Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff

The first of two courses built at the Desert Willow Golf Resort, the Firecliff Course is a beautiful test routed through natural desert surroundings, numerous water features and more than 100 bunkers and waste areas. The course, which opened in 1997 and has been among the top courses in the California by Golf Pass readers, was designed by the team of Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry along with input from former PGA Tour player John Cook. Playing more than 7,000 yards from the tips, it's a little longer than the resort's other course, the Mountain Course, which was also designed by Hurdzan Fry and Cook. The course has a great variety of holes and doglegs as well as greens, which feature plenty of contours. Highlights of Firecliff include a couple of short par 4s, including the 331-yard sixth, which has a peninsula green protected by water. The finishing stretch is particularly daunting, Developed by the city of Palm Desert, Desert Willow Golf Resort also offers excellent practice facilities and a well-stocked golf shop and terrific dining in its clubhouse.