Desert Willow – Mountain View

Overview

The valley's most panoramic city-owned course

18 Holes

72 Par

6,913 Yards Black tees

134 Slope Rating 73.2

If Firecliff is the course you play when you want to be tested, Mountain View is the course you play when you want to be transported — the mountain panoramas here are genuinely among the best sightlines available from any public course in the Coachella Valley, and the Hurdzan-Fry-Cook design makes excellent use of the elevated terrain to frame them. The 98 bunkers and seven water features provide consistent strategic interest without the punishing density of Firecliff's layout, making Mountain View the more forgiving option for visiting golfers still learning the valley's conditions. The Palm Desert Golf Academy serving both courses and the complimentary range balls make the facility feel like a complete golf experience rather than a transactional tee time. Mountain View is the natural starting point for a two-round Desert Willow day.

GolfPass Golfers' Choice — Top 25 Public Courses in California #22 2024

GolfPass Golfers' Choice — Top 50 U.S. Public Courses #45 2023

Golf for Women 50 Best Courses for Women — #50 2010

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38995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260

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(760) 346-7060

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desertwillow.com

Before You Play

At Desert Willow – Mountain View

Caddie's Notes

4 things worth knowing before your round — from tee selection to where to eat when you're done.

Course Character & Design

Mountain View is Firecliff's companion on the same city-owned Palm Desert facility, built by the same Hurdzan-Fry-Cook team a year later with a more accommodating canvas. The 98 bunkers and seven water features are still substantial, but the wider fairways and gentler green complexes make this the more welcoming round. The real draw is the scenery — San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain panoramas are visible from nearly every hole, and the sightlines here are genuinely among the best in the Coachella Valley.

Signature Holes

The mountain backdrops do the heavy lifting on Mountain View — several holes play directly toward the San Jacintos in a way that makes the yardage markers almost secondary to the visual experience. The water features are positioned to create honest risk-reward rather than punitive forced carries. The course rewards players who pick smart targets and execute, without the penalty severity that Firecliff dishes out for marginal misses.

Course Conditions

TifEagle Bermuda greens are well maintained and consistent with the Firecliff standard. Complimentary range balls are included with your round — a nice touch that few courses in the valley match. The desert-fringe rough can swallow balls quickly, so accuracy matters even on the wider fairways. Same winter overseed schedule as Firecliff.

Before You Play

Walking is allowed and more practical here than at Firecliff, thanks to shorter green-to-tee transitions. The shared grass range and short game area serve both courses, and the Palm Desert Golf Academy is available for instruction. The Terrace handles dining for both courses. If you're playing the Desert Willow pair, Mountain View in the morning for the light on the mountains, Firecliff in the afternoon for the challenge — or reverse it if you want your best swing on the harder course.

Course Details

The Essentials

Designer Hurdzan/Fry

Opened 1998

Access Public/muni

Course Type Desert

Walking Walk or ride

Caddies Not available

Greens TifEagle Bermuda

Fairways Bermuda

Short Game Area Yes

Driving Range Grass

Club Rental Available

GPS Carts Included

Golf Trail Palm Desert & Indian Wells

Instruction Palm Desert Golf Academy

Dining The Terrace

Lodging None

Green Fees $69 – $209

Best Months November-April

Peak Season January-April

Nearest Airport PSP · 20 min

Notable Features

Companion course to Firecliff on the same city-owned Palm Desert facility; 98 bunkers and seven water features on a more accommodating canvas; sweeping San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain panoramas visible from nearly every hole; Golf Advisor top-California rankings; complimentary range balls included with rounds.

Tee Information

Scorecard

Tee	Gender	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Black	M	72	6,913	73.2	134
Purple	M	72	6,507	71.4	129
Purple/White	M	72	6,316	70.5	127
White	M	72	6,128	69.7	125
White/Tan	M	72	5,866	68.4	122
Tan	M	72	5,573	67	119
Tan/Green	M	72	5,290	65.6	116
Green	M	72	5,040	64.4	113

◆ Ratings and yardages are approximate and may vary by season. Verify with the pro shop before your round.

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