Pin itDesert Willow Golf Resort — Mountain View
Desert Willow's gentler layout, where the mountain views outperform the scorecard difficulty and the conditioning matches its tougher sibling.
Photo courtesy of Visit Greater Palm Springs · Visit Greater Palm Springs
Designed by Michael Hurdzan / Dana Fry / John Cook (1998)
$73–$200
Booking via GolfNow
Mountain View is the more forgiving of Desert Willow Golf Resort's two Hurdzan/Fry layouts, opened in 1998 alongside Firecliff with a name that does the work honestly. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto ranges are visible from virtually every hole, and on clear mornings during peak season, when the air is still and the higher peaks carry snow, the visual setting competes with the golf for attention.
What to expect
You're playing 6,913 yards, par 72, slope 129. That's nine slope points easier than Firecliff, which translates to roughly three to four strokes for a mid-handicap player. Fairways are wider, forced carries are shorter, and green complexes are more receptive to approach shots arriving from imperfect angles.
Native plants, rock formations, and natural terrain features define the boundaries of play without the punitive hazards that characterise Firecliff. The design trusts the landscape to frame the golf rather than control it. Green complexes are straightforward by Hurdzan/Fry standards, accepting approach shots from a range of angles and rewarding solid contact over precise trajectory. Pin positions create variety without unfairness.
By the numbers
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,913
Is it worth the green fee?
$130 to $200 in peak season, $73 to $100 off-peak. Slightly below Firecliff in pricing, with the same municipal-grade conditioning. For mixed-ability groups, or for a more scenic, lower-pressure round, this is the right pick over its tougher sibling.
Booking and trip fit
Book through the link on this page. The natural play is to combine Mountain View with Firecliff over two days; the practice facility is shared and the contrast between the two is the point. For a wider Palm Springs rotation, look at SilverRock, Indian Wells Celebrity or Players, the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament course, or Escena. If your trip leans social rather than competitive, this is the round that delivers the views without taxing the legs or the scorecard.
Where to Stay
Accommodations near Desert Willow Golf Resort — Mountain View
Hotel
ARRIVE Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Thirty-two rooms, no front desk, and a mid-century design sensibility on walkable North Palm Canyon Drive.
From $150/nightTahquitz Creek (4 mi)
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Hotel
Best Western Date Tree Hotel
Palm Springs, California
The lowest branded-hotel rate in the Coachella Valley, for golfers who trade driving time for green fees.
From $70/nightSilverRock (8 mi)
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Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Palm Desert
Palm Springs, California
Two miles from Desert Willow with Bonvoy points and free parking, in the center of the golf corridor.
From $90/nightDesert Willow (2 mi)
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Hotel
Embassy Suites by Hilton La Quinta Hotel & Spa
Palm Springs, California
All-suite format with an on-site spa and restaurant, splitting the difference between resort and budget.
From $120/nightPGA West (4 mi)
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Other Courses Nearby
Premium
Desert Willow Golf Resort — Firecliff
Palm Springs, California
The more demanding half of Desert Willow, rated among the top public courses in California, where desert washes and elevation changes create a round that earns its reputation.
$73–$217PublicMichael Hurdzan / Dana Fry / John Cook (1997)
GolfNowBook tee time
Mid-Range
Escena Golf Club
Palm Springs, California
Generous corridors, clear sightlines, and the widest green-fee range in the valley make Escena the course that fits every budget.
$59–$204PublicNicklaus Design (2005)
GolfNowBook tee time
Mid-Range
Indian Wells Golf Resort — Celebrity Course
Palm Springs, California
Split-level lakes, waterfalls, and television history on a resort course that prioritizes visual drama over strategic subtlety.
$72–$199ResortClive Clark (2006)
GolfNowBook tee time
Premium
Indian Wells Golf Resort — Players Course
Palm Springs, California
John Fought's homage to classic American architecture, stretched to 7,376 yards across the Coachella Valley floor.
$72–$199ResortJohn Fought (2007)
GolfNowBook tee time
Premium
PGA West — Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
Palm Springs, California
The most expensive public tee time in the Coachella Valley, with two island greens and Q-School pedigree to justify it.
$94–$366ResortJack Nicklaus, Rick Jacobson, Thomas Pearson (1987)
GolfNowBook tee time
Bucket List
PGA West — Stadium Course
Palm Springs, California
Pete Dye's desert proving ground, where the 17th island green is the most famous hole you will probably lose a ball on.
$146–$264ResortPete Dye (1986)
GolfNowBook tee time
Mid-Range
SilverRock Resort (Arnold Palmer Classic Course)
Palm Springs, California
A former Bob Hope Classic host that charges municipal rates. The value gap between what SilverRock costs and what it delivers is the widest in the valley.
$80–$218PublicArnold Palmer (2005)
GolfNowBook tee time
Hidden Value
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort — Legend Course
Palm Springs, California
The cheapest legitimate round in the Coachella Valley, on a 1959 municipal course with 40 Palmer-era bunkers and peak-season green fees under $65.
$25–$65PublicWilliam F. Bell (1959); Arnold Palmer renovation (1996)
GolfNowBook tee time
Mid-Range
The Classic Club
Palm Springs, California
Arnold Palmer's longest Coachella Valley design, with Bermuda greens and a Bob Hope Classic pedigree.
$80–$230PublicArnold Palmer (2006)
GolfNowBook tee time
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