38995 Desert Willow Drive,
Palm Desert, California 92260
Office
+1 (800) 320 3323 (toll free)Pro shop
+1 (760) 346 7060Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Darrell Souza (Director of Golf)Academy
The Palm Desert Golf Academy at Desert Willow Golf ResortThe 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.
18-hole par-72 Mountain View course (6913 yards from back-tees).
33.766363
-116.366833
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 (Firecliff)
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.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance (up to 60 days ahead permitted).
Non-metal spikes preferred. Golf carts (fitted with GPS) compulsory.
Excellent
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.
74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260
+1 (760) 341 2211
Visit websiteThe 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.
Desert Springs (Palm and Valley courses)
Desert Willow; Shadow Ridge; Mission Hills; Desert Falls; Classic Club; Indian Wells Resort; Indian Wells CC.
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.
74895 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, California 92211
+1 (760) 776 4150
Visit websiteThis 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.
No
Desert Willow; Classic Club; Shadow Ridge; Mission Hills; Desert Springs; Desert Falls.
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.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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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