flat putts. Getting on in regulation is the key to scoring on Firecliff. Desert Willow also has a top-notch practice facility."
Read More2024
Review
“A very fun desert / resort style of course with good shot options and wonderfully challenging greens. Slightly over 7,000 yards from the tips (a 141 slope rating), the Purple Tee's are perfectly challenging especially if you have never played on these fun / sloping greens. Beautiful views and true fairways, Firecliff is a fun day in the desert!"
Read More2023
Review
“Well maintained Hurdzan-Fry desert course with beautiful mountain views throughout. A wonderful set of par 3's will be the highlight of your round. A pleasant and accommodating staff will tend to your every need."
Read More2023
Review
“Desert Willow Golf Resort-Firecliff Course Designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry , with input by John Cook, (1997) Firecliff is one of two public access courses at Desert Willow Golf Resort, located in Palm Desert. The course features many bunkers and waste area along with several water hazards. Generous ,plush fairways, with mildly undulated greens. First class clubhouse and quality service"
Read More2023
Review
“Excellent Hurzdan Fry public golf course in wonderful shape with challenging bunkering."
Read More2023
Review
“Shot options: This course has about 3 holes with good risk/reward (4/6/13), but most of the others are just good, not better. ; Challenge: As long as your driver isn't wild and can stay out of the desert, there are about 3 challenging holes (4/11/17), otherwise doesn't present that great of a challenge. ; Layout variety: The course is quite flat and straight (by my count, only 2 holes with more than 20 degrees of dogleg). On the plus side, there is a good mix of par 4's in terms of distance; Aesthetics: There is just enough trees and vegetation in the desert and enough water holes to make it pleasing, but barely. ; Conditioning: Of the 4 courses we played on our trip, this was the least good. But they were reasonably firm and rolled ok. ; Character: Nothing unique or profound here, but it has more than enough character for a medium/higher-end public venue; Fun: For a daily-fee course, its reasonably good, but you would play here every day because of the value. My wife and I came away from the round thinking it was just ok. Its good that the desert is just far enough out of play that we didn't spend much time in there, otherwise fun factor would have been much lower."
Read More2022
Review
“Very well maintained and challenging desert resort course in Palm Desert, CA. Expansive fairways requiring accurate placement affording the opportunity to hit effective approach shots into well protected greens. Medium sized greens with slight contours and ridges more so on the back 9 vs front 9. Several dramatic vistas of surrounding snow capped mountains and natural desert vegetation adds to the enjoyment of playing this course."
Read More2020
Review
“This is a muni course in Palm Desert. The conditions were great and the course features wonderful par 3 holes. The views of the surrounding mountains make it a wonderful place to play golf. You are in the middle of everything, but it doesn't feel that way. You feel as though you are golfing by yourself with mountains surrounding. The greens have fun slopes that make putting a blast."
Read More2020
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