California Desert Willow has you covered in The Golden State's Coachella Valley
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or anyone in search of a suitable golf course among a plethora of choices in the golferfriendly Coachella Valley, Desert Willow Golf Resort just might be the one. Not only do the Californians here welcome you to play one of their two inviting championship courses but they want you to play them well. That is Desert Willow’s emphasis, one that might separate this club, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, from the 120 or so course alternatives throughout the Valley. The resort has the facility, the faculty, and the forte to make a difference to your game. “Our practice facility is one of the best in the area,” says Brian Simpson, Desert Willow’s marketing director. “It’s a big part of what we do to help grow the game.” While lines of golfers practice their games at one end of the range, at the other end many more are seeking help in the resort’s Palm Desert Golf Academy where nine PGA teaching professionals are available for instruction. Yes, nine. The facility has golf fitness evaluations and the latest in video computer analysis. Clinics are available daily. The academy offers the Signature golf school in which a golfer can have a morning lesson followed by on-course afternoon instruction with one of the professionals. There’s also a vibrant junior golf program. Last year the resort’s PGA Junior League team won the area championship — you’re never too young or too old to improve. Golfers will need their swings to be at their best
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Desert Willow's • Firecliff Course • Palm Desert, Calif.
BY TONY DEAR
when taking on Desert Willow’s two public courses, both stretching beyond 7,000 yards from the back tees. One has the interesting name of Firecliff, which has nothing to do with heat or heights. The name is an amalgamation of Leonard Firestone, son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone and, Cliff Henderson, a co-founder of the city of Palm Desert, Calif. The other course, Mountain View, is as it sounds. Both are beauties. “They’re the best public courses you can play, from a beauty standpoint, from a playability standpoint and turf conditions and service levels,” says Simpson. “And all for a reasonable price.” Both courses, a couple miles from I-10 in the central portion of the Valley, southwest of Palm Springs and northwest of Indio, were designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry who are best-known perhaps for the design of 2017 U.S. Open venue Erin Hills. Desert Willow is their only design in the Valley. Desert Willow has earned its share of laurels over the years. Firecliff opened in 1997 and has been ranked the 20th best course you can play in California by Golfweek. GolfPass ranked Firecliff the 25th best course in California while Mountain View, which opened in 1998, was recently named 13th best. “They’ve (courses) fared well over the past 25 years,” says Simpson. Hurdzan and Fry have touched up the bunkers and taken out about 10 percent of the sand in an effort to make the courses more playable. Visitors can at least find an exit from a bunker but escape is not much of an option from water, which is
a frequent threat on both courses. Two of the best holes on Firecliff are the 17th and 18th both of which feature the wet stuff. There’s plenty of sand on the right side of the 204-yard 17th, too. Steer away from trouble though and you might find another bunker to the left of the green. “It’s a great finish,” Simpson asserts. “The 17th is the most demanding Par 3 we have. It’s well protected over water and sand. Then, the 536-yard 18th with its second shot over water is truly one of the best in the Valley.” Over on Mountain View, try to stay dry on the 476-yard sixth hole. It’s a shorter Par 5, but not so simple. There’s another long stretch of water all along the right side, but the real problem is with the approach where you need to either lay up short of a creek in front of the green or, if you’re feeling frisky, attempt to clear it all. If you go for it, you not only need to be long but straight due to two bunkers on the right and more water on the left. Right-side water seems to be the theme all the way to the finish again at the 538-yard 18th. A large pond on the right at about 350 yards narrows into a creek, which crosses the fairway and forms another large pond to the left of the green. On this hole, you really need to thread the needle twice to stay dry. When finished, you can look back on your finalhole travails from the clubhouse dining room, comforting yourself with crème brûlée, French toast or a Monte Cristo. From swing-to-sandwich, Desert Willow has you covered.
