Desert Willow Golf Resort: Firecliff Course

Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry built the Firecliff Course at Desert Willow in 1997 with input from PGA Tour pro John Cook. It's a municipal course owned by the City of Palm Desert, and one of the best examples of environmentally-sensitive desert design, Firecliff was the only golf course ever featured on the cover of Smithsonian Magazine for its environmental design. The course runs just over 7,000 yards with more than a hundred bunkers and waste areas. GOLF Magazine ranks it #15 on Best Public in State (CA) and Top 100 Courses You Can Play. Golfweek places it #24 Best Municipal Course, #20 Best in State Public, and #129 Top 200 Resort Courses. GolfPass puts it in the Top 25 Public in California and Golfer's Choice #2. Desert Golf Magazine lists it #1 Public Course in Coachella Valley. For a Palm Springs trip that wants muni pricing with resort-level conditioning, Firecliff is the pick.